Why do so many women and girls call me "sweetie" or "honey"?

[HikerDude]

It seems like women I run into call me nicknames like "sweetie" or "honey" all the time, like today I dropped a package off at the post office, and the lady who helped me called me sweetie 3 different times. Or last week, when a girl at Starbucks who made my drink called me "honey" several times when she was taking my order. I've even had a girl at work call me doll. What's up with this?

[foodtv]

I think it can be a couple reasons. 1 they call anyone that, 2 they are trying to flirt or be cute, or 3 or could be kind of like a motherly instinct sort of reaction.
I used to hate it when I heard people say things like that but I've noticed as I've gotten older I start to use terms like that when I talk to people and I feel like I'm supporting them or giving them almost motherly like advise. I don't really like that I do it, but it's something that's just happening.

[HikerDude]

Yeah, I do feel like it's meant to be condescending. I understand an older woman doing that, but what gets me is that younger girls will call me "sweetie" too.

[foodtv]

That's when I feel it's more like flirting probably.

[CupidSays]

I assume that they all are single and crushing on you.

[HikerDude]

Why? Some of them are older women.

[CupidSays]

make a note of it to ask them next time. :)

[PrincessJess49]

Term of endearment. I call people sweetcheeks a lot. There’s nothing really behind it

[Anonymous]

It's possibly just habit, a term of endearment they use to provide friendly customer service I imagine.

[ScarletAngelic]

It's common with 'older' women.

[HikerDude]

But girls my age or younger do it as well.

[ScarletAngelic]

Well, they probably got it from their parents.

[lamarie]

U probably look young to them

[HikerDude]

I do look young, but why would a girl who's 20 call a guy who's the same age honey? It's not all older women talking to me like I'm their kiddo or something.

[lamarie]

Maybe their flirting with u

[HikerDude]

Do some girls consider that flirting? It's confusing, because your first instinct was mine too. Calling someone one of these names is kinda like an older woman talking to a younger guy who seems lost lol.