I'm not your "Boss" (buddy)

I walk into Giant Eagle: “How ya doin’, boss?”

The gas station: “OK boss, that’ll be $18.50”

Subway: “You’re order will be up in 5 minutes, boss”

..........

I might be on an island with this one, but here it goes:

I’m not trying to say the term “boss” is insulting (especially since its so normalized now). But it’s almost like they say it with an air of condescension, like “oh look, here comes Mr. Big Shot”. 

It is just like the Dane Cook BK bit. I feel my defenses kicking in immediately, making me want to say, “No problem, buddy—pal—chief” in response. It’s the notion of- the more you call somebody something that they are not, the more contentious it gets.  

Is this a Gen Z thing? I’m a 90s born millennial, and never heard anyone using this slang growing up, not in high school, nor college.  But I do hear millennials saying it now along with Gen Z.  I have never called anyone “boss”- not even my actual boss.

I would kindly ask everyone please go back to: “man”, “dude”, “bro”, “brother”, whatever so I don’t have to do mental gymnastics each time to determine whether the cashier is deliberately trying to be a dick.

Or simply make your point without crow-barring in “boss” at the end.

Thank You.

Anyone else with thoughts on this?