There are 7 choices, 13 votes for tfry's debate

How young is too young?

What is the appropiate age to go out with someone and more specifically, how young/old can your partner be in comparison to you?
  • According to 'they'
    They say a man/boy is attracted to a woman/girl half his age plus seven.

    Male 10 - female 12
    Male 16 - female 15
    Male 20 - female 17
    Male 30 - female 22
    Male 40 - female 27
    Male 50 - female 32
    Male 60 - female 37
    Male 70 - female 42

    Thoughts?
    30%  Voted for by ditchtheloser, poetrygoddess99, Disturbia Notorious, signoff.
    View 10 comments
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  • Depends
    It depends on how old the parties are during the age difference. It's pretty common to see happily married couples be around 5 years apart in age. Does that mean a 10 year old should go out with a 15 year old? A 15 year old with a 20 year old? Definitely not.

    Once you're both above an age of average maturity and experience, I don't think age matters so much. What is this age? I guess it would vary for people, while mostly staying the same. For instance, at 16 I think it would be okay for this person to date a few years older--but not too many! Around 19-20, most people would be ready, but many should probably still be wary of large age differences. 21 and up, if you're still to naive and/or immature to handle more complex relationships, you're a lost cause anyway. There's no more chance of being manipulated from an older person than there would be to someone your own age or younger.
    30%  Voted for by Weydon, ScorpioBlood, ditchtheloser, Matrixheart23.
    View 3 comments
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  • Actions over thoughts
    Well when ever I've gone out with someone, they have been always been at a similar age to me. However to say that I've never had a 'thing' for a younger or older member of the opposite sex is total crap and chances are, most people would have to agree.

    HOWEVER, i have never acted on these feelings... yet... It was always because of I was afraid of what others might think, was it real love, does the partner feel the same, am i old enough / they old enough... etc etc

    So what I would really appreciate is for everyone to get your opinion across and generate more thought to the matter, because those with experience's obviously have better input to this issue.
    Voted for by tfry.
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  • Answering both questions:
    I think there are varying degrees of "going out". So I'd consider anywhere from 12 through to 18 appropriate for a "first date", depending on the individual.

    At 12 you'd only expect phone calls and maybe - ooh la la - a peck on the lips. At 18 you'd expect a little more in depth conversation, and perhaps eventual "meaningful relations".


    And age difference?

    I think that at 14 - you'd be looking at a year as a big difference.
    At 16 - two years as a big difference.
    At 17/18 - four years a big difference.
    By 18+ - difference decided more by your judgement than age.
    Voted for by sca.
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  • Dating
    I'm 20 years old, which is pretty young. and a female. I've been in several relationships and have crossed the board from younger to older partners. My ex of 2.5 years was a year younger than me and we worked great (he's an ex for other reasons, nothing to do with out age diff.) I've dated guys exactly my age, and my current boyfriend is three years older than me. I know those differences aren't significant, but to be honest with you, after the age of 20 I don't think an age difference makes any difference in a relationship at all. Maturity level does and that's important to note.

    Good luck.
    Voted for by IvoryRose.
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  • historicaly
    A man had to be able to suport a wife, and girls as young as 12 or 13 were expected to marry, and at least begin to learn what was expected of her from her husband, it was a sucsessful system right up untill the advent of womens lib
    Voted for by Dwn.
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  • ...
    It's really hard to say because it depends whether or not the person (ie the older of the two and the guy) is genuine and not looking for something else...
    Voted for by unco.
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