by Fe2O3Girl 13 Replies latest social family
Is this an American thing, or a WT thing?
I'm sure normal people in the UK don't refer to their spouse or partner as their "mate", or talk about seeking a mate. Animals have mates. Zoo breeding programmes seek mates.
People have spouses, partners, bits of stuff, crumpet, other halves, baggages or him/her indoors.
Well I live in the USA, and have never referred to my husband as my mate that I can recall. But your right the WT magazines use that term. I have no idea where in the world people refer to their spouse as a Mate. I had never thought about it.
I say my roommate, or the guy I am living with!
Brooke
I say boyfriend.... I don't call him my spouse, partner or mate... they all sound to informal... if I have a boyfriend that's what I call him... or maybe when I introduce him, I'll call him the person I'm having sex with...lol...
I think that it would be odd to introduce an SO as my "mate".
"John! How are you? And Becky! You look beautiful! This is my mate, Kelly. Kelly, John and Becky."
Talk about faux pas.
Maybe it relates to the WT obsession with sex. Seeking a mate will lead to mating.
I usually introduce Mr Fe2O3 thus: "Have you met my gorgeous husband?"
Verbal triggers, words, are very powerful. Referring to a spouse as one's mate tends to de-humanize a bit.
Think about referring to your child as your "offspring" on a regular basis.
It regulates the family members to merely biological relations rather than to the more personal sphere of the heart.
*** w05 3/1 p. 12 par. 10 Marriage Can Succeed in Today’s World ***Problems in marriage may arise when a couple enter into that relationship prematurely. They may be too young and inexperienced. Or perhaps they do not take the time to get to know each other—their likes and dislikes, their goals in life, their family background. It is wise to exercise patience, taking the time to get to know the prospective mate. Think of Jacob, the son of Isaac. He had to work for his prospective father-in-law for seven years before he was allowed to marry Rachel. He was willing to do that because his feelings were based on real love, not merely physical attraction.
Seriously, it's weird. I realize it's technically correct but... not common usage at all.
Maybe it was normal usage in the late 1800s and they never updated the terminology for fear of angering their great drunken God J.F. Rutherford?
It regulates the family members to merely biological relations rather than to the more personal sphere of the heart.
True. According to the WT, JWs don't fall in love, they seek a mate. As if anyone will do.
