Why offended by calling some one as an uncle?

[Chaos]

This one indian grocery store guy was soo offended me calling uncle in dallas. Where i couldnt even stop laughing. He def. Older than me. Ur thoughts?

 

[IndianRenegade]

offended how? how did he react?

[randomGuy]

Yes sure older but he was thinking by 5 yrs n you were thinking by 20 yrs that's why he was angry...

 

Edited October 27, 2025 by randomGuy

[IndianRenegade]

just call him beta next time.... 

[zen]

I think it is better to avoid calling uncle-aunty to strangers unless they are in seniors category.  It is good to built rapport first before giving such titles. Most conversations can be handled with "Excuse me, I have a question", etc. 

[vvvslaxman]

Uncle, sir , bro,  should be left in India lol Even sir is fine as even Americans at times use Sir.  But among tamils atleast they call each other "Ji" sollunga ji, eppaid irukeenga ji. 

[Lord]

An uncle calling someone else (probably younger) an uncle is indeed weird

[Texy]

call them buddha instead 

Edited October 30, 2025 by Texy

[coffee_rules]

Yes I’ll be offended too if an uncle calls me uncle !!

[Vancouver]

If you are not related to the person, do not call them uncle or whatever. In this case, guy was at his workplace and to him it may have sounded inappropriate. 

 

Words lose their meaning if thrown around like that, uncle and nephew/niece relationship is one of platonic intimacy.

[Mariyam]

Would be very offended if someone called me uncle.

[Rajiv]

16 hours ago, Mariyam said:

Would be very offended if someone called me uncle.

So "Aunty" or "Miss" 

 

Actually the terms Uncle/Aunty are very desi ( used by Phillipinos a lot too ) . However, some people find these terms offensive, regardless of the age gap they imply, while others are genuinely hurt by them. At work,  "dear," "son," or "uncle" could lead to a call from HR

 

 

[Mariyam]

On 11/1/2025 at 6:00 AM, Rajiv said:

So "Aunty" or "Miss" 

 

Actually the terms Uncle/Aunty are very desi ( used by Phillipinos a lot too ) . However, some people find these terms offensive, regardless of the age gap they imply, while others are genuinely hurt by them. At work,  "dear," "son," or "uncle" could lead to a call from HR

 

 

Most of the times its "madam" or "ma'am". That is quite annoying too.

 

If its a traffic havaldar wanting a bribe its always "madam"

[New guy]

On 10/27/2025 at 11:39 PM, Chaos said:

This one indian grocery store guy was soo offended me calling uncle in dallas. Where i couldnt even stop laughing. He def. Older than me. Ur thoughts?

 

I think he was offended by an uncle calling him an uncle 

[kepler37b]

On 10/31/2025 at 1:23 PM, Mariyam said:

Would be very offended if someone called me uncle.

 

I am convinced that the person behind @Mariyam ji is a man. 

[Lord]

13 hours ago, kepler37b said:

 

I am convinced that the person behind @Mariyam ji is a man. 

 

Behind her doing what?

[G_B_]

Kids call me uncle and i don't mind at all. 

[Rajiv]

On 11/4/2025 at 6:57 PM, Mariyam said:

Most of the times its "madam" or "ma'am". That is quite annoying too.

 

If its a traffic havaldar wanting a bribe its always "madam"

I can imagine them saying "Mai'dum" 

[BacktoCricaddict]

I get super-annoyed with "Bro." Especially when it is a long and drawn out BRRRRO.

 

We have such cool ways to address people in our own languages. Yaar. Guru. Bhai. Bhaiyya. Even Boss sounds ok. But the BRRRRO....? 

 

 

[coffee_rules]

1 hour ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

I get super-annoyed with "Bro." Especially when it is a long and drawn out BRRRRO.

 

We have such cool ways to address people in our own languages. Yaar. Guru. Bhai. Bhaiyya. Even Boss sounds ok. But the BRRRRO....? 

 

 

Houdu Maga!!