Background: I was raised in the Deep South, and for whatever reason, could never stand to be called anything familiar, like honey, darling, sweetie, etc. I had a family nickname, but that was family.

I particularly hated men calling me anything familiar, especially if I didn't know them, and even as a child, I corrected quite a few adult men. Totally did not care if they liked it or not, my preferences counted.

To this day, I still bristle and mostly correct men who call me anything except my name. Both husbands and I called each other sweet names, but again, there was real intimacy there, we were married. From women, especially waitresses, I've never minded being called a sweet name, primarily because it didn't feel laden with condescension and/or sexual power moves. It was honestly just a true endearment.

Anyone else feel the same? And, when do you think it's appropriate to start using pet/sweet names for each other when dating? For me, it all depends and every case, ever man is different. From some people, don't even bother trying to get close to me. For others, yeah ok, that's nice, but ONLY once I agree to it, and it's mutual and reciprocal. It absolutely cannot go just one way.