I notice that a number of folk call others honey when they interact on the boards. Is this generally used (and understood) as a term of endearment, like sweetheart or darling, or is it similar to the Aussie use of mate, which doesn’t really mean anything?
Either way, it adds colour to the boards, as far as I’m concerned.
“Honey” is often used sarcastically, too, towards a naive or clueless person.
Here it denotes a term of affection towards a member of the opposite sex.Ye gads,the PC monsters aren’t gonna take away from us too? 
I use it on the boards when I’m teasing a member of the opposite sex. It’s intended to be friendly with a bit of an edge to it. (The other day, e.g., I said to someone “username, honey, you need to get out more.”)
I think it depends on the context and what the relationship is between the two people. If Flo the Sassy Waitress calls you honey, she’s not indicating her special fondness and sweet affection for you. If someone here posts about how his cat died and I respond, “Oh honey, I’m so sorry,” it doesn’t mean I like him any differently than anyone else - I’m just conveying sympathy and empathy to his situation. When I worked in the restaurant industry, at most every place the waitstaff and bartenders usually called each other honey, sweetie, darling, loverboy, foxy, etc. It was just a way of conveying familiarity and camaraderie between ourselves, especially since at the fancier places we did NOT under any circumstances get familiar with the customers.
So honey, to answer your question, it depends. 
A couple of years ago, one of the maintenance men where I work was fired for calling an elderly resident “Honey”. She was offended, reported it, calling it sexual harassment and got him fired.
That’s a new one on me. I have never heard it used it that way.
At least, not that I know of. Hmmmmm.
RR
Thanks for all the responses. Twickster, I see why you chose your name now!
And um, missbunny, I’m blushing.
Depends on where you’re at -
In Baltimore everybody seems to call everybody ‘honey’ or the shortened version ‘hun’ - but generally to the opposite sex. You wouldn’t call your mate hon unless you swing that way - not that there is anything wrong with that. If somebody comes up to you and says “Can I ax you something hun?” you are prob talking with a Baltimorian.
I thought it was only a regional thing until I was out in Michigan where they were tossing hun about like loose change. Don’t remember hearing it anywhere else.
When I am reminding my district manager of many things I need him to do, he’ll sometimes respond, “Yes, dear.” I think the implication is that nobody besides his wife gets to dump on him that much.
My old business partner used to say the same thing.
As a teenager I looked forward to the day when a husband would call me “Honey.” Instead, he called me “Bee Poop” just to be contrary. That was husband #1.
I sometimes use “Hon” for my husband, step-children and grandchildren. I also use “Sweetie” – especially with the youngsters.
I bristle when ever anyone begins a sentence with, “Listen, Hon…” Nothing good ever comes after that. It is the opening for a snide comment.
Contrary to myth, no one in the Southern U.S. (that I am aware of) actually still seriously uses the expression, “Honey Child” or any of its dialectical forms.
My parents called each other “Shugg” – short for Sugar. I think I will begin to call Husband #2 “Eek” – short for Equal…or, better still, “Asp.”