http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16808941
I never really think much of this but I call friends "mate", "pal", "love", "fella" I've even used "flower" a fair bit, "chief" is another one. Between friends it's not much of an issue.
However after reading that, it made me think just how much I use references at work, especially "love" when dealing with customers. I don't really think much of it when I say it, I think it's a fairly nice thing to say and it bears little meaning to me in the context of how love is usually used.
I have however been told a couple of times that a certain person doesn't like the word "love".
Anyone ever had any awkward moments? I've no comical stories to tell if I'm honest, but this is Britain I can imagine somebody said something and it went terribly wrong!