h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

On my way to work today a workman harrassed me. I say harrassed because it was the second time in as many days that he shouted 'morning darling' at me. Yesterday when I wasn't exactly forthcoming he said the usual 'cheer up love' afterwards as if there was something wrong with me not wanting to talk to someone I don't know. This morning when he saw it was me he got all excited and did the same thing again, except more pointedly and trying to get a rise out of me. Obviously this guy didn't have a thought about the time of day it was and the fact that I was on my own. It was barely 6am and if he was any sort of guy he would realise that most females on their own would prefer not to be bothered by stranged men in the early hours of the morning, never mind at any other time.
This always really winds me up because the sort of men that say 'morning darling' to me know they are not even close to the sort of guys I'd be interested in and the reason they say it is to get a little bit of attention, no matter how fleeting from a young woman. No way is it to be friendly, because I don't hear them saying morning to guys who walk past! And they never say morning when I'm with a male. Some particularly bold workmen will say hello to groups of 'girls', but only if they feel they have the upperhand in some way - height on scaffolding or in numbers. Its pathetic on their part, but intimidating for the woman at the same time. Why do they have to do it?