Posts by George Rivera3

Is this really my first leap into this thread, after having already laid out my own definition of romance? 🤔

Fine. Go ahead and lash out; insults are clearly your specialty, and honestly, it’s probably the only thing you're actually good at...

If you find such satisfaction in being petty, then by all means, let it rip.

feralranger said:As I have pointed out on more than one occasion—though clearly, my insights fall on deaf ears—in any somewhat formal setting, one typically refers to their partner as my girlfriend, wife, or boyfriend, husband, depending on the context...

And yet, I inevitably find myself being accused of "repeating myself." To those who actually pay attention, I never repeat anything. There is simply no necessity for it.

Honestly, you remind me of Zekanović. You're essentially the female version of the exact same phenomenon.

First, I was just calling myself a pauper and a whole host of other unpleasant things—I wasn't even targeting you, I was simply stating my own opinion, which has absolutely nothing to do with you personally... now, somehow, I’ve become Zekanović, a person I don't even know, though I have a nagging suspicion that you weren't exactly trying to pay me a compliment...

And you claim you aren't out there insulting people just for the sake of it. Sure, if you say so...

I don't think you actually insulted me; honestly, it’s just laughable to me how you can claim you never offend anyone without having any actual basis for such an assertion... 🤣

feralranger said:As I have pointed out on more than one occasion—though clearly, my insights fall on deaf ears—in any somewhat formal setting, one typically refers to their partner as my girlfriend, wife, or boyfriend, husband, depending on the context...

And yet, I inevitably find myself being accused of "repeating myself." To those who actually pay attention, I never repeat anything. There is simply no necessity for it.

Honestly, you remind me of Zekanović. You're essentially the female version of the exact same phenomenon.

Are you really telling me this? As if people would find it awkward to refer to someone in their 70s as "my girlfriend" or "my boyfriend."

Kate Fox58 said:His wife is gonna be like...

Wait, why did you tell her I was your wife then?!
Am I bad in bed or something, you unromantic jerk!?

Fine then, from now on you can call me "your little flame" in front of everyone, even right in front of the boss. Try being romantic for once in your life!...😠

feralranger said:I am certainly not taking offense, as they aren't exactly ignorant. In fact, if my dear wife—or anyone I’ve been married to, for that matter—were to speak of me in such terms, I would actually be quite pleased to hear it rather than insulted. There is absolutely no shame in being a skilled lover; one can only feel pity for those couples where an affair has spiraled out of control, leaving them with nothing but a hollow partnership, a mere business arrangement, or some other cold cooperation once the passion has evaporated.

Maybe that was just a fetish for you, but nobody else gives a damn. It's too much information, you know? Why on earth would someone working at Chase or an engineer, or even your own friends, care whether or not you're good in bed?

Kate Fox58 said:Colleague, let me introduce you.
She's basically the one who makes all my sexual fantasies come true. 😁

🤣

And honestly, our colleague here is giving us way too much information...🕺

I honestly don't see how you can be so oblivious to the fact that you're being insulting... calling them mistresses or just "friends" in front of total strangers isn't exactly okay.

it's just a casual relationship, after all...😁

feralranger said:I would argue the exact opposite. If I refer to someone as my partner, most people will simply assume she's the woman joining me for doubles tennis in our local club's four-person rotation. At best, they might wonder if I've suddenly taken on a new business venture.

In fact, my partner has accompanied me to sign contracts regarding co-owned real estate holdings, and we have even collaborated on some rather significant business deals together.

They won't, but if you walk into a room full of strangers and tell them your wife is your "partner," they’re going to assume you’re having an extramarital affair with that woman...

exclamation point fled

feralranger said:True, but that’s only because people have managed to trivialize and degrade language through sheer misuse; in this twisted reality, a word like "mistress"—which, at its very core, carries the essence of love—now carries such sordid connotations, whereas the term "partner" feels like a sanitized byproduct of Americanization (filtered through our media and films rather than derived from Latin roots).

Aside from when it involves technology, I tend to view Americanization as a form of linguistic impoverishment, often manifesting as a pervasive, trendy descent into stupidity across various contexts, though I suppose that’s drifting away from our current topic of the day...

It isn't just a matter of opinion; the definition of a paramour is a settled social agreement.

A paramour is someone with whom you share an intimate connection that lacks formality and is frequently kept secret.

In our society, the term is most commonly applied to married men and women engaged in extramarital affairs.

feralranger said:And really, what more can I say? You could certainly call yourselves "cooperators" if you truly wish; at the end of the day, it’s your prerogative. But let’s be honest: the term "partners" possesses absolutely zero romantic flair or poetic resonance—which is precisely why poets tend to avoid it while lawyers embrace it with open arms. That is why I find the word so utterly "pitiful," but goodness knows, if you are satisfied with it, then far be it from me to argue.

It’s a curious thing to observe how poets navigate the landscape of affection; they weave these incredibly lush, romantic expressions into their verses and intimate moments, yet when it comes time to introduce their wives or girlfriends in more formal, public settings, the language shifts entirely to something far more reserved... It is as if there exists a distinct boundary between the soul's private passion and the social mask one wears in polite company...

Just like someone is going to pull their boyfriend aside for a private chat... I’m just calling it like it is... 🤣And before he even gets to his boss, they’ll probably just call him a partner...

It all boils down to context, and that is exactly what mantissa keeps pressing us on...

When you choose to use the word "partner" instead of "mistress," you’re essentially making a statement to any stranger listening—you're confirming that there is a depth to your connection that goes far beyond just what happens in the bedroom. Now, if you want to call her whatever you like when the doors are closed, and if the two of you find some sort of twisted satisfaction in that, then frankly, I couldn't care less... 🤷

Calling someone a "mistress" and a "friend" at the same time implies you're in some kind of casual fling... if my boyfriend ever used those terms for me, I’d definitely have some serious questions...

Robert Reyes4 said:I’m honestly stumped on what to call someone you’re seeing when you aren't married and you're definitely not in your twenties.
Calling them "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" feels a little juvenile at this stage of life. That's basically why the word "partner" became the go-to.
Is there anything out there that actually sounds better?

my old lady, my wreck, my better half🤷

Paul Grant67 said:Perfidious? 😁

better 😁

Nicholas Bailey3 said:Does semantics even matter at this point?
I haven't the slightest clue what label to use—girlfriend, partner, spouse, life companion...
At the end of the day, I'll just call her by her name.

A name is trivial. If we called a rose by any other name, its fragrance would remain just as sweet. 😁

See, I can be quite romantic when I choose to be... 😍

Life companion 🤣

Paul Grant67 said:What a subtle way to belittle someone else's perspective. Just because you feel that way doesn't mean anyone else is wrong; it just means they're different from you. Honestly, that kind of narrow-mindedness is exactly what makes someone radical... you could easily turn that comment about "lacking an ear" back on yourself instead of throwing it at others.

Subtle? 🤔I wouldn't call it that... 🤣it's far more transparent than that...

jadeowl2 said:I'm totally with Limerica on this one... to me, a partner isn't just some lover or someone you're just riding the romantic/physical high with. It’s about having a life partner by your side, you know?

And let’s not forget the necessity of an equal partnership. Perhaps that specific lack of balance is exactly what is rubbing some people the wrong way...😁

Nicholas King said:And I have learned that you are prone to passive aggression—and that's even after failing to read the entire post (nobody, for that matter, was talking about empty chatter, let alone *only* empty chatter.

What a shame.

BTW, saying "I'm polite now, so I don't mock people anymore" isn't exactly a shift in attitude from "I despise and loathe them."

Who would have thought your comprehension was so limited? 🤔

How peculiar...

She isn't just some girl you're seeing or even a wife; she’s just a mistress at best... what you really need is a true partner, someone who stands right there beside you in the trenches, a teammate through it all

I’ve always had a soft spot for the word "partner." To me, being called that feels like a profound compliment...😍

Nicholas King said:The reactions you're describing—contempt and disgust—are incredibly visceral. It’s also somewhat telling that when asked to explain the "why" behind those feelings, you immediately pivot to discussing your own supposed inability to express strong emotions.

If I were in your shoes, I would probably try to dig deep into the roots of those reactions—really get under the surface—and then systematically tear them out by the source.

Fine, so today I learned that expressing emotions is nothing more than empty, mindless chatter.

I explicitly stated that I show how I feel through my actions. My boyfriend knows he is loved, just as everyone close to me does.

It isn't some grand, sweeping surge of contempt; I simply used to make jokes at others' expense when I was younger, and I stopped because it’s simply bad manners now...