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# Thanks
I'm not wishing to be a mardy cow about it - it's just that it something that I find diffcult to deal with - especially as I'm a female busdriver and it's so hilarious for all the sexist bastards in Sheffield to say 'Thanks Mate!' 'Thanks Pal!' as they leave my bus - if I was allowed I followed them off and kick them in the balls - if they had any ;) And before anybody jumps to any conclusion it happens to all us female busdrivers not just me.
(, Tue 27 Jan 2009, 13:47, archived)
# ma'am
(, Tue 27 Jan 2009, 13:49, archived)
# I would consider "mate" and "pal" to be relatively unisex, myself.
I certainly wouldn't assume anyone using them to a girl was having a dig in some way.

Perhaps it is different in your part of the world. Or perhaps the people who use your bus are arseholes.

Q: Obviously the ideal is "neither", but out of "mate" and "dearie", which would least annoy you?
(, Tue 27 Jan 2009, 13:50, archived)
# Well I'm from a different generation then
Mate and Pal are definitely not generic terms that can be applied to both sexes - sorry

As a choice to what to be called I'm not all that bothered - a simple 'Thanks' is enough and if they have nothing good to say to me then nothing would be better than Mate or Pal - BTW when I say they call me Mate or Pal they spit the words at me it isn't just a general "Thanks, Mate" because they haven't really taken any notice of the driver.


**EDIT: Sorry for the rant I hope you all don't think I'm totally neurotic and paranoid. I probably need more sleep and beer.
(, Tue 27 Jan 2009, 13:52, archived)
# This

(, Tue 27 Jan 2009, 14:55, archived)
# I was on a bus the other day where the (male) driver referred to all passengers as 'mate'.
Even little old ladies - bit weird I thought. I think he was just on autopilot.
(, Tue 27 Jan 2009, 13:52, archived)
# Yes I think there are a lot of ignorant busdrivers too
I know I work with a lot of them.
(, Tue 27 Jan 2009, 13:52, archived)