Advice Part 11- Dating age differences

When is someone "too young" or "too old" to be seriously considered as a dating prospect? This is a question which has bothered me for AGES (ha ha ha, notice the pun?)

Guilty admission from myself- I have only ever gone out with people younger than me. I have no idea why, but would like to think it is due to my exceptionally youthful exterior, rather than my immaturity.

Hmm.

But how young is "too young"? Or "too old"? When do you cross the line from "a bit of an age difference" into "downright sleazy" territory? What advice can be given to all the young players?

One commonly cited "rule" is to halve your age, and add 7, and anything below that is "not appropriate". So for me, "too young" is 22, "too old" is 46. Initially, this seemed kind of plausible. But when I thought about it, some of the implications were decidedly disturbing.....


If I dated a 22 year old

• I would have been in Year 12 while they were in Year 6 (which means I could have taken them to my Year 12 formal- and probably been arrested)

• I would have been finishing uni when they had just started high school (just imagine the scene at my graduation ceremony....)

If I dated a 46 year old

• They would have finished Year 12 when I was still learning how to walk (I guess they could have taken me to the formal in my pram....)

• I would not have even been in kindergarten when they were having their 21st (no alcohol for me at that party, then!)

Is it just me, or is this somewhat, err, worrying?