Mind the (Age) Gap: How Old Is Too Old in a Relationship?

None of my business who you decide to date, but personally I'd rather date someone a few years around my age.

 

Not sure a simple mathematical "gap" is the best way to measure this. For example, beyond the legalities involved, there's a big difference between 15-25, 18-28, 35-45, 60-70 using your example.

I recently read "divide by 2 and add 7" as a quick reference, although googling the article again reveals it's about "being socially acceptable" more than chances of compatibility.

 

At the moment, I don't think I could be with someone more than 1 year younger than me, but I think I could go 5 or maybe even 8, 9 or 10 years older.

 

My upper limit is 24 and my lower limit is 16. That seems to be my broad age group. Yeah I've met 30 year olds who I found attractive but I wouldn't pursue a relationship with them - there'd be a big berth in life experiences and I'm still studying. Plus when I'm 30 they'd be middle aged.

I'm more flexible when it comes to sexual partners.

 

People around my age.

I don't think I would date anyone 20 or up, and even 18 is a stretch for me, but probably because I'm young

 

Age is just a number.

 

I think that age is a very important factor to be considered

1.) If there is a significant age gap you'd both have grown up in different eras. Maybe you were a 90's kid and they're 80's kids. It doesn't seem like much, but they grew up with a different social standard, different media, different forms of entertainment, different events happening in the world. A whole slew of things that'd effect your ability to affectively understand and communicate with one another. It'd create a bit of a barrier

2.) Aging. Personally I'd prefer that if I planned to spend the rest of my life with someone we'd be going out somewhere close to the same time ( I know you can't really plan this ) but the thought of falling for someone and being ready to spend the rest of your life with em only to have them kick the bucket of old age a good decade before you leaving you all alone for 10 years sounds terrible. Absolutely terrible. I'd consider this one a personal one and less of a "For anyone" argument.

I'm sure there are more reasons, but I'm brain dead at the moment.

 

I've always said that I could never date someone who was more than 3-5 years older than me but I have this huge crush on a girl at work and she's 8 years older but acts a lot younger. Not that early 30's is old, mind you. If she wasn't straight and married I would absolutely date her. So I'm learning to be more lenient. 10 years is too much for me though. As for younger, maybe 3 years.

 

I have a strange attraction for women who are about 3 times older than I am. This has been happening since last year and it's just...weird. Although I much prefer a younger women, lol.
Also, I'd like to mention that there's a pretty big gap between my parents (about 20 years age difference). My mom is in her late 40s and my dad in his early 70s. It sucks that my dad is that old because I don't know how much time he has left and he can't do many activities with the rest of the family so he's left out. There's also times where I wish he were younger so that way I wouldn't have to worry about him dying any second now.

 

This completely depends on the age group.

Say for instance a 10-year gap... There's nothing mentally or emotionally healthy about a 28 year old dating an 18 year old. Each person is in completely different stages in their life. I can never understand what the hell people in their late 20s finding appealing about high school fresh-bait. On the other end of the spectrum, a 30 year old dating a 40 year old isn't really a big deal. Love is love, lust is lust, people are going to do what they want in the end. I don't even bother making an input on it anymore.

Me personally, I'm 23. I won't date someone younger than 21 for the simple fact that if you can't legally sit at a bar and order a drink, I don't think we have any business being together. Considering the fact that I drink on a damn near daily basis. Everyone also seems to change once they turn 21 and are able to go out to bars... It's like a whole new world. I've never dated anyone older than me, honestly. I don't know what the maximum age that I'm willing to date is. If I had to take a guess, probably 30. That seems high though.... 28-30?

Editor's Note: If some 20 year old broad climbs in my bed, I'm not afraid to fuck her feelings.

 

I wouldn't go anywhere 3 years outside of my age. At the age of 13, though, I'd say I wouldn't want to be dating already.

 

For me, anything over 10 years would be too much, even if I was over 50. I'd prefer an 0-5 year age gap, and I tend to attracted to women in their early 20's.

I don't care about the age gaps in the sexual/romantic relationships of others, as long as they aren't downright creepy.

 

Meh. If were just talking about adults who are able to consent to a relationship. Who cares? Some people find soulmates in all kinds. For all I care the parties could be 18 and 81 (in the US); good for them as long as they're happy.

I hit a hangup when it comes to minors in relationships. There isn't that much wiggle room in terms of minors dating other minors (maybe a year). I'm hard-pressed find any situation where a minor and an adult should enter a relationship.

Personally, I wouldn't go any lower than a year or two and no more than 10 years older.

 

I like my cougars.

 

If you like the person and you feel good with them (and both are consenting adults), I don't see where the problem is. Even if they're 15-20 years older/younger. :rolle: I mean, I'd date someone in their 40's. However, I think 45 would be the limit.