“So when speaking to a beloved Freeper I often end my remark with a ‘dear’ such as ‘dear brother in Christ’ or ‘dear sitetest.’”
Frankly, Alamo-Girl, how you're using the word is very similar to how it is used in a salutation. It's being used as an adjective to modify the noun naming the person to whom something is addressed. Alex Murphy is using it as a noun to name the person.
The first use, as an adjective, is as a declaration to the other that one cares for the other, holds the other in high regard.
The second use, as a noun, names the other as an object of intimacy (that's why we call it a term of endearment - the two persons are endeared one to the other), of love already-established and mutually accepted.
That's why it sounds inappropriate to call someone "dear" who is not already an intimate. In fact, that's why it seems to be a sarcastic insult where the assurance of mutual love and regard don't already exist.
Think about dating a man who, at the end of the first date, called his date "dear." He says, "I had a nice evening with you, dear." Unless that was really one heck of a date, love at first sight accompanied by mutual gushed promises of eternal love and bliss, she might say to herself, "Well, he's rushing things, now isn't he?" She may well be put off because of his rush to intimacy, his attempt to force intimacy after such a short period.
Or, if she detects a note of sneer in his voice, she may think, "Oh, this date didn't go well, he can't wait to leave me, maybe he's even angry with me. I guess I'll never hear from him again."
Alex Murphy's use of the word would be as a term of endearment. It's difficult to ascribe a sincere meaning to his use, as there doesn't appear to be an assurance of mutual regard between him and Petronski. Thus, one interpretation is that he would like there to be such an intimacy, such an assured regard, but he is clearly inappropriately rushing or forcing it. The other is that he's just being sarcastic.
sitetest
Soooooooooooooo oh expert on
“Dear”
how did you mean it not too many posts ago, to me?
And I do hope if I fail to finish the sentence, you will understand that I do mean it that way.