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Strangers calling you 'my friend'?

Nykay

What do you think of strangers saying this to you? It could be something like "how are you my friend?" or "no problem my friend". I know it's not really Irish people who say it. I heard it said to me by a barber last I think.

When I hear it being said it kind of annoys me, because the person saying it thinks that it makes you feel good. But I think it's kind of deceptive. I just think to myself "we've never met before; if you want to be nice to me, you really don't have to pretend to be my friend".

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py2006

They are just trying to be friendly.

Get over it.

Thelonious Monk

I like it, it's better than "mate" anyway

artanevilla

I would say it is very very very very very very very very very low on my list of priorities to even consider it an issue.

IAMAMORON

I hate it , pal.

breezy1985

Nykay wrote: »

What do you think of strangers saying this to you? It could be something like "how are you my friend?" or "no problem my friend". I know it's not really Irish people who say it. I heard it said to me by a barber last I think.

When I hear it being said it kind of annoys me, because the person saying it thinks that it makes you feel good. But I think it's kind of deceptive. I just think to myself "we've never met before; if you want to be nice to me, you really don't have to pretend to be my friend".

I think you must have a great life if this is all you have to worry bout

Nykay

breezy1985 wrote: »

I think you must have a great life if this is all you have to worry bout

I suppose it's better than 'boss'.

breezy1985

Nykay wrote: »

I suppose it's better than 'boss'.

If it's good enough for Bruce it's good enough for me

[Deleted User]

If you say so, "dude".

Sky King

'Look at me i have loads of friends'

screamer

Try being called “dawling” and then come back to me....

Mister Vain

I used to work with a very religious Nigerian chap you kept saying. "I pray for you my friend. I pray for you."

StackSteevens

Nykay wrote: »

What do you think of strangers saying this to you? It could be something like "how are you my friend?" or "no problem my friend". I know it's not really Irish people who say it. I heard it said to me by a barber last I think.

When I hear it being said it kind of annoys me, because the person saying it thinks that it makes you feel good. But I think it's kind of deceptive. I just think to myself "we've never met before; if you want to be nice to me, you really don't have to pretend to be my friend".

This brings me right back to those happy days when every letter from the Civil Service started with the words "A Chara" (and ended with "mise le meas") - hence it's definitely a traditional Irish greeting!

Mam of 4

It's better than "pet" ..

Spacific

Mam of 4 wrote:

It's better than "pet" ..

Or love

[Deleted User]

Did you say something to me Nooch?

Mister Vain

Mam of 4 wrote: »

It's better than "pet" ..

True. Better than prick too.

whisky_galore

The only kind of people I know that use "my friend" are scammers and/or stallholders of foreign holiday souvenir tat.

"You like?"
"Very good price for you, my friend".

suicide_circus

py2006 wrote: »

They are just trying to be friendly.

Get over it.

I don't agree. It's usually done in a manner to disguise (poorly) a certain level of aggression.

Gregor Samsa

Nykay wrote: »

When I hear it being said it kind of annoys me, because the person saying it thinks that it makes you feel good. But I think it's kind of deceptive. I just think to myself "we've never met before; if you want to be nice to me, you really don't have to pretend to be my friend".

You know that they're not actually pretending to be your friend, right? It's just an expression, it doesn't literally mean that they suddenly regard you as a close friend and that you have to reciprocate.

Some other things that aren't to be taken literally:

"Good morning". This isn't an instruction, just a greeting. You can be having a bad morning and still either say or hear this without offence.

"How's it going?". This again is a greeting, not an actual invitation to explain your current circumstances.

"See you later". This is a parting phrase that does not create an obligation to meet the person again.

"Yes sir!". This is a formal but polite response. It does not imply that you have been knighted by the British Monarch without your knowledge.

"fúck off, ya bollix". An informal, and somewhat crude, dismissal. This does not literally mean that you are an actual testicle, or that any kind of sexual activity is mandated.

[Deleted User]

A term of endearment ........ nothing wrong with it in most uses IMO.
I used to frequent a lovely Italian restaurant in Austria and the owner always greeted me enthusiastically with "Hello, my Irish friend".
On my last visit he had a picture of himself with Leo Varadkar to show me. Leo must have holidayed there in Summer 19.

Thelonious Monk

Pal can be quite passive aggressive, in Dublinese anyway

Flaccus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWEkGzDyW_s

Oink

Buddy/mate. Urgh. if you’re a stranger looking for a favour, you’re not helping your cause.

Call me pal once and I’m gone.

But if you’re an 18 year old pup and you call me “son”, let’s just say I hope you’re not drowning and looking for my help.

Username here

I'M NOT YOUR FRIEND, GUY!!

JohnnyFlash

Amigo

Sardonicat

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

You know that they're not actually pretending to be your friend, right? It's just an expression, it doesn't literally mean that they suddenly regard you as a close friend and that you have to reciprocate.

Some other things that aren't to be taken literally:

"Good morning". This isn't an instruction, just a greeting. You can be having a bad morning and still either say or hear this without offence.

"How's it going?". This again is a greeting, not an actual invitation to explain your current circumstances.

"See you later". This is a parting phrase that does not create an obligation to meet the person again.

"Yes sir!". This is a formal but polite response. It does not imply that you have been knighted by the British Monarch without your knowledge.

"fúck off, ya bollix". An informal, and somewhat crude, dismissal. This does not literally mean that you are an actual testicle, or that any kind of sexual activity is mandated.

Similarly 'Go on out of that' is not an instruction to climb onto or out of anything. 'Get real' does not imply that prior to the instruction you have existed only as a figment if someone's imagination.

I like this game!

breezy1985

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

Pal can be quite passive aggressive, in Dublinese anyway

Anyone says "buddy" to me and I'm gone purely because my brain associates it with Dubs who want my money

ablelocks

Nykay wrote: »

What do you think of strangers saying this to you? It could be something like "how are you my friend?" or "no problem my friend". I know it's not really Irish people who say it. I heard it said to me by a barber last I think.

When I hear it being said it kind of annoys me, because the person saying it thinks that it makes you feel good. But I think it's kind of deceptive. I just think to myself "we've never met before; if you want to be nice to me, you really don't have to pretend to be my friend".

you ok, hun?

ablelocks

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

Some other things that aren't to be taken literally:

"How's it going?". This again is a greeting, not an actual invitation to explain your current circumstances.

until it is, and then you get a full account of how it is, in fact, going for them - and usually, it's not a good story.

pappyodaniel

"My friend? You like chilli or garlic sauce on your kebab?"