Newcastle University recommends staff not to use 'Pet'.

[Thephoenix]

The reason they say is because it's 'patronising' and 'gendered'.

I wonder what the old Geordies think about that?
(Actually is 'old Geordies' patronising and gendered?

In the NW the term 'luv' has long been used, particularly by my generation, as an informal friendly tag on the end of a greeting or sentence.
( Although I've never quite got used to 'Queen'.)

There'll no doubt be older Punters on here dotted around the land, who may have used other popular regional words such as 'Duck', 'Hen', 'Hinnie',  'My Lover', 'Babes', 'Boyo', 'Treasure'.

After a lifetime of using these friendly terms sometimes it's not easy to stop, even if I wanted to.
I know context and tone are important, but generally speaking they're used and received in the friendly manner intended, particularly in the regions where the term is common.

Maybe the exception to these terms is 'Dear'?
Yes it can be used in a friendly way, but very often misused as sarcasm or patronising.
Sybil from Faulty Towers comes to mind.

What d' yer reckon chuck?

[scutty brown]

It's all flamin stupid Bruce

[jackdaw]

Its all down to people wanting to reduce human interaction to a "formula".

Nearly all of us know it doesn't really work. 2 people say exactly the same words to you...and it can be completely obvious that the first one means it in a friendly way, while the second is hostile...all down to tone of voice, body posture, etc

[daviemac]

The word 'pet' is part of the Geordie language, it's political correctness gone mad.

Did they complain about "Auf Wiedersehen, Pet"   

External Link/Members Only

[timsussex]

As a Geordie I went to Newcastle University and never had a Prof or Lecturer call me Pet; the ladies in the canteen and the cleaners however may well have done so

I also remember being quizzed, as the local expert,  by a fellow student on the meaning of "canny"
he had heard that if someone is described as being "canny with his money" it means he is careful verging on mean I assured him that the local girl that described him as a "canny lad" was actually being complementary

[B4bcock]

Guess they'll try to stop Geordies saying "Bonny lass" or "Bonny lad" next.  Arseholes.

[george r]

More pc madness

[webpunter]

Deliberately for a laarf in Bluestone 42 they referred to Corporal Lynda Bird as 'Bird'

Corporal Lynda Bird (aka Bird), the ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) operator, just wants to be one of the lads
And she pretty much is - she can go toe-to-toe with the rest of her team when it comes to swearing or fighting

Good girl 
I cant see the BBC authorising this now even tho they have more pressing problems

Is burd ok ?

[webpunter]

The word 'pet' is part of the Geordie language, it's political correctness gone mad.

Its the Oxford English wankers who are at fault, they can 'off you fuck'

So why is the geordie accent one of the most liked accents when it comes to having call centre staff ?

Pet must get a mention here & there and its familiar & liked in the right context 

I wonder how many person hours [man hours aint PC] Newcastle University have wasted on this project / study 
 
Clearly fuck all else better to do

[daviemac]

Guess they'll try to stop Geordies saying "Bonny lass" or "Bonny lad" next.  Arseholes.

I wouldn't care but blokes say pet to lasses and lasses say pet to blokes, it's a unisex thing.

I should add I can't find any mention of it in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, they must have better things to report on.

[JontyR]

I dunno. I think it all depends on individuals. If someone doesn't feel comfortable being referred to in a certain way they should be free to ask somone to refrain from doing so.

But similarly if the person who requests it acts like a fucking arsehole in doing so - you should be allowed to call them a fucking arsehole for acting like a fucking arsehole.

[Thephoenix]

I dunno. I think it all depends on individuals. If someone doesn't feel comfortable being referred to in a certain way they should be free to ask somone to refrain from doing so.

But similarly if the person who requests it acts like a fucking arsehole in doing so - you should be allowed to call them a fucking arsehole for acting like a fucking arsehole.

Calm down chuck!

[daviemac]

I dunno. I think it all depends on individuals. If someone doesn't feel comfortable being referred to in a certain way they should be free to ask somone to refrain from doing so.

But similarly if the person who requests it acts like a fucking arsehole in doing so - you should be allowed to call them a fucking arsehole for acting like a fucking arsehole.

Nobody has complained, it was thought up by the university's 13-strong inclusion team which along with the diversity scheme has been deemed pointless and a waste of money.

[RogerHealey]

For fuck's sake. Who dreams this shit up. Likely it's pricks with vacuous non-jobs wanting a 'cause' to champion. If people like this go unchecked they turn into Mark Drakeford.

[RedKettle]

I have found recently that many young women are using terms of endearment when serving me in cafes etc. I find it annoying because I know it is a sign that I am getting older! However I would never complain, they are being friendly and there is not enough of that in the world. I give them a smile and wish I was in the right age bracket to chat them up.

[superchamp]

It's probably just a start - I'm sure there's some enlightened twat somewhere that thinks Geordie, Scouser, Cockney, Brummie, Jock etc. should all be on the "banned list".

[Thephoenix]

I remember returning to the NW after working overseas for a while and calling into a local café.
I asked for a cup of tea, and the friendly lady behind the counter replied "Milk and sugar Love?".

I instantly felt at home.

[webpunter]

For fuck's sake. Who dreams this shit up. Likely it's pricks with vacuous non-jobs wanting a 'cause' to champion. If people like this go unchecked they turn into Mark Drakeford.

Like they've gotta go the the prison to see their kid ?

[webpunter]

I remember returning to the NW after working overseas for a while and calling into a local café.
I asked for a cup of tea, and the friendly lady behind the counter replied "Milk and sugar Love?".

I instantly felt at home.

Ex-fucking-actly

[berksboy]

What would Thelma out of the The Likely Lads make of such idiotic nonsense ?

[RandomGuy99]

Hadaway and shite man!

[Doc Holliday]

As a Geordie I went to Newcastle University and never had a Prof or Lecturer call me Pet; the ladies in the canteen and the cleaners however may well have done so

That's interesting to hear you say that as that would be my suspicion ie the people this is aimed at are highly unlikely to be using it anyway.

This is just yet another example of a 'clickbait' story. As phoenix has said these are recommendations. Guidance not rules and for staff. Students are not banned from using it indeed nobody is banned from using it, yet that is the impression given by some media outlets. External Link/Members Only

This is a multi page document within which the term 'Pet' appears once in one line only, yet has been latched upon by the media. I think the inclusion group have actually made an error here in classing it as gender specific, which it clearly isn't. They will no doubt be wishing they hadn't.

Really nothing to see here and Pet will continue to be used by those where it is part of their normal everyday language.

[FLYING BLUE]

I have to say that this kind of petty bureaucratic lunacy really boils my piss

My early years were very much one of hearing the words pet, hinny, whey aye man, lassie, bonny etc used in everyday speak.

What the hell are 'we' trying to achieve by such foolishness?

Why are 'we' trying to re-write history or erase the past?

All this stupid woke nonsense makes me want to go 

Bloody fools.

[daviemac]

That's interesting to hear you say that as that would be my suspicion ie the people this is aimed at are highly unlikely to be using it anyway.

This is just yet another example of a 'clickbait' story. As phoenix has said these are recommendations. Guidance not rules and for staff. Students are not banned from using it indeed nobody is banned from using it, yet that is the impression given by some media outlets. External Link/Members Only

This is a multi page document within which the term 'Pet' appears once in one line only, yet has been latched upon by the media. I think the inclusion group have actually made an error here in classing it as gender specific, which it clearly isn't. They will no doubt be wishing they hadn't.

Really nothing to see here and Pet will continue to be used by those where it is part of their normal everyday language.

As I said before the local paper have treated it with the contempt it deserves and just ignored it.  Go out drinking in Newcastle and at some stage you will be called 'pet' no matter if you'fe male or female.

[Colston36]

I have found recently that many young women are using terms of endearment when serving me in cafes etc. I find it annoying because I know it is a sign that I am getting older! However I would never complain, they are being friendly and there is not enough of that in the world. I give them a smile and wish I was in the right age bracket to chat them up.

I shall be 88 tomorrow amd as long as they take my dosh and like being licked for money they can call me whatever the fuck they like - can't hear it from where I like to be anyhow

[The0neAnd0nly]

I shall be 88 tomorrow amd as long as they take my dosh and like being licked for money they can call me whatever the fuck they like - can't hear it from where I like to be anyhow

Happy birthday for tomorrow Old Timer!! Hope you celebrate with being balls deep in some filly 

[JontyR]

I shall be 88 tomorrow amd as long as they take my dosh and like being licked for money they can call me whatever the fuck they like - can't hear it from where I like to be anyhow

Happy many returns. I fully expect to hear about an encounter you have arranged with two fat ladies.

[Blackpool Rock]

Happy many returns. I fully expect to hear about an encounter you have arranged with two fat ladies.

Sizeist apparently 
Funny isn't it how the younger generation are apparently offended by many of the bingo terms whereas the older generation aren't 

External Link/Members Only

[Thephoenix]

I shall be 88 tomorrow amd as long as they take my dosh and like being licked for money they can call me whatever the fuck they like - can't hear it from where I like to be anyhow

Have a great day ol' sport!

Go easy on the birthday cake!

Roly poly or cream pies are popular with punters, but beware of the spotted dick.

 

[mrwhite]

I'm guessing some soft southerner has complained about it, and some equally soft souther HR guru has agreed.

It is just an erosion of British dialects, words like "Pet," "Cocker," "Love," "Duck" etc etc have been used endearingly between women and men for centuries with absolutely no offence being intended or taken.

But now as people move from region to region they have no concept of the history of regional dialects and just hear something alien to them that they don't like and want to stamp out.

[timsussex]

External Link/Members Only

[webpunter]

I shall be 88 tomorrow amd as long as they take my dosh and like being licked for money they can call me whatever the fuck they like - can't hear it from where I like to be anyhow

Is that with a burd on your boat her thighs over your ears ?

[Dickled]

I shall be 88 tomorrow amd as long as they take my dosh and like being licked for money they can call me whatever the fuck they like - can't hear it from where I like to be anyhow

Many happy returns.