cbostrum (03/12/83)
This idea is clearly of limited use. If you take it literally, the term doesnt imply anything near what is wanted. If you dont take it literally it isnt any better than any other term. One suggested term is covivant, and unlike cohabitant this has better implications (although not literal). I have taken to using MOA (for "Major Object of Affection"). What is wrong with calling your MOA a posslq? 1) Te may not be of the opposite sex 2) Te may not live with you 3) There may people people of the opposite sex living with you who are not your MOA (Perhaps MPA might be better if we wish, (reasonably!) to assume that an MOA is always a person).
ariels@orca.UUCP (Ariel Shattan) (08/18/83)
posslq -- pronounced poss-el-que -- means: Person of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters Actually, I like the term that appeared in a Sylvia comic strip (by Nicole Hollander). "This is Pat, my Terra Firma."
beth@umcp-cs.UUCP (08/18/83)
For a recent census, the US Census Bureau decided they needed a word to describe Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters. POSS-ul-que. It does connote a stronger relationship than necessarily intended. I, as a female, could have a male apartment mate who was not my boyfriend. I believe that in the census, my apartment mate would be counted as a posslq. Is that how they counted them? I wouldn't think of him as my posslq because that implies at least great friend and probably lover. Beth Katz
dembry@hplabs.UUCP (Paul E. Dembry) (08/20/83)
#R:umcp-cs:-195800:hplabs:16400001:000:423
hplabs!dembry Aug 19 16:24:00 1983
Yes, your appartment mate would be considered a POSSLQ. I'm not
sure the census bureau really cares to know the finer details of
the particular living arrangement.
Actually, being a POSSLQ myself ( or maybe she's the POSSLQ or ... )
I agree that in my mind, POSSLQ does imply more than splitting the
rent. Oh well.
Paul Dembry
{ucbvax|decvax}!hplabs!dembry