Whats with the word 'partner'

[FurryDemon]

I know I sound pretty stupid for saying this, and I probably am.
But why is it that every time I hear someone say about their partner (the person they love,) I always have a weird assumption or thoughts that they might be a homosexual or lesbian? Is it just the fact that most gay people who aren't very open about their sexuality usually use the word?

And please, I'm not homophobic, I just want to see if anyone else ever thinks the same way as me.

[Lost-Chances]

At 9/14/09 02:58 AM, FurryDemon wrote: And please, I'm not homophobic, I just want to see if anyone else ever thinks the same way as me.

I don't. I usually assume straight until other-wise proven.

[Lare]

At 9/14/09 02:58 AM, FurryDemon wrote: I know I sound pretty stupid for saying this, and I probably am.

Yep, you stand corrrect!

[Presidentjlh]

At 9/14/09 02:58 AM, FurryDemon wrote: I know I sound pretty stupid for saying this, and I probably am.
But why is it that every time I hear someone say about their partner (the person they love,) I always have a weird assumption or thoughts that they might be a homosexual or lesbian? Is it just the fact that most gay people who aren't very open about their sexuality usually use the word?

And please, I'm not homophobic, I just want to see if anyone else ever thinks the same way as me.

Well, usually, if isn't a gay relationship, people will refer to their lovers as "boyfriend/girlfriend", "fiance", or "wife/husband".

I think the same thing when I hear people refer to having partners, and I'm usually correct.

[MultiCanimefan]

Politically correct ambiguity.

[GeneralAC]

At 9/14/09 03:01 AM, Lost-Chances wrote:

At 9/14/09 02:58 AM, FurryDemon wrote: And please, I'm not homophobic, I just want to see if anyone else ever thinks the same way as me.

I don't. I usually assume straight until other-wise proven.

Yes, exactly. Recently a friend of mine turned gay, really was surprising to, I am still friends with him, but he doesn't really hang with my friends and me, more with his boyfriend and his friends.

[Alamadu]

I just always make the assumption that they are a homicide detective

[Sensationalism]

I usually say "pardner" but that's just because I'm a cowboy.

If someone else is using it in a 'significant other' sense, I don't assume anything either way. I just figure either they have a same sex pardner or they don't feel like specifying.

[Wegra]

When I hear partner I hear some cowboy voice in my head say " Well, Howdy partner!" I don't know why my mind is weird.

[Shreddy]

my Snowboarding team manager doesnt want to get married and neither does his girlfriend but seeing as he's 55, using the term "girlfriend" seems abit weird so he sticks with calling her his partner and she does likewise

[Fifty-50]

Maybe your gay yourself. Just kidding!

[tigerkitty]

At 9/14/09 03:19 AM, Sensationalism wrote: I usually say "pardner" but that's just because I'm a cowboy.

If someone else is using it in a 'significant other' sense, I don't assume anything either way. I just figure either they have a same sex pardner or they don't feel like specifying.

I use the term partner sometimes simply because calling him my boyfriend when I'm 24 makes me feel slightly juvenile. It's odd, in a way, but boyfriend/girlfriend just seem really high-schooly to me.

[deckheadtottie]

I usually say "The MRS".

Saying "my girlfriend" sounds like I'm twelve and we've been dating for about 3 days.

[HappyYeti]

At 9/14/09 03:02 AM, Lare wrote:

At 9/14/09 02:58 AM, FurryDemon wrote: I know I sound pretty stupid for saying this, and I probably am.

Yep, you stand corrrect!

once again, i concur

[generalwinter]

What two people call each other is pretty individualized, so just wait and see if they give any more info.

[satanbrain]

you shouldn't care about it if youre not homophobic.

[TiredPaperBoy]

I either assume that their thinking are really close, and the term Girl/Boy Friend seems understated there doesn't seem to be an appropriate term for this relationship status.

Or they take it from the same sex.

[Lintire]

I suppose it depends on the context its used in - well, at least the way in which it is applied. If theres an awkward pause right before they say the word, its pretty much a given that they're gay.

[Slightly-Crazy-Dude]

At 9/14/09 07:20 AM, tigerkitty wrote: Stuff.

At 9/14/09 07:25 AM, deckheadtottie wrote: Stuff.

Joe it's a bit hard not to treat you like a 12 year old when you follow Jen around the boards like a lapdog :D

I'm just kidding partner.

I guess I'm the same as you OP. I think I assume the person is a homosexual if they use the term partner instead of husband/wife etc I tend to use the term Mrs, even though she's not my wife, or more commonly, the bitch or SHE.

[MrFinland]

In Finland, we have better words, like kumppani, puoliso and sulhanen

Kumppani and puoliso=partner and sulhanen= fiance
Foreign languages are fun!

[Peaceblossom]

At 9/14/09 07:25 AM, deckheadtottie wrote: I usually say "The MRS".

Saying "my girlfriend" sounds like I'm twelve and we've been dating for about 3 days.

I prefer to say "The IRC". A friend of mine said "The MRS" over some instant messenger to an other friend who didn't realize that "MRS" was to be said "Misses". As a sarcastic comeback he said he was hanging out with his IRC and now that's just how you refer to your partner.