[Publib] Pet Names

[Bruce Bumbalough]

When I stopped for my morning dose of caffeine this morning, the guy at 
the convenience store called the women in line 'darlin' ' and the men 
'guy'.   I don't know if anybody took offense or not.  The whole crew 
there is very friendly.  It is part of their customer service technique 
I am sure.   No harm, no foul.  



Shaw, Matthew M wrote:
> I concur. I believe that the intent of the person is what matters. In my
> 11 years working in libraries I have been called chief, Mack, buddy,
> hon, sweetie, darling, sugar and a variety of other things, sometimes
> even sir. I was at my daughter's orthodontist yesterday and the office
> manager, 15 years my junior, referred to me as darling, just as she
> always does and just as she does any customer, male or female. This
> office manager is efficient, attentive and has a warm personality. I
> wouldn't think of rebuking her by objecting to the way she refers to me.
>
> If a customer calls a library worker baby or sweetheart or something
> similar while leering at them, that is quite another matter. It is
> offensive and should be treated as such. The worker has every right to
> firmly object and, this is very important, library administration should
> back the employee. I ran into a woman that I attended library school
> with a few years ago and she reported that some customers at the branch
> she worked at made her and other female employees feel very
> uncomfortable by exhibiting this sort of repulsive behavior. She was
> frustrated because her complaints fell on deaf ears with library
> administrators and she felt unsafe and humiliated as a result.
>
> Ultimately, it is up to the individual how they want to think and act
> about this issue. But personally, I don't think damaging the rapport
> with customer is warranted if no ill intentions are perceived.
>
> Matt Shaw   
>   

-- 
Bruce L. Bumbalough
Reference Librarian
Grapevine Public Library
1201 Municipal Way
Grapevine, Texas 76051

Voice: (817) 410-3404
Fax:   (817) 410-3084
email: bbumbalough at grapevine.lib.tx.us

The opinions are mine.