What is the biggest age gap you would consider when dating someone?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,943
4,585
113
#21
I can only speak for me. Part of it really is maturity. I am very active in sports, and activities. I don't think of older ladies doing that stuff.
Just hang out at a gym for seniors. 😬

I used to go to one and there were women there who could hit the cardio machines twice as long as the men.

I was fascinated by one woman who was always on the rowing machines.

This woman was probably around 60 and had arms like Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2.

When I grow up, I hope I can be like her.😬
 

Butterflyyy

Well-known member
Oct 31, 2019
1,571
1,293
113
#22
Now I'm curious.

Why are guys willing to go A LOT younger, but hardly any older?

Is it all because of looks?
Lol how d'you know whether women are not willing to go A LOT younger and hardly any older?😁🤣.......because of looks😊
 

Solemateleft

Honor, Courage, Commitment
Jun 25, 2017
12,175
3,609
113
#23
Now I'm curious.

Why are guys willing to go A LOT younger, but hardly any older?

Is it all because of looks?
I was always well advised to never engage women in a conversation about her age nor her weight :) ...
So I will merely resort to providing reference material with feedback from the social relationship experts... ;)

Ever heard of the rule that men should date women who are half their age plus seven?
“Socially speaking in the western world, women have been granted liberty to unite with men five to 15 years older without anyone batting an eye. Conversely, when a man chooses an older mate he’s apt to encounter judgement and discrimination,” Winter told us.

Historically, a woman was to choose a man the same age, or five to 15 years older. Mid-century, the reason for the elevated age gap would've been economic. Women had little ability to earn income. Their husband was their access to social standing and economic stability. Obviously, an older man had more time to achieve a greater number of personal and financial goals.”

Interestingly, Winter said, ”If this phrase originated in the early 1900's it was clearly created by men (and therefore to their benefit).”

Relationship expert Rachel Russo also felt the rule had no basis in fact - but could see why it had endured.

For Russo, “It is more important to look at the life stage someone is in to see if your values are similar than to base your decision on chronological age.”

“chances are a 30-year-old man dating a 22-year-old woman would be a much better match than a 30-year-old woman and a 22-year-old guy, as men typically lag behind women in maturity and relationship ready-ness.”

As for the endurance of the rule, Russo thinks it may have something to do with men being attracted to younger women.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,943
4,585
113
#24
I can only speak for me. Part of it really is maturity. I am very active in sports, and activities. I don't think of older ladies doing that stuff.
I think it's much more common for men to pass women their age or older by in favor of a younger woman, because it's thought that a younger woman will be active and keep them young.

I wonder if any guys here have been passed up for a younger man, because the younger lady they were pursuing was thinking the same thing? That he was too old to keep up with her?

And how do men react to this when it's on the other side of the coin?
 

Butterflyyy

Well-known member
Oct 31, 2019
1,571
1,293
113
#25
Lol how d'you know whether women are not willing to go A LOT younger and hardly any older?😁🤣.......because of looks😊[/QUOTE)
Now I'm curious.

Why are guys willing to go A LOT younger, but hardly any older?

Is it all because of looks?
The funny thing is, in all seriousness now, that if a woman dates a much younger guy she is considered a cougar.... but I don't hear of any similar term for guys when it is the other way around🤔
I have found a 36 year old guy to be more mature in a way than a 50 year old guy....the 50 year old was just more grumpy🙄 it depends on the individual...
there comes a point where I wouldn't want to feel like I'm some guy's Mama.
Ideally I would like a guy who is older than me and more mature than me, but who still looks good 😉
 
M

MegMarch

Guest
#26
I agree that it comes down to the individual. I’ve only ever dated guys a little bit younger than me or the same age. I’ve never dated anyone significantly older. Now that I am in my 30’s, some older gentlemen are expressing interest. I hadn’t really considered it before, but now I am pondering it.
 

Butterflyyy

Well-known member
Oct 31, 2019
1,571
1,293
113
#27
I was always well advised to never engage women in a conversation about her age nor her weight :) ...
So I will merely resort to providing reference material with feedback from the social relationship experts... ;)

Ever heard of the rule that men should date women who are half their age plus seven?
“Socially speaking in the western world, women have been granted liberty to unite with men five to 15 years older without anyone batting an eye. Conversely, when a man chooses an older mate he’s apt to encounter judgement and discrimination,” Winter told us.

Historically, a woman was to choose a man the same age, or five to 15 years older. Mid-century, the reason for the elevated age gap would've been economic. Women had little ability to earn income. Their husband was their access to social standing and economic stability. Obviously, an older man had more time to achieve a greater number of personal and financial goals.”

Interestingly, Winter said, ”If this phrase originated in the early 1900's it was clearly created by men (and therefore to their benefit).”

Relationship expert Rachel Russo also felt the rule had no basis in fact - but could see why it had endured.

For Russo, “It is more important to look at the life stage someone is in to see if your values are similar than to base your decision on chronological age.”

“chances are a 30-year-old man dating a 22-year-old woman would be a much better match than a 30-year-old woman and a 22-year-old guy, as men typically lag behind women in maturity and relationship ready-ness.”

As for the endurance of the rule, Russo thinks it may have something to do with men being attracted to younger women.
I think it's much more common for men to pass women their age or older by in favor of a younger woman, because it's thought that a younger woman will be active and keep them young.

I wonder if any guys here have been passed up for a younger man, because the younger lady they were pursuing was thinking the same thing? That he was too old to keep up with her?

And how do men react to this when it's on the other side of the coin?
My Dad is nearly 7 years older than my Mum, and sometimes I find myself thinking, 'Nah, I don't wanna do that," lol....he gets tired more easily than her, which can spoil her fun a bit sometimes...
 
S

Susanna

Guest
#28
I agree that it comes down to the individual. I’ve only ever dated guys a little bit younger than me or the same age. I’ve never dated anyone significantly older. Now that I am in my 30’s, some older gentlemen are expressing interest. I hadn’t really considered it before, but now I am pondering it.
Aww, keep us in the loop😊.
 
S

Susanna

Guest
#30
You mean you want to hear all my dating drama? Surely not, Susanna. 😉😂
I’m a drama queen. I’ve got it from my mom😁. And believe me, drama queens are much more dramatic in French than in English😄😁😊.
 
M

MegMarch

Guest
#31
I’m a drama queen. I’ve got it from my mom😁. And believe me, drama queens are much more dramatic in French than in English😄😁😊.
Haha. Well in that case, I’ll keep you updated. 😂
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,943
4,585
113
#32
You mean you want to hear all my dating drama? Surely not, Susanna. 😉😂
I’m a drama queen. I’ve got it from my mom😁. And believe me, drama queens are much more dramatic in French than in English😄😁😊.
Are you kidding?

Drama is what the Singles forum lives for! :LOL:
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,943
4,585
113
#34
Butterflyy,

Good point about older women always being seen as cougars. I have a guy friend, and while he looks young for his age too, people will see us together and kind of ask him if I'm a little too young for him, when actually, I'm 5 years older than he is!!!

I want to tell them, "Sorry for the false advertising, but your boy is actually Driving Miss Daisy." :sneaky:


To be completely honest, I've experienced so many times of much-older men trying to talk to me and have seen so many wonderful women left behind for those much younger that I have actually told God out of frustration that someday, I wouldn't mind tipping the scales and marrying someone younger.

Now it's not a REQUIREMENT, of course! I'd be happy with whomever God has sent me.

But, I do get very discouraged by double standards... And to me, marrying a younger guy would be my way of thumbing my nose at what society tries to dictate.
 
S

Susanna

Guest
#35
I don’t know what to say really about all this age gap dating😁, but when my own age is a little, shall we say, advanced, and situated on the wrong side of 40, things are getting more complicated by the hour😁.
 

Solemateleft

Honor, Courage, Commitment
Jun 25, 2017
12,175
3,609
113
#36
Butterflyy,

Good point about older women always being seen as cougars. I have a guy friend, and while he looks young for his age too, people will see us together and kind of ask him if I'm a little too young for him, when actually, I'm 5 years older than he is!!!

I want to tell them, "Sorry for the false advertising, but your boy is actually Driving Miss Daisy." :sneaky:


To be completely honest, I've experienced so many times of much-older men trying to talk to me and have seen so many wonderful women left behind for those much younger that I have actually told God out of frustration that someday, I wouldn't mind tipping the scales and marrying someone younger.

Now it's not a REQUIREMENT, of course! I'd be happy with whomever God has sent me.

But, I do get very discouraged by double standards... And to me, marrying a younger guy would be my way of thumbing my nose at what society tries to dictate.
LOL... reminds me of the ol' joke...
"If it weren't for double-standards - some people wouldn't have any standards at all." :)
Good thing genuine Christians should not have that problem... ;)
 
Dec 8, 2019
61
91
18
#37
I have a few cougars trying to get their claws into me, I won't lie if I'm thinking about if they are wealthy or not. That's definitely one factor involved in big age gap relationships.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
14,943
4,585
113
#38
Meg,

I'm so sorry for chattering away on your thread -- I'll go put myself in the corner in just a few, I promise :), but you have me thinking about a lot of my past experiences in the dating world.

I remember a long time ago, when I actually was about 32 and on a dating site, a gentleman contacted me who was about 50. He seemed very nice, but his messages would go back and forth between rants about his ex-wife to how much he was looking forward to finding a beautiful young lady to be his new companion. It was glaringly obvious that the pain of his divorce was still very fresh, and I wasn't comfortable with the idea of dating someone who was obviously still extremely attached to his ex-wife. This was a whole lot more intimidating to me than his age.

I had to send him a final message trying to gently explain that I didn't see anything happening between us, and in his reply, he wrote something about what his life used to be, and "now I'm just an old man."

I truly felt sorry for him, and said a prayer, because he obviously had a very broken heart.

I just remember feeling extremely sad for him, that he apparently felt his life was over because, in his view, no (young) woman wanted him.
 

Butterflyyy

Well-known member
Oct 31, 2019
1,571
1,293
113
#39
I don’t know what to say really about all this age gap dating😁, but when my own age is a little, shall we say, advanced, and situated on the wrong side of 40, things are getting more complicated by the hour😁.
I have found that the older guys are, the more difficult it seems to be to find attractive guys who have not 'let themselves go' however I know a lot of older women who don't look anywhere near their age and look great; so it seems ironic to me, that so many guys prefer younger women😐Lol
 

Butterflyyy

Well-known member
Oct 31, 2019
1,571
1,293
113
#40
I have a few cougars trying to get their claws into me, I won't lie if I'm thinking about if they are wealthy or not. That's definitely one factor involved in big age gap relationships.
I only go for rich young men😉