[Brighton] Being called ' Mate'. When is it ok?

[BrianWade4]

If you are of one sex, is it ok to call the opposing sex mate if you are - you know - not technically ‘doing it’?

 

[BrianWade4]

Mate is okay, though not particularly professional. Fella, buddy, and the absolute worst of all , Matey are unacceptable. I always cocnlude that people who call others matey generally don't have friends.

What about “geezer” or “geez”?
“Pal”?

 

[The Clamp]

What about “geezer” or “geez”?
“Pal”?

I don't mix with people that would use those words.

 

[Boys 9d]

Over the years I have been on the receiving end of the following: Mush (in my teen years, an expression that seems to have died out), Duck, Love (by Northern shop workers), Boy (as an adult by an older well respected colleague), Mate, Mon (by a Scot) and Mun (in Wales). I have not been offended if the expression was in a friendly context.

 

[Rogero]

Mush was popular in the 60s. Where did that come from?

 

[Boys 9d]

Mush was popular in the 60s. Where did that come from?

It was also popular in the late 50s.
The Urban Dictionary quotes the following:

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Mush

Not sure about the geography reference.

 

[Nixonator]

Didn't realise we lived such a utopian existence to get annoyed by shit like this. Mate.

 

[Worried Man Blues]

and me old mucker?!

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

Being called “mate” by the missus is a massive gripe of mine. We fall out when she does it.

 

[Sussex Nomad]

I don't mind mate, but personally I tend to use the term Hun xxx

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[portlock seagull]

Each to their own. My son is the most polite, respectful kid you could ever want to meet (ask his teachers, cricket coaches, other kids' parents etc) and I call him "mate" all the time. Because he's also my best mate.

He's also learnt that words do not define meaning but the use of them does.

Maybe at ten years old he gets that better than you do? Or maybe I'm still waiting for the downward spiral to kick in.

Society and parents treating their children as best mates...Discuss!

 

[Perfidious Albion]

I don't care if people say it to me. Life is too short to worry over such things. I would not use it myself unless he was a mate.

 

[LlcoolJ]

Society and parents treating their children as best mates...Discuss!

Lol. I'm not some yoghurt weaver. Most people think we're too strict if anything.

 

[Garage_Doors]

If someone is a friend then its acceptable, otherwise never.
Call me whatever it does not matter, git, ****, would rather be insulted than someone pretending to being a friend. Its
nothing to do with the superiority clap trap posted above.Its too informal for someone you just met.

Most cringy is on the police programmes when the pull someone over they always refer the the person as mate.
"can you step out the car please mate" My response would be, do i know you? your not a mate of mine are you?

Why cant they just say "can you step out the car please" there is no reason to use the word mate.

 

[SIMMO SAYS]

I call my son @wrongdirection mate all the time.
I also call him you ####!!!! ###!!! FFFFFFFFFFFFSAKKKE On a daily basis

 

[goldstone68]

It can feel really weird. I play online scrabble against an Irish nurse and she calls me 'mate' all the time.

Are you sure you are playing scrabble and not chess

 

[maffew]

A brummie guy came to work in Durban, security let him in to which he said cheers gaffer. Now if you know how offensive a rhyming word beginning with 'k' refereed to as the 'k' word to Zulus/black raced is you can imagine the reaction. Imagine someone opens a door for you and you say nice one c unt multiply it by a hundred. And this guy had a gun

 

[shingle]

Agree with the OP. I don't like it, ever since

A few years back on the Lewes to London train the ticket inspector comes round checking tickets. There are three of us sitting on the long seat in the carriage (I said it was a while ago) and the inspector said to the man on my left, a businessman in a suit, excuse me sir, can I see your ticket, he says to me, dressed in work clothes, can I see your ticket MATE, and then says to the scruffy young student on my right, tickets please.

I never usually complain but said....Haaang on a minute, why is he sir, me mate and him nothing. The inspector ignored my question and shuffled off. He had made a judgement that I and the sudent deserved less repect than man in suit. So if someone calls me mate and is calling everyone else mate I don't care, but if someone is calling me mate and other people sir, then it bothers me.

 

[TheDuke]

Fine when it is a mate saying it. But is it ok for shopworkers, bar staff and waiters to call you it. Should a waiter say it ? Well. I don't like it.
How do you feel?

Oh dear... so much rubbish

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Fine when it is a mate saying it. But is it ok for shopworkers, bar staff and waiters to call you it. Should a waiter say it ? Well. I don't like it.
How do you feel?

Is it ok when you fist bump a Stoke fan?