To my (possibly tin) ear, "buddy" has stronger connotations of condescension in the New York vernacular than in other places I've lived (New England, Oklahoma, DC).

My grandfather, who has lived in Kansas and Oklahoma his whole life, and who considers it his mission while visiting New York to say hello to every single person he passes, generally manages to charm, or at least not irritate, those he greets. The two glaring exceptions I've witnessed have been when he called a perfect stranger "buddy." One of those times I thought the recipient of this questionable compliment was going to try to start a fight with him, which is not a response you usually see to octogenarians.

In any case, my point is that you should probably feel much more, rather than less insulted. Hope that helps.

Well, my own linguistic intuitions on this matter were formed mainly in my undergraduate years, when "buddy" was pretty damn rude. So, it only seemed less rude relative to that extremely rude standard. It was also used in a third-person way, for even ruder effect. E.g., "Buddy over there is pissing me off."

The other day, I was "buddy" in a falafel shop when a guy denied me a cup of water. I noticed that the very next person - considerably tougher looking than me - was also "buddy," though. So I think this guy was buddy-this and buddy-that all day long. I was relieved that, at least, I wasn't being singled out.

I don't know whether this was an Israeli-run falafel shop, but if it was, "buddy" was definitely meant as an insult. So was everything else said to you and to the guy behind you. But, of course, it was probably a friendly, "I insult because I love" kind of insult. My knowledge of the other falafel-purveying cultures is not sufficient for me to judge what "buddy" means.

Can't remember if it was Israeli. For reasons unclear to me, my gut tells me "Egyptian," but what the hell does my gut know?

I don't think he loved me. I think he was sick of people asking for water instead of buying it. But I have a strict policy of refusing to patronize establishments that don't serve free water. So fuck 'em.