OoP - A "mate" question for the Brits

[fuzzywuzzybird]

No: HPFGUIDX 65451

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "darrin_burnett" 
<bard7696 at a...> wrote:
> Ok, did anyone else get really tired of Ron saying "mate" every 
other 
> sentence?
> 
> That's the first time I can recall Ron calling Harry "mate" and I 
> don't think -- though I could be wrong -- anyone else has ever 
called 
> him "mate." (Maybe Fred and George did, but I don't remember.)
> 
> My question for any British folks, is whether or not "mate" is 
> something guys don't say to each other until age 15 or 16.
> 
> I know, what with all the other stuff in the book, this is 
relatively 
> small, but I'm re-reading it now and it is really annoying me. :)
> 
> Darrin
> -- No band name is allowed to have the word "mate" in it, from now 
on.

I'm sure he used it before. I can't say I really noticed the use 
of 'mate.' I have a friend who says it so often we make fun of it! 
Maybe its the change in friendship status - it takes a while to get 
to know someone before you relax with the language you use. But it 
can't be any worse than the American Colloquialism 'guys?'
(I'm just thankful that no Rowling character has used 'geezer' yet!)