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I don't know about anyone else, but I started doing it because I want to destroy Western culture.

I do it for two reasons: partly because it's fuck all business to anyone else (within reason) what the status of my relationship is.

Mainly though, because it generally messes with folk because they don't understand what it means, and feel compelled to ask silly questions about it.

I call my wife, "Comrade."

I didn't click the link.

hErE's WhY

Mine and I are getting married this week and we were both excited to see "spouse" as an option on the documents.

We are now spouse and spouse.

I'm a millennial and I've always referred to my partner as such. Boyfriend and girlfriend always seemed so weirdly juvenile, and it's interesting to leave things ambiguous for people who are immediately expecting to categorise you.

Nobody asked, but as a gay man I exclusively refer to my husband as "my husband." I never liked the term "partner." We didn't start a business together, and we're not cops. "Life partner" bothers me less, but it still seems stilted

What else are you supposed to say after "Howdy"?
There are no other legitimate options.

I mean I get it, there's an age at which referring to someone as your boyfriend or girlfriend feels a little lame.

My parents have always referred to each other as their partner, so that's what I've always done. It's just normal.

Since moving to the US people get so weird about it. I had a boss's boss ask me why I call my wife my partner in a skip-level. I was so confused I just stared at her and said "What?" It was like being ask why I think oranges are citrus fruit.

I'm an old guy. Since we (my "partner and I) are not married but have lived together for years (no common law here,) husband/wife doesn't apply. I don't know any other word to use other than partner, but it is still difficult for me to naturally say. Not sure why. Funnier (at our age) would be boyfriend and girlfriend. Uh ... no.

My spouse and I just use SO (esso) for significant other. I like it more than partner as it is explicitly a romantic or at least very important relationship.

This is super common in most other English speaking countries and has been for years. Well before the culture wars.

I never knew this was considered wierd anywhere.

I agree with this a lot. Boyfriend or girlfriend is the person you are romantically attached to. Partner is a MUCH stronger word, it implies teamwork and shared purpose; the understanding that you have each other's backs.

There are also plenty of people who are married for whom the word partner does not apply. It's sad.

I think a lot of people reject the title 'partner' because for a very long time before gay marriage was a thing, there was only 'civil partnerships' or 'civil unions' and thus 'partner' was the only accurate term, 'wife' or 'husband' couldn't apply as they weren't legally married. So they see 'partner' as a sort of 'almost as good' runner up.

I just use "spouse" most of the time. We're not married. Fucks given: 0

It's because of Borat.

Ah yes here is my womanfriend. She's a friend first but sometimes she's a woman.... Wait.

Seems weird you'd think the "end goal" of accepting people is so everyone can use boyfriend/girlfriend or whatever partner just seems so disconnected and formal