Age gaps

I mean yes, it is nobody's business really, but for something to sustain and grow I think you need to be somewhat close in age. There is 5 years between my wife and me, and that feels like no gap at all at the age we met and the age we are now.

I am, therefore, a believer in the equation of 0.5(age)+7 years, but perhaps it is a little generous.

40 yo with 27 yo, 50 yo with 32yo, 60 yo with 37 yo etc. Maybe it does stretch credibility the older one party is.

But for people in a physical consensual relationship, in whatever shape that takes, so long as both are consenting adults over 18, its nothing to do with anyone else.

I say 18 rather than 17, because even though 17 is the age of sexual consent, its younger than the age of legal maturity and ability to participate in a contract, which is 18. And that is true adulthood for me, even if there is much maturing to be done.

So what would you do to change that?

You can drive, marry, borrow, smoke, contract when or by the time you turn 18. Would you delay the age of maturity to 21? 25? 30?

If its a pile of bollix, describe an alternative?

A sentence I was once given was "If you are into someone because of their age you have a problem - if you are with someone despite their age you might be ok" :)

Age is a huge factor - it would be stupid to pretend otherwise. But it's not a total cut off either. I'm in a relationship now with a 2 year and 10 year gap and age has never been one of our problems.

But there are people who can not over come a 2 year gap all the same.

Relationships are all kinds of variables and age is only one of them. A bigger one usually. But still it's just one.

As a man I've been on both sides of the age gap, with a girl who was 15-17 when I was 22-24, and then a much older women of 35 when I was 20. They both ended amicably, and I would do both again in a heartbeat.

I can't really say I understand the fuss on the internet about something like this - it's just white noise to me. I'm not certain, but I think age gaps were quite common throughout history, so I can't understand why someone kicks up a fuss over it.

In my sector (The Arts) unusual relationships are more common than I'd say the wider populace as a whole though. I don't want children either, so that usually screens most people out.

Honestly, I find it much easier to connect with women who are at both extremes rather than my own age. I'm not sure why, but it is so. When I was a teenager I couldn't think of my peers in a sexual way, just the few older women who were around me instead. Now that I'm in my mid twenties the trend has continued, and I only really find women much younger or older than me attractive.

Can't beat a nice set of frontal lobes

Thank you for your quality contribution to the discussion.

If you have a better suggestion, then please share it.

I only heard about the guideline I poste from a friend who was trained as youth-worker about 20 years ago. I scoffed at first, but when I did the maths for a few examples, it works well enough to be sensible for most people.

I wouldn't give a fcuk. None of my business. No skin off my nose either.

I'm not going around social policing people, if you want to be a net curtain twitcher/tut tutter knock yourself out.

I've always followed the rule:

Half your age minus seven

I'm in an age gap situationship at the mo, sure the sex is great but I'm not loving the school run traffic. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go make her a packed lunch

If you can't play ball don't hate the players and don't hate the game and especially don't watch with envy,that's the only rules of life.

Green eyed monster

It doesn't work how? These people are having fun, that's how it works

This isn't some puritan society

People who can pull it off