Notches vs. casual partners

[jay]

In earlier journal discussions, some argument has occurred around the use of the term "notch" as denoting a lack of significance as a partner. To me, "notch" equals someone pursued solely based on desire, with no intention of further contact or a relationship afterward. With slightly-predatory overtones... leaving afterward with only a fond memory (hopefully) to take forward into the future.

But, again, having never done anything like that myself, one can probably safely ignore my opinions as uninformed ;-). So here's a poll to see how other folks define the term:

[Poll #55900]

I don't intend to get on a high-horse here, I'm not criticizing those who have casual sex or notches or whatever in their own past. I claim no virtue... no one has ever made that kind of advance towards me, and no one was interested in that way early on in my 20s when I was young and attractive. Were circumstances different.... who knows what I would have done. So no judgments, either way, I want to know what you really think...

Comments

[lizw.livejournal.com]

In a sexual context, I've only ever encountered the word as part of the phrase "notch on a bedpost", usually in a sentence along the lines of "X is just collecting notches on zir bedpost" or "X was just thinking of Y as a notch on zir bedpost". I have always interpreted it as meaning that X wants to have sex with as many people as possible and is keeping a running score, not as meaning that Y is on some list of particularly desirable people that X and others are competing for; anything involving competition strikes me as being in a different category. I don't recall that I ever agreed with the speaker's assessment, either; I think I'd have to be told by X zirself before I'd assume it was correct.