Btw, regarding the number of partners I've had (and / or the fact that I paid for most of them) mostly means nothing to me. I suppose I wouldn't want it broadcast to the world that I've paid, but my mom knows, my sister should know and my best friend knows. They still love me and I'm ok.
I don't even begin to understand why you said: "I daresay that I have had as many male partners (and female partners) as you have had female.
I am not particularly proud of that but..."
What is there to be proud or ashamed of? Note, I can't say that I've had any male partners (and don't want any, I don't swing that way), but I digress...
BTW, do I have more or less partners than I? I'm curious
...
For the record, the last girlfriend had more sex partners than I. She wasn't a slut nor did she think of herself as one (not that I noticed anyways....). Beautiful woman. Could have had 30 guys in 15 days no sweat. Wouldn't of course, because she had plenty of self respect, but could if wanted to... She said more than 25 to my 21 at that time... Probably still has had more partners than I...
Anyways... Enough about my exploits... Let us discuss the origin of the word "slut" and rationales (if any valid one exist) for the term as it is commonly understood.