Exactly when did it become okay to address women they have no relationship with by these terms?

And why do they become so outraged and offended when politely asked not to?

"Just trying to be friendly" is the usual justification, but if I’m spending my money in their businesses, I expect to be treated politely - not spoken to as if I were their pet dog, in my dotage or mentally challenged.

It is not an indication of good old Aussie egalitarianism - it is a ‘one up, one down’ transaction, with the person dishing out the pet names obviously believing they are in a superior position.

Think about it - would you call your boss, bank manager, member of parliament, a judge or police officer ‘dear’?

Are there equivalently humiliating terms I could use for men? How about ‘boy’ and ‘sonny’?

It may surprise Port Macquarie residents to know that this practice rarely happens outside of NSW. I recently spent 10 days interstate and not once was I addressed by any of these terms. Overseas visitors to Port find it both puzzling and rude.

My solution? Easy. Never go back to a business where staff call me by these terms. We have lots of shopping choices these days, and no online store ever called me ‘dear’.

CT, Telegraph Point