[shawnhayes]

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

I'm a millennial, but I still think someone means their business partner whenever they refer to someone as "my partner".

Contrary to what many people pretend, marriage is a "business" with contractual obligations and penalties for living up to those. And if the business fails, both become homeless, not just one.

So, "partner" can refer to marriages just fine, and do fit your prototype.

Shawn

[///d]

Originally Posted by shawnhayes

It doesn't piss me off at all, but I think this is a pretty sad characterization.

That being said, there are couples who CANNOT get legally married. At that point, "girlfriend" just doesn't cover it. If both are participating in the partnership and contributing (personally and financially), then "girlfriend" again isn't quite to par. This has NOTHING to do with political correctness. It has to do with respect.

But, to some extent, this has alighted some social realities. We have a significant number of people who don't respect other people's relationships and relationship choices. That's their problem, and I don't really care what they have to say - when you can't offer common respect to your fellow person, you don't deserve it either.

Shawn

Why is "girlfriend" not up to par? Why is girlfriend viewed as a less respectful term?

[shawnhayes]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Fear of commitment, and/or fear of wedding cake.....

Considering some people's behavior in marriages, fear of wedding cake may be real, and totally justifiable. But, I consider refusal to sign a prenuptial agreement a tacit admission to an agenda of subterfuge and usury.

Some people are comfortable with that kind of marriage. I am not. To each his own. I'll respect your choices.

Shawn

[shawnhayes]

Originally Posted by ///d

Why is "girlfriend" not up to par? Why is girlfriend viewed as a less respectful term?

As above, a lady you hang out with (not sexually), or even friend with benefits is a "girlfriend".

Somebody you live with.....who helps pay the bills....participates in shared agendas....and advances the needs of the unit.....

Just needs another term. Whatever we wanna call it. Cause "live in" just doesn't seem respectful.

Shawn

[UncleWede]

A rose, by any other name, would still smell as sweet

[shawnhayes]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

A rose, by any other name, would still smell as sweet

While true, I'm pretty sure if you refer to your wife/spouse/girlfriend/partner/significant other as

"the bitch"

pretty sure that won't go over well. Semantics mean something to some people. Not saying anybody has to respect or accept my thoughts. But that should be understood.

Shawn

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by shawnhayes

While true, I'm pretty sure if you refer to your wife/spouse/girlfriend/partner/significant other as

"the bitch"

pretty sure that won't go over well. Semantics mean something to some people. Not saying anybody has to respect or accept my thoughts. But that should be understood.

Shawn

ACTUALLY

The wife is THE bitch.
The dog is the OTHER bitch

In private company, or maybe one or two of her nieces' presence.

[shawnhayes]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

ACTUALLY

The wife is THE bitch.
The dog is the OTHER bitch

In private company, or maybe one or two of her nieces' presence.

To each his own man. I find your characterization entertaining, but would NEVER use that in public. Not that I'm beat down or anything, but I damn sure wouldn't want her to use any similar term to refer to me in public.

Shawn

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by shawnhayes

To each his own man. I find your characterization entertaining, but would NEVER use that in public. Not that I'm beat down or anything, but I damn sure wouldn't want her to use any similar term to refer to me in public.

Shawn

Hence the explanation "In private company"

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by shawnhayes

Contrary to what many people pretend, marriage is a "business" with contractual obligations and penalties for living up to those. And if the business fails, both become homeless, not just one.

So, "partner" can refer to marriages just fine, and do fit your prototype.

Shawn

It is a business when one “partner” loses half their $hit when the arrangement is dissolved. Usually one partner keeps the house and the other is homeless.

[shawnhayes]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Hence the explanation "In private company"

I caught the explanation. I think it's funny (ha ha), but each relationship is different. Some people wouldn't find it funny at all.

Shawn

[Artemis]

To acquaintances and people I don't know, I refer to my wife as "my beloved" or "my beloved wife" or "my wife". To friends I use her first name. I could call work colleagues "partners", but would never call them "beloved(s)". If I do not know the relation status of someone I use "your significant other".

I know people who register their wife in their mobile phone contact list or BMW memory buttons as "The Boss".

[shawnhayes]

Originally Posted by c1pher

It is a business when one “partner” loses half their $hit when the arrangement is dissolved. Usually one partner keeps the house and the other is homeless.

Yeah, you live near Maryland. I can tell you, if you consider getting married in Maryland and your intended even slightly balks at a prenup - RUN. You're getting gamed.

Shawn

[shawnhayes]

Originally Posted by Artemis

To acquaintances and people I don't know, I refer to my wife as "my beloved" or "my beloved wife" or "my wife". To friends I use her first name. I could call work colleagues "partners", but would never call them "beloved(s)". If I do not know the relation status of someone I use "your significant other".

Wise, sir.

Shawn

[vreihen16]

When did "ball and chain" go out of favor?????

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by shawnhayes

It doesn't piss me off at all, but I think this is a pretty sad characterization.

That being said, there are couples who CANNOT get legally married. At that point, "girlfriend" just doesn't cover it. If both are participating in the partnership and contributing (personally and financially), then "girlfriend" again isn't quite to par. This has NOTHING to do with political correctness. It has to do with respect.

But, to some extent, this has alighted some social realities. We have a significant number of people who don't respect other people's relationships and relationship choices. That's their problem, and I don't really care what they have to say - when you can't offer common respect to your fellow person, you don't deserve it either.

Shawn

What couples cannot get legally married?

[shawnhayes]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

What couples cannot get legally married?

If you’re 20 years old in Mississippi, and your intended is also 20, unless one of you is pregnant, you can’t get married.

Lots of other caveats, including life issues. If you’re Brittany Spears under a conservator ship, you cannot get married.

Shawn

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

What couples cannot get legally married?

You might be a redneck if.....

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by shawnhayes

If you’re 20 years old in Mississippi, and your intended is also 20, unless one of you is pregnant, you can’t get married.

Lots of other caveats, including life issues. If you’re Brittany Spears under a conservator ship, you cannot get married.

Shawn

So the use of "partner" is being used now because of some obscure scenarios? I don't think so. We know it gained popularity with gay couples and stuck around thereafter across a portion of the population, even though gay couples can now marry.

The simple answer is it started to show solidarity for a social issue, and then people got used to it so it stuck.

[shawnhayes]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

So the use of "partner" is being used now because of some obscure scenarios? I don't think so. We know it gained popularity with gay couples and stuck around thereafter across a portion of the population, even though gay couples can now marry.

The simple answer is it started to show solidarity for a social issue, and then people got used to it so it stuck.

That’s your interpretation.

And leave it up to the current Court? I doubt they’ll strike down any laws prohibiting gay couple marriage.

And I disagree with your interpretation. Bunches of unmarried domestic relationships use “partner” now. If that was an outgrowth of support for a social issue, that’s beyond my ability to say, and yours as well. We don’t know what everybody thinks, unless you’re psychic.

Shawn

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by shawnhayes

That’s your interpretation.

And leave it up to the current Court? I doubt they’ll strike down any laws prohibiting gay couple marriage.

And I disagree with your interpretation. Bunches of unmarried domestic relationships use “partner” now. If that was an outgrowth of support for a social issue, that’s beyond my ability to say, and yours as well. We don’t know what everybody thinks, unless you’re psychic.

Shawn

Well, we never heard "partner" until gay couples started using it. As you pointed out, now many use it. That didn't just randomly occur. I guess it is unfortunate if my interpretation offends you, but there really should be nothing offensive about it.

I don't see a reason to get into the Supreme Court or legalities of gay marriage. My post had nothing to do with either.

[///d]

Originally Posted by shawnhayes

As above, a lady you hang out with (not sexually), or even friend with benefits is a "girlfriend".

Somebody you live with.....who helps pay the bills....participates in shared agendas....and advances the needs of the unit.....

Just needs another term. Whatever we wanna call it. Cause "live in" just doesn't seem respectful.

Shawn

Must be a difference with where we grew up. I grew up where when you're hanging out with or friends with benefits with someone thats just dating. No commitment, either just having fun or feelings things out to see where it goes. If you hit it off you get into a relationship as boyfriend/girlfriend. You would introduce them as your boyfriend/girlfriend, sometimes you live together, sometimes you don't. That relationship leads to marriage, or at least thats the idea, but it seems these days a lot never get married or end up breaking up.