Because I was raised by Afro-centric, feminist hippies, I bristle a bit at being called girl (by a man), chick, doll, baby, or anything like that. I've never minded being called Sweetheart, honey, darling, things like that. I did allow my high school sweetheart to call me Boo, because he did it rarely, and always ironically. I dated a guy who tried to call me his boodah or Buddha, I'm not sure which, but I shut that shit down after he told some waitress that's who I was. I corrected him the second she was out of earshot.
"Um... You don't know me like that. My name is [First Name] and we are not on a nickname level right now, Dre. We definitely do not imply to others that I'm your girlfriend. I am flattered, but you need to slow down."
By "flattered" I meant annoyed. Concerned. A little grossed out.
Anyway, years before that I had a boyfriend who called me Baby, or My Baby, or Babe. I tried to tolerate it, but eventually told him I didn't like it. He tried to stop, but kept slipping. Finally, he explained that he knew I was grown, and agreed I was in full effect, totally actualized all that good stuff. However, he thought of me as small and cute. I was initially offended. I'm not small. I am damn' near five nine. Heavy. Solid. He pointed out that compared to him I was very small. It was true. He said I triggered cuteness aggression in him. Ever look at a pet, and want to eat it, or squeeze too hard when hugging? Not that you do it, but there's the urge to be too rough? That's an actual known phenomenon. He said also wanted to take care of me. He asked to please just let him call me his baby. I agreed, and eventually it grew on me. Now I don't mind.
I have a nickname though. My mother gave it to me. All my friends use it. I prefer to be called by that name by an intimate partner. LOL Actually, when a lover uses my full first name, I always think we are about to have a fight! The other day, Dude was like, "Thank you, [First name]. I appreciate that." I asked him in all seriousness if I had angered him. I don't think he used my shortened name, let alone my whole first name, in months. LOL He said that was a weird question, and pointed out that I never use his nickname or apply a pet name to him. It's true. Even during sex I use all three syllables of his given name.
Anyway. Channel surfing. It's fine initially, but once you let me see three minutes of something, I'm watching that. Don't change it. Pisses me off, just not enough to complain out loud.