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From: tamir@ucbvax.ARPA (Yuval Tamir)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Just how far can friendship go?
Message-ID: <9038@ucbvax.ARPA>
Date: Sat, 13-Jul-85 04:58:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.9038
Posted: Sat Jul 13 04:58:50 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 14-Jul-85 08:18:16 EDT
References: <317@azure.UUCP> <800@vax2.fluke.UUCP> <536@ttidcc.UUCP>
Reply-To: tamir@ucbvax.UUCP (Yuval Tamir)
Distribution: net
Organization: University of California at Berkeley
Lines: 27

In article <536@ttidcc.UUCP> hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) writes:
> . . .
>From  a  psychological  view  SO  is  a  technical  term  with  a  specific
>definition.  It  refers  to  _anyone_  who  has  an  immediate, significant
>influence  on  a  person's  life.   Examples  include   parents,   friends,
>relatives,  siblings, teachers, etc., etc.  Note that the relationship need
>not include any romantic or sexual aspects.  Anyone the person cares  about
>_for any reason_ is an SO.
> . . .

In article <271@tellab3.UUCP> thoth@tellab3.UUCP (Marcus Hall) writes:
> . . .
>Is it possible to have several SOs at the same time?  If sex defines SOship,
>then this must be the case for many people.  It certainly is possible for
>many other people to be significant, but I feel that the meaning of SO is
>one that is 'more significant than anyone else'.
> . . .

I agree that most people use the term SO to mean someone who is
'more significant than anyone else'.
Thus "*Significant* Other" is a misleading term.
It might help to think of SO as standing for "Special Other".
This reflects common usage of the term SO more accurately.

                                 Yuval Tamir
ARPANET/CSNET: tamir@Berkeley
	 UUCP: ucbvax!tamir