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Nah, 'girl' is any woman 15 years younger than the speaker. The same way my 70-year-old relatives talk about a 50-year-old as 'such a nice young man'.
I don’t know. This whole world is topsy turvy when I’ve got 20 year old girls calling me “dude” and guys much shorter than me calling me “buddy.” You’d still get a glass cracked on your head if you say that to another man where I’m from. It’s like calling someone “friend” or “homeboy” making quotation marks with both your hands at someone right before you spit at and smack them across the face. That term was always considered insulting in any context. You never call someone that.
‘Dude’? or ‘buddy’?
Reminds me of a Pratchett quote:
“Dude” is appropriate. Just in proper context and not when a woman calls you it. “Buddy” was always considered an insult where I’m from.
Dude is one of those deliberate friendzone words coming from a young woman. Buddy, mate etc.
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"Nice young man," not a "nice boy". So there's not the same parallel. Also, although just another anecdote, my ~70-year-old relatives would never refer to 50-year-olds as "young."
That being said, when I'm 50 someday I'd be happy to take the free W of being referred to as a "nice young man" or a "nice boy," and possibly ration the memory like a camel.
"Out with the boys"?
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I think a better example would be “kid.” I was “the kid” at work until I was 30, and it only stopped because we hired a guy in his early 20s.
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You may find this video by David Mitchell amusing.
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