What's your preferred age range for dating?

[Captain Intrepid]

If ever did anything so gauche as put a limit on love, I'd say 17 and up at the moment. I'm 21 this month.

 

[John Picard]

Mine is from 10% younger than myself to 40% older than myself. This formula should work whatever my age happens to be.

I'm currently 27, so at the moment that would mean I would generally only consider dating people roughly between the ages of 24 and 38. (Of course there would always be exceptions, but we're ignoring them for this discussion.)

I really don't understand 40+ year olds who expect people in their late teens to want to go out with them, while completely ignoring those who are the same age as themselves. If you don't find people your own age attractive, why the hell do you expect anyone else to find *you* attractive?

Anyway, what age range do you prefer to date, and how do you imagine that age range would change as you grow older (assuming you don't get into a long-term relationship)?

As a man of the male gender, who is on the cusp of 40, I am very, very leery of dating below the age of 29/30. My upper limit for now is 43, but it depends on the person.

 

[Searider Falcon]

I'm 25 and really don't want to date anyone that's more than a couple years younger than me. My luck with the 22 and younger set hasn't been all that stellar. The frat boy mentality seem to still be rather strong. Also, with most guys much younger than that, I find myself struck by the fact that they're my cousin's peers (my cousin was the closest thing to a little brother I had for the first ten years of my life). I can't help it, but I still tend to think of him as a kid even though he's now 21 and a very mature 21 at that (it'd probably help if the poor guy didn't still look 12, though).

My upper limit is, I guess, about 35...ish. Much older than that and we creep into closer in age to my parents than me territory which I find weird.

 

[JimCasy]

I'm 27, I'd date between 21-50. I love chicks older than me, what can I say?

Wow, that's exactly what my answer was going to be, but replace chicks with guys. I've dated guys a few years younger, and I've dated a guy who was 20 years older than me. I wouldn't go under 21, because it makes it a pain trying to go out, or go to some concerts, etc, and my friends and I drink on a very regular basis.

I had, in a vague sort of way, decided I wasn't going to date anyone younger than me anymore a few months ago...and of course about a month ago I met someone four years younger than me, and now we're in a relationship.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I'm 38. I don't know if I have a *preferred* age range, although it would be (to use a word that certain people here just love to beat me over the head with) CREEPY if I dated someone who was younger than about 21 or so. Even if it's legal, I'd still feel like a CREEPY old man.

I mean, let's flip that around. You girls here who are around that range: would you date someone as old as me?

 

[thestrangequark]

I generally go for my age or older, though not too much older. 25-35 is reasonable. I just don't see a relationship with some one significantly beyond my age-range being successful.
However, I do have a thing for college professors. There's a really specific type: the kind that was around in the early '80's: tall and lanky, with turtle necks under corduroy sports coats with patches on the elbows. They look a bit like Carl Sagan, or the dad on Family Ties. It'd be fun to have a naughty affair with a college professor who's way to old for me.

 

[Amaris]

I will date within 7 years of my age. I'm 28.
This means anywhere from 21 to 35. I have, however, made exceptions in the past.


J.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

I'm 22, and 21 is the youngest I'll go, and probably 25 would be the oldest.

 

[captcalhoun]

24-36 given i'm 30. although, naturally, there are a couple of exceptions i'd make...

 

[Kirkman1987]

It'd be fun to have a naughty affair with a college professor who's way to old for me.

From my experience, yes it is. And it makes for great conversations down the road. when we tell people how we met, we get interesting reactions.

 

[Geck]

I'm 24, and I'd say my range is 18-26. I tend to go for younger guys in general...I relate better to them than to older guys, or even guys my own age. I think it's an insecurity thing. Of the couple dozen guys in my history (whether one date or LTRs), only three have been older than me, and the oldest of those was only three years older (I was 19 at the time, he was 22).

I had a date with a 30-year old last month, which is my brother's age, and it just felt strange. Although my last boyfriend was 18, and I had to force myself not to think that he was the same age as my baby cousins...

 

[Emher]

I'd say lower age about 5 years, meaning 19, but I'd not go under 18. I'd rather not go for such young girls though, haven't worked great for me so far. Upper age I'd say about 40. But I'd certainly be able to stretch that depending on the person, as a rule I don't mind older women at all. I'm 24 btw.

 

[John Clark]

I'd say 27 to 40 for me (with me being currently just around the middle there)

 

[RJDiogenes]

For long-term or permanent relationships, it's always seemed to me that more than twelve years would be a problem as time went on; that's not a hard and fast rule or anything, though.

For more casual relationships, who cares (as long as everyone's legal)? Younger people enjoy experienced partners and older people enjoy younger partners, so everybody's happy. When I was about 21, I had a nice little experience with a very attractive 35 year old-- and all because she liked my writing!

And now an attractive 35 year old would be at my lower limit for a relationship.

I generally go for my age or older, though not too much older. 25-35 is reasonable. I just don't see a relationship with some one significantly beyond my age-range being successful.
However, I do have a thing for college professors. There's a really specific type: the kind that was around in the early '80's: tall and lanky, with turtle necks under corduroy sports coats with patches on the elbows. They look a bit like Carl Sagan, or the dad on Family Ties. It'd be fun to have a naughty affair with a college professor who's way to old for me.

Damn! If it wasn't for the turtlenecks that could be me.

 

[Hermiod]

I generally go for my age or older, though not too much older. 25-35 is reasonable.

Phew, made it with 5 years to spare.

 

[Kemaiku]

When I got to about 22 I settled on 25-35 but have gone as low as 20 and as high as 36 in the last while.

 

[An Officer]

I have always been drawn to older people, they are generally more knowledgeable, self-possesed, and of a sharper wit... There is also a gentleness and patience that can come with age. I find that a few laughter lines, some silver, and a character filled face can make me go weak at the knees...

 

[Holdfast]

*shrug* I can't say I've actively thought about it, but I'd say 22-45. Put it this way, university undergraduates would feel fun, but somehow dangerous; and post-menopausal sounds way too mature for me.

Having said that, despite those theoretical limits, in practice I've only dated between 24 and 35 over the last few years.

 

[CookieMonster]

I generally go for my age or older, though not too much older. 25-35 is reasonable. I just don't see a relationship with some one significantly beyond my age-range being successful.
However, I do have a thing for college professors. There's a really specific type: the kind that was around in the early '80's: tall and lanky, with turtle necks under corduroy sports coats with patches on the elbows. They look a bit like Carl Sagan, or the dad on Family Ties. It'd be fun to have a naughty affair with a college professor who's way to old for me.

Yea I gotta admit the "classic look" college professor in his 30s is kinda hot.

 

[Trippy]

I guess I'd go 5-10 years either way...and I just turned 41