Current Events > ummm why do so many people say 'my s/o' instead of husband or wife now?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I don't understand.

So this has been happening a lot more recently.

"Oh my s/o and I really love playing Street Fighter 2 ever since we got married"

So the person saying this was a guy. Why can't he just specify husband or wife? or boyfriend or girlfriend?
Then I met a girl that said "Oh my s/o and I plan on taking a trip to Iceland soon" like wtf I know she is a married I am friends with her HUSBAND why can't she just say husband?

since when did husband and wife or boyfriend and girlfriend become unused? and s/o took over?

Jeez this place fucking sucks, you guys don't know how to be interesting without being controversial

Lol.

I know this is a joke topic, but I do find it weird when people who arent married call their partners their husband or wife.

Is a sexy role-play thing

Tell me how significant I am daddy

The easy answer here is because boyfriend/girlfriend can seem a bit immature for someone that's like 28+ years old and they've been with them for like 5+ years. At that point "significant other" seems way more serious then a boyfriend/girlfriend.

That and people also like to be gender neutral when they speak so s/o cover a wide range of uses.

NoMeLx22x posted...

The easy answer here is because boyfriend/girlfriend can seem a bit immature for someone that's like 28+ years old and they've been with them for like 5+ years. At that point "significant other" seems way more serious then a boyfriend/girlfriend.

Yea as a 28 year old with a significant other of ~10 years I agree with this.

Husband/wife though? Idk. Must be those damn liberals and their woke culture.

@TC have you approached Fox News with this subject matter for their next outrage piece?

I have heard "partner" in the same situation.

I've heard partner too and it's just as weird. idk why they dont use gf/bf, wife/husband, fiance >_>

it's a gender neutral term. what practicality does it serve to identify the gender of your partner in most circumstances?

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


idk my bff Jill

MedeaLysistrata posted...

Jeez this place fucking sucks, you guys don't know how to be interesting

ftfy

i mean the "real" answer is "because their S/O's gender is none of your business"

which is kindof a paradox because like, if you say gf/bf/husband/wife, it still wasnt my business to begin with. but when you say s/o or partner, you can't help but immediately wonder if they're talking about a male or female. the act of deliberately not specifying male/female is in itself a trigger in the curiosity of the person hearing the neutral word. even if it isnt my business (which i respect and dont ever immediately follow up with "they male or female?"), it's just a natural response to wonder.

so like... it's almost an aggressive way to be able to pounce on someone for having the audacity to wonder what gender your partner is

caveat this all by saying this only goes for those whose partners identify as male or female. if they're something else then the conversation changes. but the above is assuming the partner/s/o identifies as male or female

less letters 2 typ3

TaylorHeinicke posted...

i mean the "real" answer is "because their S/O's gender is none of your business"

or is it that, in most points of conversation, the gender is irrelevant?

"me and my SO / partner are going out for dinner" - gender is wholly irrelevant to this conversation

"me and my SO had sex" - again, irrelevant

"me and my SO are getting married" - not relevant.

can you point out cases in which it actually matters?

Giant_Aspirin posted...

it's a gender neutral term. what practicality does it serve to identify the gender of your partner in most circumstances?

What practicality does it serve to go out of your way to avoid identifying their gender?

EmbraceOfDeath posted...

What practicality does it serve to go out of your way to avoid identifying their gender?

it's not "going out of my way" at all. it's one word vs one word. the practicality is that it normalizes the use of the gender neutral term.

Giant_Aspirin posted...

or is it that, in most points of conversation, the gender is irrelevant?

"me and my SO / partner are going out for dinner" - gender is wholly irrelevant to this conversation

"me and my SO had sex" - again, irrelevant

"me and my SO are getting married" - not relevant.

can you point out cases in which it actually matters?

That's basically my point. It never matters.

It never mattered 15 years ago when no one batted an eye at saying gf/bf/wife/husband.

It still doesn't matter today.

There's nothing wrong with using something gender neutral. But it gives the user a chance to pounce on their conversation recipient in case they have the audacity to follow up with something in the realm of wondering what gender you're talking about.

Significant Other/Partner is kind of a safeguard when you're not sure if the person you're talking to is going to be homophobic, for instance. Straight people using it also normalizes it so it doesn't instantly out someone as not heterosexual for using it.

Also, as others have said, saying "boyfriend/girlfriend" past the age of like... twenty-two feels freaking weird. I was with someone from age 19-29 and I felt it get weird to call her my girlfriend and switched to partner. Didn't really have time to get acclimated to calling her my wife (we got married during the pandemic and then she ran out to do drugs and party like a college girl like three months later), but I'm not sure what I would have used.

Giant_Aspirin posted...

it's not "going out of my way" at all. it's one word vs one word. the practicality is that it normalizes the use of the gender neutral term.

It's going out of your way if you're a brainwashed conservatroll.

Lol. "People say 'significant other' is a way to be aggressive and forcing you to wonder what there partners gender" is a take I never would believe I'd see.

Is this an alt or do you really have to copy other topics that have already been done?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/400-current-events/80323872

The_Yahtz09 posted...

Is this an alt or do you really have to copy other topics that have already been done?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/400-current-events/80323872

You must be new here. Welcome welcome

NoMeLx22x posted...

Lol. "People say 'significant other' is a way to be aggressive and forcing you to wonder what there partners gender" is a take I never would believe I'd see.

It's legitimately batshit insane.

VeggetaX posted...

You must be new here. Welcome welcome

So this is your bit? You have no original thoughts or ideas of your own?

The_Yahtz09 posted...

So this is your bit? You have no original thoughts or ideas of your own?

This "bit" isn't exclusive to me and you're missing the point of this topic entirely.

Both my esso and I think using husband/wife is cringe!