text: how do you feel about being referred to as..."my old lady"  or "my old man"? when these "titles" are used to refer to a girlfriend,boyfriend, or spouse...  i personally do not care for it, but i hear it quite a bit. it is a phrase that was very popular in the hippie cult days.  it was the implication of ownership with out a outward sign of the establishment sanctioned marriage or girl friend.  it was meant to be disrespect full of the social norms of the time, not of the individual in reference. it started out as a symbol of rebellion.  it has outlived its time.  i think it is disrespectful to the significant other.  i would much rather hear, "this is the love of my life, the joy of my soul, my safe harbor in the storm,"  than "this is my ol' lady"