Calling another guy "Dear" is NOT normal.

It always makes me wonder why they use all of these terms. I constantly get hello "sir" and it just sounds weird. To everyone who speaks English as a second language: hello {first name}, hello Mr/Mrs {last name} or just "hello" are easy/acceptable ways to greet someone. You cannot go wrong with just "hello".

I have not been called dear yet by anyone overseas yet but my not-so-straight buddies often use the term of endearment haha.

Call me dear as long as you pay me

This isn't a big issue. But this thread made my day. Thanks

Haha, it used to make me feel weird at first but now I am kinda used to it. I saw it as a gesture of politeness so I have no problem with it.

lol....yes. It must sound weird to you but you have to understand it is a cultural thing with us Indians. We've been taught that it is impolite to address people with their first names, till that person actually becomes familiar to you. At the same time, we do not want to make the greetings too formal. Mr. Ms...or "Ji"..are considered too formal. It is much easier for us to find this middle ground in our own languages but we mess it up when we take this concept to the foreigners....

...so, please no mind dear....I no gay nor you my literal "dear"....I just trying to figure out if you are dear enough to become a friend/friendly acquaintance or just a formal business contact...