@molona i think we are on similar pages with our views on this. Just to add to what you’ve said i think this was an interesting debate and clearly the people on both sides are intelligent people as it didn’t descend into petty name calling or stupidity. Perhaps we’ve all learnt at least something (or maybe not 
who knows).
I’ll leave you with this thought … if words are just words and shouldn’t have more or less meaning than another why bother telling your partner/family that you love them. If a word is just a word and carries no weight then it has no meaning. Just to contradict myself I love bacon sandwiches so i guess i use the L word too freely. Although a good bacon sandwich on white with tomato sauce is hard to beat, given the choice i’d still choose my Girlfriend (unless i am hungry and then the decision gets a bit more difficult ).