How do you feel when a stranger calls you Brother/Sister?

I like being called sister by those who dont even know we. In the park, in the subway train, in the market, department store, when they would like to ask something or to make some plea. But if the one who is calling me is younger than I am, for me it is being impolite, quite rude, unless he is calling every one in thier place sister or brother. I noticed here in our place most are calling each one bro or sis. Its nice to hear that brother/sister.

You should live in Trinidad, which is in the Caribbean, where people are mostly black and call each other ' brother ' as a form of address. I'm not black but people call me that continually when they want to be friendly. Its nice. Knowing that someone is offering friendship this way. Its also a comfort, knowing that complete strangers are prepared to include you in their family of relationships, which is what this is.

Kamran, I can not imagine anyone being offended by being addressed as Brother or Sister. I know that there are people who do however. I do address people like this but its only after I have developed that kind of relationship with them. I have friends both online and off line that I regard as brothers and sisters. Having been raised in the south, I am inclined to use such terms of endearments such as Sugar, Hon, Darling, and I have had certain folks take offense to that. My experience has been that when people are taken aback by it, they are not happy people to begin with. Or they are from NEW YORK. I think it speaks volumes about a persons spirit when you address another human with regard in such a manner as hello My Brother. I know I am drawn in at that moment. I also believe that is conveys caring, empathy, and that there are people left in the world that still believe in the kinship of human existence.

I also believe that we're all brothers and sisters under the skin. That god is in all of us. But, to your question, I'd say that I've rarely called a man brother. I don't know why, it just doesn't come up somehow. It never occurs to me to do it. I do, however, call other women sister, and often. Sometimes it's in a sly, funny way, when we connect and agree on a certain point, and that's always fun. I also call other women sister, but it means much more. I have some remarkable women friends, and I feel so close to them, it's like they are my sisters, part of me somehow. My best friend, here at home, is like that. Sometimes, I'm not sure where she ends and I begin. We can be in tune with each other to the degree that we're thinking the same sentences and finishing each other's. It's a beautiful thing to have. I've never seen anyone offended by my calling them sister, or on the rare occasions, brother. It seems like an odd thing to be offended by. It's such a welcoming, open-hearted word, where would the offense be? But now, I'm asking questions, and this is your discussion, Kamran. :)

I agree with you and while I wouldn't call everyone brother and sister, just because some people don't understand and it's not the culture here to do so, I do call people who worship with me, my brother or sister. I am a Jehovah's Witness and we call each other brother or sister so and so because we are spiritual brothers and sisters. I agree with you that in the long run and when you look down the line of history, we all are really distantly related. However, some people don't view it that way and it's just not the way it's done here in America for the most part. So, if I were you, I would be selective in who I gave that title to. Only because it has various meanings to diffrent people...

Asslam o Alaikum brother!!(kind of a answer to ur post :D ) well,as far as i think i dunt feel shame to call sumone ma brother to to be called his/her sister..even though i feel good abt dat...when sumone calls me his sister i feel like dat person has got sum sort of repect n affection in a positive way for me ..n in a way i feel so secure dat now dat person wunt harm me in anyway. em frum pakistan and usuallay wht happens here in our country ..in universities dis is da best way to start any conversation with anyone..even when u dunt know da name of da guy or gal ..u can just call dem by ADA(brother) and ADEE(sister)...dis is how we manage to communicate with each other...dis overcomes many problems.. 1-In ma religion islam it is prohibited to take names of galz or to call guys by dere names(wunt go in detail otherwise it will be den a religios controversy and @ dis initial stage dunt wana face dis even) 2- u get a chance to speak to someone. 3- u get repect from dat stranger 4- u feel a bit more secure from his/her side..n lots more. so i dunt feel any harm callin sumone ma brother even and ifsumone dunt likes it ..den i dunt give by callin his/her name...callin sumone is totally ma right ..wether sumone likes it or not...cuz i dunt like callin other people to whom i dunt have any akin relationship by dre names .. DATS IT ! Allah hafiz!!

I have no brothers or sisters, I am the only child and I welcome people calling me a brother, in actual fact throughout my life I have sought out brotherly figures in friends, close friends I call brothers because that's what they are to me, maybe not in blood but certainly near as damn it. All my lovely lady friends on Mylot I refer to as sisters and they love it too, I always refer to them as my sis x And I always get called bruv which is very endearing and makes me feel special.

You made me think Kamran. I grew up in very conservative place. If I would say brother or sister to stranger, they would send me to mental hospital for treatment. I am far away from my childhood and conservative ideas in life. However, I don't want to be call sister by total strangers or even my close friends. Yes, we are all children of the same god, but I would like to be sister only for my brother. My sister is not alive and I wish she is here to call me sister. It is all related to culture. One day, Jehovah's Witnesses knocked my door. When I opened my door, toll, scary looking guy said, "hello sister"..... I was offended. No questions about. I think I feel better to be call friend, good friend, best friend, but not sister.... So to answer your question my friend, I am not much comfortable to be sister to total stranger, but it depends on situation. In most cases I would feel like those people need something from me and feel like someone is passing my private zone.

I can see why some could be offended. They think you calling them sister or brother you are being too familiar and therefore being rude or too forward.I don't get called sister but on occasion, I get sweetie or hun or honey.I don't mind it. It is another way of being friendly to me.

I would feel honored and flattered. It's not everyday that someone would call me sister and when somebody calls me sister, I would think that he/she regards me very highly or as a friend. Here in my country calling somebody 'sis' is sort of an endearment to someone we consider a worthy friend. It would be a great compliment indeed to be called sister by somebody who isn't my blood relative.

i find it rather odd, but i also understand that it has a lot to do with culture. what i hate is when one of these dudes calls me 'ma' or 'mom'! thats just annoying!

I'm not at all bothered if someone calls me sister. I don't see any reason to be offended it by it. I go to India once a year or so and whilst out shopping am often called sister (or "didi" as they say there which means elder sister) which I understand is a mark of respect. When we went on tour for a few days, our driver was calling my cousin and me Madam for the first 5 minutes of the journey and I didn't like it at all, then he accidentally called us didi and then apologised and I said I would much prefer that he said that than Madam! He was very pleased and from then on he talked non stop about all of the places we were driving through as he said he could relax and treat us like family now which was very sweet. In general calling someone brother or someone is not very common in the UK, although my husband and I have some Nepali friends and whenever we socialise with them they call us Bhaiya and Behen and we call them that too. It really is quite nice, although people don't even know each other's names generally LOL!

yes it is a very friendly to hear such words...some country uses that addressing to anybody whom they wanted to be their friends...i used that words sometimes specially when i am stranger to a certain place...

Thank you very much for starting this topic brother! i always do this here in india when i have to talk to someone who is stranger to me,and i dont think there is something that i am doing wrong to call someone brother! we all are human beings so we are somehow or the other related to each other so its fare to call someone brother or sister!

LOL when a stranger does it...it does NOT go over well..particularly when its a racial motivated..That drives me absolutely insane and is something I really can't stand...BUT when a close friend does it, calls me their sister, I am beyond flattered and love it..I have close friends that I refer to as my sisters or brothers adn their kids are my nieces and nephews etc etc..but thats something totally different..

I don't make a big deal out of it. I guess it's just a more friendly or polite way to approach someone rather than saying "hey!" or "yo!". I actually find it flattering that someone would want to be called my brother or sister! LOL

I must admit it is a bit strange if one belongs to the more "conservative" type. But I guess it is no biggie. It is just another form of endearment like dude, mate, pal, etc. That person wants to be your friend... so why get mad? :P

i feel odd people would address me as sister when we haven't met or been introduced. I dont know, I'm not comfortable with it. Maybe just a matter of culture and how I was raised.

we often called somebody brother/sister,althought he/she is not our silbing,i think it is goog,it just like say hello ,and it is a way to pay your respects