A New York Times article last year detailed how being called 'sweetie' or 'dear' chips away at the dignity of older people. 'Professionals call it elderspeak, the sweetly belittling form of address that has always rankled older people,' the article says. The piece refers to studies showing 'that the insults can have health consequences, especially if people mutely accept the attitudes behind them.'

去年《纽约时报》上的一篇文章详细讲述了对年长的人来说，被称为“亲爱的”有损他们的尊严。文章中说，这种甜蜜但带有贬低色彩的称呼形式总会让年长的人感到恼怒。文章引述了研究结果，说这显示出这种侮辱性称呼能带来健康问题，特别是如果人们默默地接受了称呼背后的态度时。