why does everyone now say "partner" ???

[Dan B]

Are you going to start every post with Forsooth! now?

Zounds!

 

[Arch]

Zounds!

Egad and Oddsbodkins!

 

[Adasta]

Egad and Oddsbodkins!

'Sblood!

In any case, "partner" can be a useful term. In a conversation, there's no reason for the other person to know about one's own relationship. Sometimes "girlfriend" can sound pejorative since it doesn't seem to carry the gravitas that a long-term relationship may entail.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

mrs alec has been variously my girlfriend, fianceé and wife. partner always sounded too gay or businessy really.

 

[jig-sore]

Are you going to start every post with Forsooth! now?

(forsooth) only in this topic !!!

 

[ufkacbln]

There is always "Significant Other"

 

[Flying_Monkey]

What Kirstie said. It's not that tricky. And no-one is stopping you talking about your partner in whatever terms you like. My wife is my wife. But if someone else met us and was unaware of our marital status, I'd prefer if they just said 'partner'... and I'd say the same for anyone else. Neutral terms are never going to please everyone, but that's not their role; their role is not to make assumptions.

 

[rikki]

My wife was told that she would be Ms in the telephone directory at her place of work as Mrs was discriminatory and was against the equalityident and diversity policy as it identified between homosexual and heterosexual couples.

She was also told that she was unable to use the title "Sister" as it was again gender specific.


After some correspondence we retained the "Sister" title after she offered "Non hierarchical patient care facilitator" as an option and evidence that "Sister" was a professional title that she was entitled to use.

However the Ms is still ongoing.......

A gentleman I know is a photographer who specialises in providing technical support to surgeons and medical researchers. He attended a conference for surgeons and medical researchers, and was asked at the registration desk whether he was Doctor, Mister or Professor. He replied "mister", but the person at the conference registration desk assessed who he was and replied "Oh, but you're not a real Mister" (i.e. a Consultant) and put "M/-" on the document. He loved it, and refers to himself as "M slash dash - not a real mister"

Personally I try to leave all references to people's gender and marital status out of correspondence, and try not to provide any on documents relating to my partner or me.

 

[JonnyBlade]

In modern society where same sex relationships are perfectly acceptable the term 'partner' is used IMO to collaborate that view when referring to unmarried couples. It allows mixed and same sex couples to operate and be viewed as the same within a relationship.
After all, the focus should be about couples and not gender.

 

[rikki]

In modern society where same sex relationships are perfectly acceptable the term 'partner' is used IMO to collaborate that view when referring to unmarried couples. It allows mixed and same sex couples to operate and be viewed as the same within a relationship.
After all, the focus should be about couples and not gender.

I agree. And, it's none of anyone's business if we're married or not. We're not, so technically my marital status is "divorced", which is an even bigger lie (in that it is more misleading) than to say that I'm married. The 4 children should give people a reasonable clue what our relationship is!

 

[Night Train]

I find it quite funny,
And someone suggested to me 'honey'.
But what it really is,
Is that people can't mind their own biz,
And want to know if were at it like rabbits!

 

[Globalti]

Partner is a stupid word used by the same kind of people who are too scared of causing offence to offer any opinion and whose only comment is "kewl".

I hate it, it stinks of political correctness, blandness, lazy inoffensive non-judgemental mediocrity.

 

[Fab Foodie]

It's even trickier when you have to introduce your bit on the side.

"Meet my mistress" raises a few eyebrows.

I always introduce Mrs FF as 'my first wife' ....

 

[yello]

I always introduce Mrs FF as 'my first wife'

I like that!

If anyone watches 'House' (stay with me, there is a point to this) you'll be aware that Cuddy refers to House as her boyfriend, and House calls Cuddy his girlfriend. I don't know whether this is common practice in the USA, or just script writers making a point, but I must admit that it does sound odd to my ears. I know what they mean (so the terms clearly work) and there's no deception or agenda going on, it's completely honest and normal terminology... the problem, such that it is, is mine.

 

[Arch]

I find it quite funny,
And someone suggested to me 'honey'.
But what it really is,
Is that people can't mind their own biz,
And want to know if were at it like rabbits!

Well? Are you?

Honey is like Luuurve. Sweet, natural, eternal. And sticky.