The bulk update request #11888 is pending approval.

create alias boyfriend/girlfriend (107) -> romantic_couple (34768)
create alias boyfriend-girlfriend (49) -> romantic_couple (34768)

Reason: I don't see a reason for these to coexist.

I agree they probably shouldn't exist, but it doesn't look like they're largely applicable to romantic_couple either as many posts don't have romantic overtones. Seems they're mostly being used as TWYK/lore info.

watsit said:
I agree they probably shouldn't exist, but it doesn't look like they're largely applicable to romantic_couple either as many posts don't have romantic overtones. Seems they're mostly being used as TWYK/lore info.

Should they be aliased to male/female instead, then?

beholding said:
Should they be aliased to male/female instead, then?

That would probably be better, yeah.

I'd personally create a tag implication instead. Regardless of what we might think, "boyfriend/girlfriend" is a specific archetype of romantic relationship with a significant popcultural heritage. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

czyszy said:
I'd personally create a tag implication instead. Regardless of what we might think, "boyfriend/girlfriend" is a specific archetype of romantic relationship with a significant popcultural heritage. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

But not TWYS. A boyfriend/girlfriend couple look like any other two characters. e.g.

post #3546113 vs post #4628489

or

post #5279617 vs post #5739417

Boyfriends and girlfriends are already invalid, so boyfriend/girlfriend really shouldn't stay either.

The bulk update request #11896 is pending approval.

create alias boyfriend/girlfriend (107) -> male/female (746283)
create alias boyfriend-girlfriend (49) -> male/female (746283)

Reason: As suggested.

Aliasing the variants to one tag then invalidating that tag would probably be ideal, like boyfriend and girlfriend individually have
And a mass update if anything else

The bulk update request #11897 is pending approval.

mass update boyfriend/girlfriend -> male/female
create alias boyfriend-girlfriend (49) -> boyfriend/girlfriend (107)
change category boyfriend/girlfriend (107) -> invalid

Reason: Like this?

I do not involve myself in tagging, however on this specific topic I want to say that having a boyfriend or girlfriend does not mean you are "romantically" engaged. boyfriend/girlfriend would alias more accurately to "couple".
If judging whether a couple is romantic or not defies TWYS, then romantic_couple should probably be a lore tag.

But yes this is quite an obscure distinction, and it would definitely be a nuisance for the average tagger. It is an idealistic approach to include more relationship types. Just putting it out there.

cadynn said:
I do not involve myself in tagging, however on this specific topic I want to say that having a boyfriend or girlfriend does not mean you are "romantically" engaged. boyfriend/girlfriend would alias more accurately to "couple".

I'd have to agree. Abusive and indifferent relationships exist. Arranged marriages (in which the participants aren't married yet) exist. I wouldn't call them romantic even if those involved are boyfriend and/or girlfriend.

Would there be a problem with making this a lore tag? There are already lore tags for every other relationship imaginable.

spe said:
Would there be a problem with making this a lore tag? There are already lore tags for every other relationship imaginable.

I'd love that personally.

would work well with these:
https://e621.net/forum_topics/54601

no problem to me, people would probably like that on their art a lot too
especially with the slowly declining appeal of marriage in society :P

spe said:
Would there be a problem with making this a lore tag? There are already lore tags for every other relationship imaginable.

Wasn't there a BUR to make husband_and_wife a lore tag? If that goes through I see no reason why this can't be one as well, sure. Oh, Manitka already linked that one.

watsit said:
But not TWYS.

Ah. I totally forgot about that rule. So yeah. That's fair enough. I've got nothing to add at this point.

czyszy said:
Ah. I totally forgot about that rule. So yeah. That's fair enough. I've got nothing to add at this point.

thats why they can become lore tags :)