When an American is explaining something to someone on the internet - someone they barely know - and they address them as 'sweetheart' (or 'sweetie' or 'hun'), like, what is that all about? Things like 'Listen sweetie...' and generally when they are disagreeing with someone, or correcting them or something.

Is it way of softening the blow that they are disagreeing, and trying to communicate friendliness? Or are they trying to establish a sort of pecking order - like, they're a more knowledgable auntie teaching a silly young child, to try to make the person feel patronised?

Do you do this, sweetie? ;D And how do you react when others do it to you?

It's terribly condescending, and usually only done by people who are ignorant and are offended by being "one-upped" in the discussion. In real life, it's also used in conjunction with an obnoxious finger waggle and a duck-lipped pout.

What is your personal reason for pinning this on Americans? I have had numerous conversations with people from all over the globe & I have experienced being called "sweetie, sweetheart", "hun", "doll face", and even "love" from a lot of people who don't know me that aren't American. Anyway, IT ANNOYS THE HELL OUT OF ME regardless of where they are from, and in most cases it does seem to be used in a condescending way. I get the vibe that the other person is attempting to talk down to me, or trying to insult me without actually crossing that official line, if you dig what I'm sayin'. :)

I don't have some special personal reason. Simply that the numerous times I've seen people use the term 'sweetie' or 'sweetheart', in an online setting to a stranger, they have been Americans.

Brits may use terms of endearment in real life (yep, you'll get shop assistants calling you 'love' or even 'lover'!) or to people online with whom they've become friends, but I have never seen them use such terms online to relative strangers, and certainly not in the specific debate/disagreement type context I described. And obviously as a Brit, I tend to be aware of why and how my fellow Brits use terms of endearment, so I have no reason to ask about British usage of the terms.

So I am asking about American usage, because it differs from British usage, and I'm curious what it means. I would ask about Australian usage, but I've never ever experienced Australians using such words - they're more likely to call you a dag, and only when they've got to know you! ;D

What's a "dag"?

It's the dried poop that's left dangling from the wool around a sheep's arse. So rather different in meaning from 'sweetie'. ;D

lol! I did not know that!!!

Makes me cringe whenever I read it. xD

Things such as 'listen sweetie' are normally used to be condescending

I use the phrase "Sweetheart" occasionally on my wife when I'm faking aggravation/about to beat her. It's more when she's purposefully annoying the crap out of me, and I act like it's getting on my nerves.

As others have said, it's used to be condescending.

I've only used it as a term of endearment. It has never occurred to me that it could be used in a condescending manner. ;D

I don't think anyone has called me sweetheart while being condescending, or using it at all really. Is there an example on the forums of it being used?

I used the term "sweetie" once in my entire life (in real life). It was to a little girl.