On Fri, 16 Aug 2002, Scott Ingram wrote: > > "Relationship" is a case of deliberate vagueness, and as such is very > > useful. Most people neither need *nor want* to know "Susan and I > > screw like minks on every flat surface at every opportunity". I think > > this vague use of "relationship" is generally understood to mean > > "ongoing emotional/sexual entanglement". A one-night stand is not a > > relationship. > > There's certainly a case to be made for deliberate vagueness, even when the > result is misleading. Especially in the case of polyamorous people. If you are poly and in a relationship or two, and flirting with someone who you are not quite sure is into polyamory, you don't want to use "boy/girlfriend" because they may assume you're taken. At least, you don't want to say it before you get a chance to explain. I've been known to say "roommate" when discussing stories involving my primary (which is true, as we do live together) and then once I'm fairly confident they're cool with it, I'll change it out for boyfriend or primary. ****** NyteMuse "Call her life unnatural, feel her undead breath. Color her black for sorcery, color her gray for death." AIM: NyteMuse139 / ICQ: #21966269 (NyteMuse) MSN: NyteMuse / Yahoo!ID: NyteMuse http://www.crowfire.com