Strangers calling you 'my friend'?

Nykay · 28-10-2020 03:33PM #1

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".

py2006 · 28-10-2020 03:35PM

They are just trying to be friendly.

Get over it.

Thelonious Monk · 28-10-2020 03:36PM

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

artanevilla · 28-10-2020 03:36PM

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 · 28-10-2020 03:36PM

I hate it , pal.

breezy1985 · 28-10-2020 03:36PM

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 · 28-10-2020 03:38PM

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 · 28-10-2020 03:40PM

Nykay wrote: »

I suppose it's better than 'boss'.

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

28-10-2020 03:41PM

If you say so, "dude".

Sky King · 28-10-2020 03:43PM

'Look at me i have loads of friends'

screamer · 28-10-2020 03:44PM

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

Mister Vain · 28-10-2020 03:45PM

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

StackSteevens · 28-10-2020 03:46PM

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 · 28-10-2020 03:46PM

It's better than "pet" ..

Spacific · 28-10-2020 03:47PM

Mam of 4 wrote:

It's better than "pet" ..

Or love

28-10-2020 03:47PM

Did you say something to me Nooch?

Mister Vain · 28-10-2020 03:48PM

Mam of 4 wrote: »

It's better than "pet" ..

True. Better than prick too.

whisky_galore · 28-10-2020 03:51PM

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 · 28-10-2020 03:53PM

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 · 28-10-2020 03:54PM

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.

28-10-2020 03:56PM

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 · 28-10-2020 03:56PM

Pal can be quite passive aggressive, in Dublinese anyway

Flaccus · 28-10-2020 03:56PM

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

Oink · 28-10-2020 04:00PM

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 · 28-10-2020 04:04PM

I'M NOT YOUR FRIEND, GUY!!

JohnnyFlash · 28-10-2020 04:04PM

Amigo

Sardonicat · 28-10-2020 04:06PM

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 · 28-10-2020 04:17PM

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 · 28-10-2020 04:17PM

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 · 28-10-2020 04:20PM

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 · 28-10-2020 04:22PM

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

Strangers calling you 'my friend'?

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