There are two instances in which it is admissable for one female to call another, "hon":
1) If the woman speaking is, in fact, an adult, grown woman, and the person she is addressing is a girl, i.e., there is a significant age difference between the two. In this situation, it must always be the older of the two addressing the younger -- never in reverse, or,
2) if we are fucking.
The affectionate appellations, "hon", "honey", and "sweetie" are usually reserved for children under age 12, significant others, or people who are at least one or two generations younger than yourself. Addressing someone who could, biologically, have mothered you as "hon" -- FOUR TIMES in one transaction -- while avoiding eye contact and smiling sweetly at the produce could not only be misconstrued as ignorant, but condescending.
Just tryin' to help, hon. You have a nice day, too.
Posted by stephanie at May 1, 2006 06:27 PM