# "Hey there, PAL!"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-there-pal/852382>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 22, 2020, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-there-pal/852382 "2020-04-22T22:01:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2020, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-there-pal/852382/21 "2020-04-23T18:08:48Z")

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The only time I use “pal” (or “buddy” for that matter), is as a nice way of saying “jerk”. If I’m being being neutral to someone I don’t know I’ll say “miss”, “ma’am” or “sir” or “man”.

Jimmy Fallon says “pal”, presumably in the nice way, to his guests ALL THE TIME, and yes it does come off as somewhat insincere and bugs me. That might be part of why I think he’s likely an insincere guy.

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**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-there-pal/852382/22 "2020-04-24T02:22:17Z")

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> [@P-man](#):
>
> I usually call students of any gender “Bub” if I don’t call them by their actual name.

Snikt snikt?

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**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2020, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-there-pal/852382/23 "2020-04-24T19:41:35Z")

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“Pal” is something I read in old comics and pulp novels, not what I recall hearing in 70-odd years. Maybe on TV.

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