Why do people use the term "my partner"?

[///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.

[vreihen16]

BAE, anyone?????

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

BAE, anyone?????

Where's that pot-stirring emoji???

[Esteban]

BAE (acronym) Before Anyone Else.

[Maynard]

Originally Posted by RobotDoctor

I am definitely traditional, old school but I actually don't an issue with the term "partner." I refer to my wife as "wife" and she refers to me as her "husband. "

This, 100% - I'll use their terms if they refer to partner as a girlfriend, but calling somebody older than about 25 a 'girl/boy' just seems inappropriate (unless they are a resident, then they are 'kids').

[shawnhayes]

Originally Posted by ///d

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.

Culture is area specific, and not uniform. So yeah, things are different here and there.

Relationships sometimes become marriages. The cockamamie society we live in now results in a lot of divorces, frequently funneling people into "partnerships" for people who don't want to be legally obligated for other people's bad behavior.

Should they just have broken up instead of staying in a relationship where they don't have trust? Sure. But it isn't always that easy.

Life is complicated. Nothing of this is simple.

Shawn

[tranquility]

I don't have a prb, ppl can call themselves whatever. I notice that here in Quebec, many couples don't officially get married, so that term applies and is kinda more accurate, but then again they also refer to each other as 'husband/wife', so, whatevs.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by Esteban

BAE (acronym) Before Anyone Else.

Can you use it in a sentence for us, please?????

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Can you use it in a sentence for us, please?????

You brought the word up so I think you should use it in a sentence.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Can you use it in a sentence for us, please?????

Salt Bae is so passé now.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Salt Bae is so passé now.

[Sara]

I like the word partner. Like others have said, it sounds better than boyfriend. I put partner next to my guy’s name on all our hospital paperwork last week.

[Gritty]

I have no issue with folks using the term "partner" when I lived in the UK for a few years it seemed everyone used the term partner, young and old...It's not as commonly used in the US but certainly growing in popularity.
Let me introduce you to my partner and my associates (children)

[floridaorange]

…are you referring to my special lady friend?

Partner is a way to label another couples relationship correctly if they are super liberal.

[///d]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

…are you referring to my special lady friend?

Partner is a way to label another couples relationship correctly if they are super liberal.

We went to an airshow this past weekend and heard it a few times, so thats what sparked my question.

[vreihen16]

I knew someone who referred to his live-in girlfriend as his attendant. She thought that it was cute, despite being over age 40. I thought that it was degrading, and borderline domestic abuse.....

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

I knew someone who referred to his live-in girlfriend as his attendant. She thought that it was cute, despite being over age 40. I thought that it was degrading, and borderline domestic abuse.....

My wife is 5 months older than me, so when her birthday arrives I call her "my old lady" until my birthday (an idea I got from Sons or Anarchy). She finds the reactions from other people to be quite amusing when I say it in front of someone else in our PC world.

[Tambohamilton]

Originally Posted by ///d

My girlfriend and I have been noticing it more and more lately, people using the term "my partner" instead of boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife. When I first starting hearing it years ago it was usually same sex couples, but now I hear it with just about all relationships.

What's the significance of saying my partner over the rest?

I'm old school, and if I was referred to as someone's partner I would be taken back and it wouldn't sit well with me. I know this isn't the reason and I mean no disrespect to anyone who uses the term, but to me it sounds like they don't want to commit to what it is. I'm genuinely curious so I can squash my ignorant understanding of it.

Girlfriend/boyfriend just feels too juvenile. I'm 35; my partner is a woman.

I do feel like partner is a cumbersome term though. It's so generic. Business partner? Partner in crime? I just don't know of any better word without overcomplicating it, because she's also not my wife...or anyone else's.

[The Libertine]

It’s used so no one feels offended.

Sorry, I’m not using it. I refer to my spouse as my wife, and I am her husband.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by The Libertine

It’s used so no one feels offended.

Sorry, I’m not using it. I refer to my spouse as my wife, and I am her husband.

Why do ppl find the traditional terms offensive?

It was so puzzling when ppl started calling both fe/male thespians as 'actors', as if the word 'actress' was demeaning? Insanity.

[David70]

Originally Posted by The Libertine

It’s used so no one feels offended.

Sorry, I’m not using it. I refer to my spouse as my wife, and I am her husband.

People use it because they want to, others seem to be offended by it. I have no idea why. I think it is funny when people say I am liberal because I don't care what people call themselves. Just not something I care about, if this makes me liberal, or people feel better by calling me liberal I am good with it also.

There is no need for you to be sorry about not wanting to use it, nobody is asking you to and it isn't a term that fits your situation as you are married.

[happyjack]

Originally Posted by DocL

I don't mind the term partner. A lot of my older patients use it as they are a widow and in a new relaionship. It seems out of place to use boyfriend/girlfriend when you are in your 70s, 80s, or yes, your 90s.

Originally Posted by vreihen16

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

these comments resonate the most for me and "justify" the use of the term. although i dont feel like i'm hearing it any more than i used to. that could also be that we have very well-established circle of friends, and even the single ones rarely use labels for the people they introduce to the group.

i also hear older (60 yr+) people use the word "companion".

i always thought "significant other" was odd and unwieldy.

regardless, put me in the camp of calling yourself WETFUW