I feel the same way the other gentleman did. I am a 33 yr old man, and Age does matter. But only initialy. If i meet a woman and she tells me shes 21, my first instict is, is she going to be a responsible, reliable influence in the future for kids, or how is she going to handle the situations that life has yet to thow her way, the same situations I have already experienced. So it would take an exceptional person of that age range to get past that initial impression. But ultimately maturity level is what matters. And that will shine through if the person is exceptional.

<--------toy girl

I'd rather ignore age to a point, and look at conversation. If a girl says "OMG they are not wearing those shoes with those pants" I'll probably live out the rest of the convo & then move on, but if she says "Well I think Pluto is just a big chunk of frozen rock but the only way to know is to go" then I'm going to be all over that convo. Ok, I know not everybody can be a geek like me, but I just prefer someone who can stimulate my mind regardless of age, I've met plenty of teenagers who can hang with me in such convos;^]

Then you would be the exception then So am I to old for you

i agree with what you are saying to a degree....responsibility is a big factor but different ages of people have experienced different things in their life and are more mature than others their age

not necessarily gonna have to rethink your views about "the young ones"

Never said you where young and with children you have to be the responsible one and take core of them. I am talking about the 18 to 25 crowd

You are contradicting yourself all in the same conversation could be the reason.

well the third quote wasn't even from me so I don't know why you bunched it with it. how am i contradicting myself? I said I wouldn't date someone 30 or someone 16. I also said people my age are like that not me. I would date someone younger someone who is 17-19 not younger then that because a) it's illegal and b) I don't want to date a girl 3 years or more younger. So where am i contradicting myself?

How do I word this without starting a fire lex? I agree with you lex. But deep down you and I know the answer to this question. We have been on here awhile and people contradict themselves and lie constantly on here. And pointing out the lie or contradiction is a useless endeavor because the same people are akin to want to argue the facts because like wrestling with a pig in the mud they enjoy it. Why just the other night I wrestled with a pig in the mud over silly little lies and upstanding morals on here. See general discussion thread grrrrrrrrrrrr. Self explainitory. To be honest it is like many real people in life. It just seems easier to lie and contradict themselves on the net because if no ones going to hold them accountable or responsible for it they will get away with it. And of course some people are so bright they don't even know they're doing it. "huh, what?"

I went to visit my girlfriend from high school down in Arizona a long time back.. I was in Las Vegas for the Millennium Celebration..so it was a quick hop over to Phoenix. Her Mom lived there too.. I had not seen either since my early twenties.

My ex's Husband picked me up at the airport and drove me to her Mom's house and I was shocked to meet my ex's step Dad.. He was two years younger then me! I got over the shock pretty quickly... to discover this guy was really a good guy. Much better for her Mom then my ex's real Father.
She was happy.. My Ex was happy... Who am I to judge what is right or wrong for anybody but me? Which leads to the next question...Who am I to judge what is right for me based on someones age alone?

All these self imposed conditions just make the world an artificially smaller place.


This coming from the guy who constantly complains of women ignoring him because they are jerks.... Hmmmm...

You are right.. that was an unfair generalization of young people. However..it is pretty common.
In so far as your personal situation. Working at Staples and living at home. You could not survive out of your parents house with the money you make. Contributing to the household you live in is not overly responsible, or noteworthy. Go out in the real world first.. and experience true sacrifice..then come back and tell us about hypocrisy, responsibility and altruism... I'm sure your family is proud of you, as they should be. Families are like that. Us...out here though.. Probably not impressed. Many out here are your age who have careers, families... maybe overseas fighting a war. Others who have years of experience eking out a living and contributing not only to their own household and welfare but their parents or other family...

Right now? You have no point of reference.

I was attempting to make a point without stabbing someone.
However this really couldn't be answered by any of us unless we were all from the same age group. REASON When a 19 yr old turns 25, older women maybe all he dates in which time he may move from his mothers residence and be called a responsible adult. I have dated older and younger men but none lived with thier parent all had better than good jobs and were responsible adults. I have always gone by maturity and responibilty not age.

Well anyone who has a family at my age is pretty stupid. I don't know too many people who can afford to have a career at age 19 unless supported or funded by a parent or family member. Although my money to my family may not seem like much without it we would not be able to afford the bills seeing as how I live in a poor family that can barely pay the bills. So thanks for making a generalization against me maybe next time you should keep your nose where it belongs and not get snippy with me. I'm going to school so in a couple years I can support myself and possibly a family.

I think each person has reasons for whatever their age preferences are, and usually they are selfish. We are all selfish in our own ways, to varying degrees. Sometimes people care about perceptions and what others think. If your loved ones love you, all they care about is if you're happy.

Personally, I am wary to date someone a lot older than me because I think if we became serious and it turned into a LTR, then I'd be concerned they would not live as long as I would. Now I am aware of the whole Carpe Diem and live each day as though it is your last, but it is a fact I consider. I agree with jistme when he says it takes an exceptional person, and for that exceptional person I believe we'd all make an "exception".

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER.....THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT EVERYONE CHOOSES A DIFFERENT NUMBER, THAT THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE.

FOR ME IT IS MORE OF A GENERATION THING. THOSE OF MY GENERATION, UNDERSTANDS ME BETTER, HAS THE SAME GOALS, THE SAME NEEDS, WANTS AND DESIRES.

IN MY PAST RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE OF DIFFERENT GENERATIONS, IT ENDED UP THAT WE JUST DID NOT GET ALONG BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCES IN OUR LIVES, AND OUR AGES.

THANK GOD, I FOUND SOMEONE OF MY GENERATION, AND WE LOVE EACH OTHER, AND MATCH UP SO WELL TOGETHER.

Ok then.. no generalization there.
I can almost hear the trampling feet of young single mothers headed your way with verbal baseball bats in hand...

I wasn't born into wealth myself. I left home 5 years prior to your age. I didn't do it by choice. I did it to survive.

By the time I was your age.. I was in one of many career lines.. Working as a Chef's assistant by day, and running a small business in Photography and Graphic Arts by night. I was first published at age 17... Contributing to a sibling's household at age 16. Who just had a baby in a failed marriage at your age.. By my early 17th year, I was supporting my girlfriend much of the time too. By the time I saw age 20? I knew far more about true sacrifice and hardship then you could possibly experience in the protection of your family..poor or not. Yet.. I knew many others who had it far worse then me.

By age 23.. I was paid very well to run other peoples companies.. trusted with millions of dollars in capitol and goods...

Maybe I'm an exception to the rule.. but.. so are you.

Granted it is good to be contributing to your family.. but you know what? That makes sense. You live there! Anything you bring in... you partake in. Sure.. there are many your age still at home and sponging off their Mom.. Which is simply despicable. You aren't despicable, but not notable either.

Lilith... I did mention I was supposed to die at age 30, didn't I? Which means I'm on borrowed time as we speak...

Back off "GANGSTA"
Point made, I came from a welfare poor single parent childhood myself and my mother was a drunk but I have a crimanl justice degree and I own and fully run 2 businesses and my 24 yr old son owns and runs his own business and has since he was 19. So I'm not being snippy, I came from dirt just like you, but never to forget where I came from. I DID brush it off. Helping your family is the best thing for you right now but this thread was based on dating so I put out the fact that peoples lifestyles do matter.

yes but you're also 44 how many careers are available in 2007 for a person at age 19? In this day and age you NEED a degree to start a business or have a real career. My brother had a "career" at age 18 folding boxes and you know where he is now at age 28? On our couch sponging off of us (he owes me the brother who works at a crappy retail job $400) and he works maybe 2-3 months a year.

Well I go with Tigerman on this one to me age is what each person makes of it.

But in noooooooooooooooo way will I date someone the same age as my kids it just ain't gonna happen and have no desire to date someone more than 12 years older either. That is just me and my opinion.

As far as any one else hey go with what feels right to you that is all that matters anyway.