Scene - Blogs - LAGNIAPPE When is it OK to call a perfect stranger Babe

LAGNIAPPE: When is it OK to call a perfect stranger "Babe"?
Published: 8/11/2012 8:00 AM
Last Modified: 8/10/2012 5:33 PM

"Would you like to combo-size that, Babe?"

No one I can think of in my life has ever called me "Babe."

When I hear that word, unlike the majority of men, I don't immediately think of a hot woman. No, I'm the nerd that hears Babe and thinks of that movie with the talking pig.

But my girl friends (note the space between those last two words) occasionally hear it -- from strangers, even. Most recently, a dear friend was in a fast-food drive-thru and was called Babe by the order-taker or whatever they're called. Seriously, what are they called?

"Was he cute?" I asked, as my first thought was, "How nice!" I'd take validation over a side of fries ANY day of the week (unless absolutely no one but God was watching, in which case I'd totally take the fries).

"The gesture was cute," she later texted -- "it wasn't creepy. Not sure everyone would dig it."

So is being called Babe less offensive if the person doing the calling is attractive? I mean, if Capt. Homely of the Butt-Ugly Brigade came up and said, "Hey, Babe!" would you be all, "Eww, Capt. Homely, get away from me!"

And if some Calvin Klein underwear model came up to you -- fully clothed, perhaps -- and said, "Hey, Babe!" would you swoon instead of call the police?

I'd be more inclined to be upset if Babe had any negative connotations. I mean, if the person calling me Babe had on a "Babe: Pig in the City" T-shirt, I'd probably take offense.

What do you think? Is calling someone Babe when you don't know them ...
A) Super-creepy.
B) A slight social faux-pas but forgivable.
C) A total compliment.

Peace, love and underwear models ... XOXO

Reader Comments

3 Total

Show: Newest First

Learn About Our Comment Policy

Humble (6 months ago)

And he gets paid to write this crap

Danomite Dandy Dan (6 months ago)

Sorry Humble. Maybe you can relate next time. Keep reading!

It's almost always a waitress that calls me "Babe". I figure it's a matter of getting business done quickly without much thought. I suppose if I jumped to my feet and gave them a big hug, they might re-think their habit of speech.

DomoArrigato (6 months ago)

I guess "Babe" is better than "Hun"...but not by much. If you know me, use my name, and if you don't know me, you really aren't endearing yourself for a better tip by trying to familiarize yourself with a pet name.

My lady is "Sweetie", but all other women are either addressed by their name, or by "Ma'am", and men by "Sir".

Perhaps they would prefer, "Homes", "Dude", or "Bro"...but it will be "sir" for me.

3 comments displayed

To post comments on tulsaworld.com, you must be an active Tulsa World print or digital subscriber and signed into your account.

To sign in to your account, go to tulsaworld.com/signin.
To activate your print subscription for unlimited digital access and to post comments, go to tulsaworld.com/activate.
To purchase a subscription, go to tulsaworld.com/subscribe.

Living Wright

While other kids were watching "The Smurfs," Scene Writer Jason Ashley Wright was tuned in to "Style with Elsa Klensch." By fourth grade, he knew he wanted to write, and spent almost three years publishing a weekly teen-oriented magazine, Teen-Zine -- circulation: 2. After earning a degree in journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi, he became the medical reporter and teen board coordinator for the Hattiesburg (Miss.) American, a Gannett newspaper. Eight months later, with visions of Elsa dancing in his head, he applied for the fashion writer position at the Tulsa World, where he began working on Aug. 3, 1998. He is now a general assignment reporter for Scene.

Follow Jason Ashley Wright on Twitter

Subscribe to this blog

Archive

Past Articles By Jason Ashley Wright

2/14/2013		Knowledge is key in Alzheimer's care
2/14/2013		Living Wright: On a roll again
2/13/2013		Recipes: Canebrake chef shares truffle secrets
2/12/2013		Living Wright: Mardi Gras a passport to excess
2/10/2013		Valentine's contest winners: Elizabeth and Rick Franklin
2/8/2013		Tulsa area yet to be represented as 'American Idol' moves to Hollywood round
2/7/2013		Fundraiser, camp benefit kids with heart problems
2/7/2013		Living Wright: Tulsa Flea market trip yields hidden treasures
2/7/2013		Mardi Gras popularity grows as celebrations expand in Tulsa
2/5/2013		Jason Ashley Wright: Another suicide shocks, for now
2/4/2013		Eagle Scouts
2/2/2013		Street Cats to hold its annual fundraiser Feb. 10

Jason Ashley Wright's Blog Archive:

2/2013	1/2013	12/2012	11/2012	10/2012	9/2012
8/2012	7/2012	6/2012	5/2012	4/2012	3/2012
2/2012	1/2012	12/2011	11/2011	10/2011	9/2011
8/2011	7/2011	6/2011	5/2011	4/2011	3/2011
2/2011	1/2011	12/2010	11/2010	10/2010	9/2010
8/2010	7/2010	6/2010	5/2010	4/2010	3/2010
2/2010	1/2010	12/2009	11/2009	10/2009	9/2009
8/2009	7/2009	6/2009	5/2009	4/2009	3/2009
2/2009	1/2009	12/2008	11/2008	10/2008	9/2008
8/2008	7/2008	6/2008	5/2008	4/2008	3/2008
2/2008	1/2008	12/2007	11/2007	10/2007	9/2007
8/2007	7/2007	6/2007

Your bookmark will appear on your Profile page. Please give it a title, and short description so that visitors to your page will understand where the bookmark leads.
Bookmark Title :

Bookmark Text :