Similar here, I was rockin' a pretty serious beard while working for a company that maintained POS equipment in independent grocery stores. Many of our clients were smaller ethnic shops, mostly Arab of various derivations.
There were a few where, the first time I walked in (moments after calling to say I'd arrived), the staff greeted me in a friendly "hello brother" sort of way, once in exactly those words. I didn't see any point in arguing, but when prayer time rolled around and I said I'd keep working, the shock was delicious. All good-natured, just unexpected all around.
I had to ditch the beard recently to get a good seal with a respirator, but it'll be back someday.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we all greeted each other like this regardless of color, creed, nation, etc? I think I’ll just start doing this - “hello brother!” “Hello sister”
Word. I've been trying to do similar in my life and when I do make the effort to raise myself to the same level as those I am greeting the interaction is so much more fulfilling for us both.
No, it would not be good. There is a difference between brother, best friend, friend, buddy, etc. You can be friendly to people without diminishing what those words actually mean. Not everything has to be "awesome", some things are just great, good or even okay. And that is literally okay.
It's all fun and games until someone is incredibly offended because she actually identifies as a genderfluid demisexual wolf in a human body and you just referred to her as "sister"
There were a few where, the first time I walked in (moments after calling to say I'd arrived), the staff greeted me in a friendly "hello brother" sort of way, once in exactly those words. I didn't see any point in arguing, but when prayer time rolled around and I said I'd keep working, the shock was delicious. All good-natured, just unexpected all around.
I had to ditch the beard recently to get a good seal with a respirator, but it'll be back someday.