Because I care, dammit.

[Shlup]

Seriously is it that unreasonable of a question? The label "girlfriend" says little about how serious the relationship is; a wife is far more likely to go to another country with you than a girlfriend. You're all just being all homo about the "my relationship is real too, shlup, just 'cause you're married doesn't mean your relationship is more real than mine wah wah wah." smurf you, yes it does.

No it doesn't; you're right that a label says little about how serious or connected a relationship is. But context does, and the original post that sparked this discussion said something to the effect that he had been with his girlfriend for three years, which DOES point towards how serious it is.

But your arbitrary bias (that only state-sanctioned marriage = "real" relationship) is very prevalent in society, so if I hadn't already pointed that out to you eighty zillion times, I wouldn't blame you for it.

I don't hold that bias. I hold the bias that being married makes it far more likely that the relationship is serious, but the word "only" doesn't belong anywhere in that sentence.

He said they had been together three years; that's not all that long and we're only assuming it's three consecutive years. Though that is a reasonable assumption and I now know they're living together, the context of the original post wasn't quite enough to convince me I should just assume she's going with him.

It didn't seem like you *were* saying in general though! Which is why I was trying to provide a counterpoint!

Just admit you're being a butt 'cause you like being a butt. You already admitted it was reasonable for me to ask she was going with him.

WHY ARE WE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS ANYWAY? *watches The Incredibles*