When I first came online a few years ago it took me quite a while to accept people calling me sweetie or hon or dear because I wasn't used to these words at all. Nobody in my real life called me this. First I was shy by it and then I reliased it was just a way of being gentle with me and also a kind of sweet caring. I have accepted these words now and I do use them myself quite often. I think they are lovely words.

In my realy life I do not used them accept with my children. Nobody uses these words with me.

But I did meet an online friend last year and we did used these words, maybe because they were meant to be use between us.

Nice and interesting thread!