"my friend" in conversation sounds so insincere

[Syrinx]

As in "hello, my friend."

This phrase has gotten to be so common on the bobblehead shows, that it is driving me to insanity.

Millionaires that have never met each other before, greeting each other as "my friend."

Ugh!

Even people that I more or less like.

Letterman and Maddow. Craig Ferguson. Even some of the people on the news!

It has gotten so bad that I'm starting to refuse to reveal to my actual friends that they are really my friends.

[rucky]

1. Unless you say it like the Dos Equis guy.

Stay thirsty, my friend.

[Syrinx]

2. you have a point!

He is kind of interesting.

[JHB]

3. Or in some furrin language...

...mon ami, mi amigo, mate!

[Joe Shlabotnik]

4. I get creeped out by those whom I barely know,

when they refer to me as 'my friend' My first reaction (and I stick with it) ....is "No you are NOT, now go and try to hustle someone else." Reminds me of shady-acquaintance type drug dealers, and used car salesman.

I do agree, however that the Dos Equis spokesman was a rare exception....... wait.....on second thought, he was just trying to sell me beer.... I feel so betrayed!

[2pooped2pop]

5. snake oil salesman lingo

perfect choice for the rethugs.

[Gman]

6. Hmmm... I use it when I see

a person performing a service like a cashier or salesperson that is really going out of their way to help me, they don't have to go that far and I see it as an act of a kind of "friendship". I use it when saying thank you. No one has ever balked and I usually get a smile.

[lunatica]

7. I don't even use that term when I'm talking to my friends

I think it's condescending.

[sibelian]

13. I see what you're saying but I think "append nothing" is the best.

I really HATE "my friend" but "just sayin" makes me want to throw things. If it stems from "I don't agree with you" or "you may not like this" and you want it to be polite, just word the thing politely in the first place...

Observe my cunning use of "I see what you're saying" in the subject line...

I suppose that could also be annoying...

[Javaman]

9. When I was kid there was an older mentally handicapped guy

in my neighborhood.

He used to call everyone "my friend".

now when I hear mittens say it, I can't help but think of that guy.

[ellenfl]

10. rmoney's 'my friend' sounds sarcastic. eom

[Javaman]

16. True, but more so it sounds smarmy and condecending.

smarmy romney.

[ellenfl]

17. yup. btw, it's spelled 'rmoney'. ;~) eom

[hfojvt]

11. "aqualung, my friend, don't you start away uneasy

You poor old sop, you see it's only me"

In a sense, famous people are all friends. They belong to the same exclusive club, and one of the first rules of the club is

1. Acknowledge the greatness of other members of the cluib.

[jwirr]

12. That is because it is often used in an unfriendly way. LOOK my friend or Look you!

[flamingdem]

14. It's a copy from Spanish?

Everyone says mi amigo en espanol and it sounds sincere