Does age matter?

[theophilus05]

I was wondering for both men and women what kind of age difference matters to them. We are talking people who are out of school and are working nobody below the age of 18. Does it matter if a guy dates an older woman or if a woman dates an older man? Why is it that women cant date younger men even if they are mature and on the same "level" so to speak?

 

[mixiejoeusa]

I think age can play into a lot of things, but I feel its more about maturity then the actual age. I am young at heart and find myself looking/wanting to date younger men, just because I feel I can relate to them better. To be honest, as long as the two people are happy, why should age matter.........look how it was back in the Bible......Joseph was A LOT older then Mary.....lol

my little two -bit
~Jessica

 

[Cherub8]

I think there are extraordinary cases where a 16-year-old is prepared for marriage. There are a few such people on this website, and are married. However, this is rare. I would suggest very few people are ready before age 20. Just my personal observation. As for myself, I don't think I'll be ready for a few years, perhaps when I'm 24.

I think the reason that the man tends to be older is because, quite frankly, men usually mature at a slower pace than women. (Granted, I've seen plenty of exceptions around here.) Perhaps this is not the case at all. Just my personal opinion.

 

[Brutus/HisCatalyst]

Not for me. God's woman is God's woman. Taller, Shorter, smarter, dumber, insane, normal, (if you can define that) older, or younger. If God will bless me with a wife, he'll make her just what I need, and maybe what I want too.

 

[Spicy McHaggis]

For me, age is a matter of percentage. The difference between 10 and 15 is a 50% jump, but when you're older, say 70 and 75, that same 5 years is a svelte 7.14%.

MUCH better.

I'll go about 7-8% older than me, maybe 15% younger.

Yeah, there's alot of math on my first dates.

 

[jenptcfan]

For me, age is a matter of percentage. The difference between 10 and 15 is a 50% jump, but when you're older, say 70 and 75, that same 5 years is a svelte 7.14%.

MUCH better.

I'll go about 7-8% older than me, maybe 15% younger.

Yeah, there's alot of math on my first dates.

You make my head hurt!

 

[theophilus05]

Haha...maybe I should start showing off my math skills on the first date.

 

[the_man]

I think what I would vaguely define as "stage in life" is more of an issue than the numbers that age reveal. For a succesful (romantic) relationship, you would want to be at similar "stages of life". Part of the success is maturing together as individuals and as a couple.

An 18 yr old could be at the same stage of life as a 24 year old, however a 30 year old is no likely to be well matched with a 60 year old. Neither is a 19 and 37 likely to be a pair. Two 25 year olds could be at completely different "stages in life". So I would look at that more than age because there isn't a 1:1 correspondence of age to stage.

So to answer your question; "does age matter", No . . . only when it does.

 

[fishstix]

I was wondering for both men and women what kind of age difference matters to them. We are talking people who are out of school and are working nobody below the age of 18. Does it matter if a guy dates an older woman or if a woman dates an older man? Why is it that women cant date younger men even if they are mature and on the same "level" so to speak?

As others have said, I think that age difference is more of an issue for younger people than for older people. For example, 8 years would be a much bigger difference for a couple in their 20's than for a couple in their 50's. Ultimately, it's up to each person to decide what they are personally comfortable with. One person may have no problem with a 15 year difference; another may find 5 years too much. And neither one is necessarily wrong.

As far as the older woman/younger man thing - that isn't a rule. It's true that more often the man is older, but that doesn't mean that's how it had to be all the time. There is nothing wrong with having a couple where the woman is the older one. Especially if both are at the same maturity level and stage of life.

 

[justasinner]

Age like looks should never matter.

I had a great uncle that married at 70 and his wife was 21. They lived together until he passed away at the age of 99. During the first of their marriage they had three sons. And at his passing all three sons were married and had kids themselves.

And I have a cousin that when he was 37 he married a 17 year old.

It is harder to get passed the looks of age but once you find the person's heart and soul then age or looks does NOT make a difference. Then you can tell if your relation has a chance. And it does not matter who is older if their soul and spirit and heart are in agreement.

Now, some women are dating younger guys, but because the Christian man is suppose to led the marriage, the woman usually pick an older man. Plus, women want a stable life and if the man is older the chances are they are more stable, like having a secure job, a place to live, and they are ready for children.

 

[wildthing]

I will go with younger as long as I don't get arrested for something (just say no to jail bait). At this point I will date just about anything as long as the person has a good tude.

 

[BeautyForAshes]

Because I am interested in marriage and starting a family, I will not date anyone 8 years older than me (10 max) or 3 years younger.

 

[mixiejoeusa]

BeautyForAshes
Good advise, I think I will take that one also...

Jessica

 

[wis]

It doesn't matter to me. I dated a man 2 years younger than me, and I can say that he is more mature than many guys who have the same age as mine. In my experience, there are many couples that have age difference; however, they live happily. For example, a woman 3-5 years older than a man (I have seen lots of this), a woman 10-12 years younger than a man, in some case a woman 20+ younger than a man. I think it's about their personality which connect them together. Um..my aunt married with american man who is about 4-5 years younger. They have a happy family. I also notice that asian is somehow less mature than Europien at the same age. maybe, it's because our culture??? Anyway, age is not important if a couple really love, understand and accept each other.

 

[Blank123]

Most of the guys I find myself attracted to are older than me. so yeah age isn't a major factor to me, unless the guy is like twenty or thirty years older than me

 

[white dove]

I think what I would vaguely define as "stage in life" is more of an issue than the numbers that age reveal. For a succesful (romantic) relationship, you would want to be at similar "stages of life". Part of the success is maturing together as individuals and as a couple.

An 18 yr old could be at the same stage of life as a 24 year old, however a 30 year old is no likely to be well matched with a 60 year old. Neither is a 19 and 37 likely to be a pair. Two 25 year olds could be at completely different "stages in life". So I would look at that more than age because there isn't a 1:1 correspondence of age to stage.

So to answer your question; "does age matter", No . . . only when it does.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to the_man again.

!!!!!....

 

[Eagle_Wings]

Now, some women are dating younger guys, but because the Christian man is suppose to led the marriage, the woman usually pick an older man.

Age is a huge issue with me and to be quite honest I don't know why, but justasinner pretty much hit it on the head for me. For some reason I feel that if the guy is younger then me then he's not in a leadership position...and I know that that's not true...but it's hard to get past that feeling. It will probably change as I get older, but right now the guys that are younger then me are in their early 20's and act more like they are 16! Although there are exceptions to the rule...I work with 2 guys who are 21 and one who is just about 20. Well, one of the 21 yr olds acts way young, while the other one acts more like he's my age, and the 20 yr old fits somewhere inbetween. He acts young, yet he's got a good head on his shoulders! I am more open to dating someone younger then me than I have been in the past.

 

[sweetlambofgod]

age matters to me but I'm young still

 

[waterbear]

Age matters to me, although it (at the moment) is rarely a determinant. I prefer someone closer to my age, but haven't ascertained the strength of that preference (as it hasn't been relevant).

 

[anett]

Before I always said to myself I would't date anyone who is younger than me. A couple of years (max.6) older is just fine.
Than I met someone special who was a bit younger than me... though finally nothing turned out but my opinion has changed. So ever since age doesn't really matters, more like personality and mature.