I get this regularly — from the coffee-cart vendor or department store salesperson, on the phone or at a doctor's office. Since when do strangers feel they can address others with such familiarity? It rankles that some of the people I get this from are young enough that I could pass for their mother—that is, if I had had kids early. I understand the attempts to be friendly or convey warmth, but would the salesperson or vendor addressing me as I stand before them in a suit do the same to a man next to me dressed similarly? Somehow I doubt it.

我经常被卖咖啡的小贩或百货商店售货员这么叫，在电话里或是在医生办公室里。从什么时候开始，陌生人感觉他们可以用这样熟稔的称呼叫别人的？更让人可恼的是，有些这么称呼我的人还很年轻，我够当他们的妈妈了──如果我早点生了孩子的话。我明白这些人试图表现得亲切或是表示对你的热情，但是如此称呼站在他们面前西装革履的我的售货员，会对我旁边同样西装革履的男人也这样称呼吗？我有点怀疑。