<p>What is the maximum age difference for a relationship to be able to work?</p>
<p>It really depends on the age of the people in general. A 16 year old dating a 10 year old seems a little strange. A 46 year old dating a 40 year old, however, is not a big deal.</p>
<p>For college age (I'm assuming) I'd say anything bigger than a 21 or 22 year old dating an 18 year old would probably only end in some bad situations. But, remember, there are some that luck out and make it work.</p>
<p>What exactly makes the relationship end bad? Different places in life or what?</p>
<p>Well, personally, I'm 19 and dating a 27 year old. I don't see this as being too huge of a deal though I can see how others would think it's crazy. It works for me because we both understand that our lives are going in different directions within the next few years so we don't see ourselves as a serious, long term commitment. </p>
<p>The key is not to look at every relationship as something serious and long term- especially if dating an older guy. Just going on dates is fun and if you both are comfortable and are enjoying yourselves, then why let the age difference bother you? In my case, the guy I'm dating (not sure if I'd be comfortable calling him my boyfriend yet) and I have similar interests and hobbies that are not normal for either of our age groups, so it works.</p>
<p>If you're college age just dont' go above 30, then you're into sugar daddy territory</p>
<p>on namaste... where do i begin? ;)</p>
<p>so what if you've got a sugar daddy fetish?</p>
<p>My moral is.. if you're dating just for fun, anything goes. </p>
<p>Just becareful to not fall in love with an older guy.. guys who are 5+ years older than the girls tend to not take them seriously. (of course, there are rare, special cases where they actually do fall in love)</p>
<p>I'd say over ten years is pushing it.</p>
<p>College age I see 24-18 in the middle and 26-18 being a max.</p>
<p>I can't really see 10+ years unless you're both out of school and situated..</p>
<p>Why this question, in the first place?</p>
<p>Exactly 20 years. Anything beyond that, even by a day, will not work out.</p>
<p>hey, I've posted on your other thread too. One thing: there is nothing wrong with dating a guy much older than you. I get the sense that is what this is about, though I am still guessing. I had a relationship with a woman who was (of legal dating age) and shockingly close to half my age, and we had a GREAT time and have remained good friends. Just protect yourself, 'cause chances are the guy figures that it's just for fun. His thought process might be: "I'll be close to diapers when she's in her prime physically. This has no long-term potential and that must be obvious to her." That's basically what I thought. But for about a year -- long distance-- it was great.</p>
<p>I had a girlfriend who dated a guy with about the same age difference as the example above when she was in college. She ended up wanting to marry him. Had he been into it, I think it could've worked.</p>
<p>thanks for your help everybody. </p>
<p>BedHead: I sent you a PM</p>
<p>The official formula is</p>
<p>older person's age/2 + 7 = minimum age they're allowed to date.</p>
<p>So if you're 20, (20/2 = 10 + 7 = 17)</p>
<p>While some people may have personal preferences that force the minimum higher (ie myself, who at 24 won't date anyone younger than 21, even though the formula says 19 is okay), it's a decent guideline once the older person is 17...</p>
<p>As an 18 year old, I couldn't see myself dating anyone older than 24, and that's most definitely pushing it. A 26-year-old hit on me last year not know I was 17 at the time, and then when we figured out each other's ages it was just like, "eurgh...<em>slinks away</em>" for both of us. My ex will be 22 in July, about 2 months before I turn 19, and although the age difference wasn't what separated us, it played a part in our relationship. It's the whole life experience thing.... when you're with someone who has significantly more than you (and 3 years is significant before age 25), they have a tendency to do the "I know better because I've been around longer" thing, usually not intentionally, but it happens.</p>
<p>I prefer older men because I feel they know more and they're much more wiser! I can't stand dating younger men because they're a bit too immature for my taste :(</p>
<p>I like BRM's formula... never heard that one before!</p>
<p>It depends on the people, and their expectations. The greatest difference between me and a guy I've dated was 9 years (I was 19, he was 28). My latest boyfriend was 26, while I am 20. He wanted a serious relationship, but we had to break up as I'm leaving for the USA. Apart from that, the age was never a problem. It's all about how old you are "in your head". I know persons who act like they are 13 when they are 30, and the opposite.</p>
<p>
[quote]
when you're with someone who has significantly more than you (and 3 years is significant before age 25), they have a tendency to do the "I know better because I've been around longer" thing, usually not intentionally, but it happens.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>But then, when the age difference is great enough and the guy doesn't have anything to prove and is really comfortable in his own skin, it often happens that he gives the other person more freedom to be exactly who they are without criticizing. I have a friend who dates older guys -- really older guys -- 'cause she is really independent and they give her all the space she needs.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I know persons who act like they are 13 when they are 30, and the opposite.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>When I went from dating a woman who was 4 years older than me to dating someone who was well under half her age, the thing that struck me the most was how much more together the younger one was.</p>
<p>It can work. I am immature for my age and my wife is much older acting than her age. We have the best relationship ever. All of our friends are jealous of what we have. And she is 15 years younger than I am. But we did date for four years before we got married. We have been married for seven years. It is all about respect for one another........and communication.......... that makes a relationship work.</p>