To think that a 35 year old man setting his dating range to age 21+ is revolting?

It should’ve said maturity! Was breastfeeding and typing one handed

I don’t think you’re understanding me. I agree with you. I don’t believe that at 25 your brain just stops developing. So I don’t really see your issue?

What evidence do you have to say a 50 year old has more insight and can make better decisions than someone younger? You’re also talking about two different things here when discussing drawing from experiences and more complex patterns of thinking. Surely it depends on the individual? Of course a 50 year old is going to be able to draw more experience as they have 20 years more life experience on the planet. You can’t compare the two. Two 50 year olds are not going to have the same patterns of thinking or experience either. I work in healthcare and if anything people become more stupid when making decisions, if even they become more closed minded

When I was 35, I was going out clubbing. My friends ages ranged from early 20s to 50s and 60s. I still go out clubbing now (not as often).

Same, it had a very clubby early/mid 30s. Alternative scene so it's a good age range spread and no meat market vibes.

When I was 35, I was going out clubbing. My friends ages ranged from early 20s to 50s and 60s. I still go out clubbing now (not as often).

You like what you like. I'm not ready for a nice cup of cocoa and box set just yet.

I was a qualified nurse at 22 I didn't go from playing with dollies,to managing a shift in an acute psychiatric ward in one year
21really isn't a child and my friend qualified along side me at 21
You may of course know some really immature 21 year olds

Well my DH is 13 years older than me, we met when I was 23 and he was 37. Been married 26 years so it can work!

It's a bit of an odd comment isn't it. People enjoy a lot of different things.

When I was 23 I dated a man who was 46. He was a nice man and quite good looking, and we worked in related areas. Apart from talking about work stuff, we used to like driving out into the country to eat in little pubs, and watching movies. Eventually I decided I wanted a family, which he didn't, so we split up, but it was a nice relationship.

My current partner is about 13 years older than me, I'm middle aged and I suppose he is getting on to being old. We like driving out into the countryside to look at antiques, going to museums, walking, and watching movies.

My interests really haven't changed much I guess. And I have a fair number of younger and older friends who share them.

You can THINK 21 is still a child, but you know it's not, right?

I mean, I'm 46. Maybe I think 36 is still a child and you're far too young to have daughters.

It's an opinion. But it's obviously factually incorrect, just as thinking 21 is still a child is also factually incorrect.

Well judging from the number of threads I’ve read on here where an age gap couple is having issues - many times it’s a woman in her early 20s and a male anywhere from mid 30-early 40s, so I don’t think every 21 year old would find that age range gross! Especially if they were handsome etc!

Also, some 21-year-olds don’t want to be going out all the time. Lots of Mumsnetters seem to have the idea that people are “supposed” to spend their early twenties partying and drinking and dating/sleeping with lots of different people, but that doesn’t appeal to everyone. I’m very introverted, with sensory issues, and that’s always sounded awful to me.

It’s worrying why your partner thinks anyone under 26 isn’t relationship worthy only a shag, let’s hope his mate is a bit more decent and at least lets them know upfront what he’s looking for. Maturity isn’t always a number.

The problem is the idea that the brain is finished at this 25 year old point. It's not, it continues to change. Changes before and after this 25 year mark are driven largely by experience.

Which is why people arguing that under 25s should be protected from making bad decisions because they are not mature is completely ass backwards.

Of course some 50 year olds are stupid and a given 30 year old might make a better decision, but that's not a scientific comparison. But individuals will, barring unusual things intervening like brain injury or disease, be able to draw on more experiences and more complex patterns in their thinking at 50 than 30 which will inform their decisions. And that is also true of 50 year olds as a group compared to 30 year olds as a group.

A friend of mine who is early 70s has been looking on dating sites (still young at heart) and most men 75-90 have set their preferred age to 40-60, which is also pretty grim and I imagine they are delusional. Men just always look for younger women.

I’m 36 I have daughters and think 21 is still a child.

My mum.was too to.take to work an a busy acute psychiatric ward where I was a staff nurse I was 22.

be clear I am annoyed at my DP and his friend for being lecherous middle aged men, and it gives me the ick.

You have years of being actually middle aged ahead of you. Stop playing at it now and enjoy being young.

It’s not a myth at all. It’s a biological fact. Look at any corresponding medical literature.

It's not a biological fact. The only significance of 25 is that was the age cut off of the study subjects.

I was 22 thirty years ago and my mum was still making my packed lunch.

I was 32 when I met my partner who was 22 🤷🏻‍♀️

also if you’re 35 you shouldn’t be into the same things as a 21 year old, like going out all the time and stuff?

you are absolutely right. As a 35 yo woman, I was into knitting and gardening, with purple rinse in my hair 🙄

21 and 35 are very very different in terms of naturist

I am not sure what you are actually trying to say here? 😂

It’s gross and I would’ve lost my shit at him too. And people saying what is the issue, the issue is 21 and 35 are very very different in terms of naturist and life experience. And also if you’re 35 you shouldn’t be into the same things as a 21 year old, like going out all the time and stuff?

My dad was 12 years older than my mum and also became her carer.

It’s your partner that suggested this…