Terminology

[Guest Wulfhere]

I really don't mind, as long as it's not mister or gentleman. For some reason those terms just kind of irk me.

Other than that don't mind dude, guy, buddy, bro, man etc. Those are the ones I hear most often. Sir = stranger trying to get your attention. A co-worker spontaneously started calling me lad/laddy. It amuses me, and definitelyy not offensive, lol. I probably use dude, man and guy the most when talking to others.

It's funny how certain words come off as different to different people. To me dude/guy/bro are all words I use to refer to close friends/they refer to me in casual situations. It's just how I address most guys I'm on friendly terms with or am friends with. Also the way I generally address other guys I may or may not actually know in casual situations and also how they refer back as well. Found it interesting that others find it awkward and not something to say among good friends, while to me its the complete opposite.

[Guest Doodlen]

Ah, I forgot my absolute favourite: Gaymin!

It's an inside joke at work that my buddy started. We were saying girls were too complicated and I said I should start datin guys, and one of the guys there said "So you're gonna be straight?" and my buddy said "No, that'd make her a gay man." So they started calling me Gay Man (even though I never actually dated any guys) but my buddy's really french so when he says Gay Man it sounds like Gaymin. So now everyone calls me a Gaymin.

[JJ]

The difference in people's reactions to terms and how they are seen is funny. In most of the Southern United States at least being called a gentleman is high praise and implies a host of positive qualities. To say someone is not a gentleman is to insult them. Not used as a term of address much but as a description of someone.

Dude and bro are fine though and used a lot. The neutral but gender specific "Sir " would have to be my favorite form of address by a stranger. And I wouldn't really like being called bro or dude so much unless by someone in an informal situation. It's a buddy type of address. Buddy can be everything from friendly to truculent depending on how it's said.