OoP - A "mate" question for the Brits

[snufflesnbeakie]

No: HPFGUIDX 65930

--- 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 know that it is crazy that a gal from small town, U.S.A., would 
chime in on this one but just a thought. . .

The times that I noticed Ron using "mate" a lot seemed to be when 
Harry was raving mad about something.  I know that it's been said 
that that is an expression that british boys use, but I took it as 
Ron's nervous, and somewhat feeble attempt to endear himself to 
Harry.  Harry was so fuming mad - I think Ron was trying to align 
himself with Harry using this terminology.  Hermione, however, took 
a more direct approach by saying that if Harry hadn't noticed they - 
were on his side etc. . .

Again just a small town girl's opinion. . .

Beth