Is it just me? Whenever I hear people in public refer to their wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, or the colloquially dreadful 'significant other' as "Babe" I cannot help but think of this:
As you may well know, today is Saint Valentine's Day, which is why I'm publishing this Public Service Announcement. I am sure your wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, or 'significant other' is many things, but surely, a pig she or he ain't!
As we are on the subject of petnames peeves, I'd also like to lump in the cloying "Honey" if I may. Is there anything more distracting than listening to a couple rabbiting on about "Honey" this, or "Honey" that, when in conversation with others present? OK, I'll admit that in the early days of my own relationship with my husband I caught myself going down Cupid's linguistic slippery road on more than a few occasions. However, I quickly rectified the error of my ways vowing never to utter such babble again. You'll be pleased to learn that I've been successful, on the whole.
In closing, I'd like to request that when out and about in public please do us all a favor and refer to your loved one by his or her given name or even by relationship title (i.e. wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, or, if you really must, 'significant other'). At home, of course, you are free to do as you wish.
Tell me, have you been guilty as charged of this amorous linguistic sin, or found yourself within earshot of a "Babe", "Honey", "The Missus", "The Wifey", "The Hubby", or worse, volleyed willy-nilly in conversation?
Happy Saint Valentine's Day everyone!
As you may well know, today is Saint Valentine's Day, which is why I'm publishing this Public Service Announcement. I am sure your wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, or 'significant other' is many things, but surely, a pig she or he ain't!
As we are on the subject of pet
In closing, I'd like to request that when out and about in public please do us all a favor and refer to your loved one by his or her given name or even by relationship title (i.e. wife, husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, or, if you really must, 'significant other'). At home, of course, you are free to do as you wish.
Tell me, have you been guilty as charged of this amorous linguistic sin, or found yourself within earshot of a "Babe", "Honey", "The Missus", "The Wifey", "The Hubby", or worse, volleyed willy-nilly in conversation?
Happy Saint Valentine's Day everyone!
Hilarious! Loved this. I knew a woman who called her husband Babe all the time and he was the most porcine of gentlemen. I always wondered if she had a bit of a mean streak or had simply never seen the film. Thank you for the chuckle.
ReplyDeleteHello Jen Lawrence,
DeleteGlad to oblige. A good chuckle, preferably daily, is a wonderful remedy to get through life.
I loved the story of your friend and her portly gent. Thank you for sharing it.
Hello CD, Using pet names openly can be tantamount to a nauseating p.d.a.--public display of affection. For a quick review of such names, look back to old songs: Tootsie-Wootsie, Snookums, Googie-Oo, etc., but the worst offenders were possibly from the '60's, with such entries as Windy and (really) Chewy.
ReplyDelete--Jim
p.s. Oh, no! I just looked up that last one, and it was by a group called Ohio Express!
Hello Jim,
DeleteYes, PDA is rather a good topic for another blog post I think, thank you.
I'm afraid I've actually been in the same room as someone who once uttered the word "Snookums" to their partner. As you can imagine, my eyebrows were raised.
you forgot bae! or however the hell you pronounce that word. I don't like pet names in public - no matter how sweet. But then I have become tough as a Londoner hehe
ReplyDeleteOh "Bae" is new to me. I wonder if that's just a London thing? "Babes" too I could do without thank you very much!
DeleteBae is some sort of millennial social media thing. I only ever see it on Instagram used by 20 year olds when referring to their boyfriend. Like nails on a chalk board to me...!
DeleteHello Heidi,
DeleteWell, thanks for clearing up that little issue. No wonder I've yet to encounter my first "Bae", not having delved into the rabbit hole that is Instagram. My daughter, thankfully, is not yet old enough to have a boyfriend but as soon as I hear her utter the dreadful "Bae", I'll be clued into the situation, perhaps.
So funny CD, I also cannot stand this whole "Babe" nonsense. "Honey" sounds so forced and false, and to my ear, even sarcastic.
ReplyDeleteUgh but you're right Babe is the worst! Loved the film though. ;) xx
Hello Dani BP,
DeleteI know of a married couple that call each other by their given name followed immediately by "my love". This can be forgiven the first time, but every single instance does rather grate on the nerves.
Allow GSL to add a much-needed shot glass of testosterone to this timely discussion. The only 'Babe' worth mentioning was Babe Ruth; the Greatest Sports Superstar in the history of America. Just a couple of tidbits to ponder: in 1921 he hit 54 Home Runs; more than any other team in the American League.. He was the best left-handed pitcher in all of baseball until they discovered he was the greatest hitter ever so moved him to leftfield so he could play every day. His "called shot home run" in the 1935 World Series at Wrigley Field (3 blocks from my humble abode) has haunted the Windy City until we vanquised those demons this past Fall with our first World Champioship since 1908.
ReplyDeleteMy running buddy during the Go-Go '80s was referred to as 'Johnny Babes' or more often just'Babes'.
Your premise is quite sound CD...only lacking GSL's vast Pax Americana expertise to illuminate into something truly insightful.
I'm guessing that Sonny & Cher ditty isn't in heavy rotation at Casa CD?
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OK, OK, I'll make the exception for Babe Ruth as he was such a sporting legend. Funny, but I just remembered an odd thing my husband's grandmother's family used to do. There were so many kids in the household that they all had nicknames. One of them was known as "New Babe" but never managed to shed the name once he'd become an adult. Poor dear!
DeleteI had a friend who always referred to his wife as "my first wife." They were married for a long time, and of course she was his first and only wife, but still...
ReplyDeleteGolly, Diogenes, I'm not sure what I would have made of that reference! Sounds rather awkward. I wonder if it was a subliminal message to her that he wasn't going anywhere fast, and neither should she?
Delete"Hubby" is the worst and the tackiest! EWWWWW!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is so funny that we share so many pet peeves that are verbal. Literally; it feels like someone scratching their fingernails on a blackboard to hear these icky nicknames.....or whateveryoucallthem!
Yes, I agree "hubby" is just tragic!
DeleteNow, what's an old G.R.I.T.S. Girl like me supposed to call folks, anyway? I've gone through my entire life strewing Hons and Honeys and Sweetpeas and Lovies scattershot to all in range---it's just in the raisin' I guess. I swear, it must be the accent, for nobody ever in my hearing has complained or criticized or taken me to task, as I see on this internet that many people don't care for such familiarity.
ReplyDeleteI Just just go obliviously about my habitual distribution of grandma talk, I suppose, and I do admit that on the phone or even pleading my case with businesspeople, tech support personnel, even return- counter agents---I just seem to get good results every time. Folks are just so kind and accommodating, and I appreciate it so much. Chris says I've caught more flies with my "molasses drawl" than anybody has a natural right to.
I do sympathize with your feelings, for they are akin to my own, which cringe when salespeople, especially on the phone, keep repeating my first name in every sentence. I know that's policy, but I NEVER buy what they're selling, and don't tell them why, though I suppose I should.
I WAS caught out once by a couple of friends, here to visit for several days. I call Chris "Love," and "Precious" at home, (Well, we married later in life, and had to catch up, somehow). So when we were being ushered to our table at a lovely restaurant, I heard our friend Lil murmur to the waiter, "We're with Precious."
Hello racheld,
DeleteYour comment has reminded me of a long gone friend who used to call me "Hon" as a sort of joke but, of course, never out in public.
I would think that only you could get away with Sweetpeas and Honeys with all that creamy southern charm of yours so carry on!
Love the "Precious" story. Very amusing.
I am late to the party as I am just reading this but am somewhat guilty as charged.
ReplyDeletePrivately my husband calls me Bun short for honeybun and I call him Pie, short for Sweetiepie. In public, we use our Christian names.
KL Gaylin
Hello KL Gaylin,
DeleteIt is never too late to jump in on the action around here, and in this case, I'm so glad you did as I found myself laughing at your pet names. Now all I can think of is eating a bun or a pie! Perhaps I should get myself a snack and calm down.