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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Luke Littler

213 replies

Derlei · 02/01/2024 08:39

Ignoring the fact that he looks nowhere near 16 years old(!) but if he is 16, then why are the DM romanticising his relationship with a 21 year old woman?

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-12917331/Luke-Littlers-girlfriend-posts-message-latest-victory.html

OP posts:
Shazzammm · 03/01/2024 09:27

You most definitely are not being unreasonable, and actually, comments like this are heartening to show that there is still some common decency left.
This age gap is not right and had the roles been flipped, all hell would be breaking loose right now and the darts would be an after-thought.

He's not even 18 yet and is pretty much a schoolboy at 16 (never mind how old he looks!) while she is a fully grown legal adult at 21. The double standards and hypocrisy needs to stop. Good on you for having the steel to address it!

BIossomtoes · 03/01/2024 09:56

Good on you for having the steel to address it!

It doesn’t require much steel to be a keyboard warrior and express an opinion in an online forum where it’s pretty much guaranteed that most responses will agree with you. 😂

Hotpinkangel19 · 03/01/2024 09:58

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

VanityDiesHard · 03/01/2024 10:04

Shazzammm · 03/01/2024 09:27

You most definitely are not being unreasonable, and actually, comments like this are heartening to show that there is still some common decency left.
This age gap is not right and had the roles been flipped, all hell would be breaking loose right now and the darts would be an after-thought.

He's not even 18 yet and is pretty much a schoolboy at 16 (never mind how old he looks!) while she is a fully grown legal adult at 21. The double standards and hypocrisy needs to stop. Good on you for having the steel to address it!

Edited

The comments about his looks are so bang out of order, aren't they? So what if he 'looks 32'? If someone said that on here about a sixteen year old girl, they would rightly be ripped to shreds.

whatsitcalledwhen · 03/01/2024 10:07

@MyTattooIsBetterThanYours

I’m 7 years older than my DH so when he was in Year 8 I was at uni. But I didn’t meet him until he was 28 so no one batted an eyelid.

Of course they didn't, because you were both adults and didn't meet when he was in year eight. Completely different to meeting when one could have already graduated uni / been working for a few years while the other is sitting their GCSEs...

whatsitcalledwhen · 03/01/2024 10:10

@Picklemeyellow

However, ds is 18 and although quite young looking still, he has always been very sensible and mature for his age so I wouldn’t see it as such an issue, not because he’s male but down to his maturity and better life judgements than dd.

Would you have seen it as an issue if he dated a 21 year old when he was 16?

whatsitcalledwhen · 03/01/2024 10:23

@Janiie

I hope he uses any winnings to book a personal trainer and maybe some cosmetic dentistry.

Do you not read back posts like this and realise how embarrassingly nasty you sound?

It would be a dickish thing to say about anyone, let alone a 16 year old.

Utterbunkum · 03/01/2024 11:17

I feel sorry for him. In the normal scheme of things, no, a 21 year old wouldn't have anything in common with a 16 year old. But THIS 16 year old has precious little in common with his peers. It's not like many Olympic sports where competitors are often young. He won't be meeting many people his age with anything like his experience of life. I doubt many mothers of sweet 16s would be overly keen on their daughters dating someone who leads his life, and I doubt very much he is going to find much common ground with a kid with a Saturday job.
You are all talking about him like he spends all his time gaming in his bedroom, like many of his age. He is in full time employment. Many 21 year olds are still living on the bank of Mum and Dad. He is going to (sadly, in my view) have far more in common with his 21 year old than with some 16 year old who hasn't even left her home town.
She isn't dating some school kid. She is dating someone who has been working for 3 years, longer than many of her own alleged peers.

Those of you saying your 21 year olds wouldn't date a 16 year old, no, of course they wouldn't, because it's highly unlikely they know any 16 year olds in his circumstance.

It must be such a lonely place for him. Nothing whatsoever in common with your average 16 year old. Dates someone he is far more likely to resonate with and the internet tells him she's a dirty cow only after his potential money.

BIossomtoes · 03/01/2024 12:07

That’s very insightful @Utterbunkum. You’re right.

Utterbunkum · 03/01/2024 12:09

@BIossomtoes what a lovely thing to say, thank you.

the80sweregreat · 03/01/2024 12:13

With SM as it is and the various articles about him I just hope he has some support as it can relentless and pretty nasty too especially if he wins tonight as it's a lot of money to have at such a young age and I assume the runner up also receives some winnings too if he doesn't win , so it is life changing stuff.
I remember an 18 year old who won millions on the lottery in Scotland years ago first go at it too and she was on five live radio saying how it ruined her life and she wasn't in the public eye

Stressedafff · 03/01/2024 12:32

But it is weird. She met him on a PS/XBOX chat room. Shes 21, I didn’t fancy 16 year olds at that age and even the thought of dating someone that young would’ve repulsed me

VanityDiesHard · 03/01/2024 13:00

Stressedafff · 03/01/2024 12:32

But it is weird. She met him on a PS/XBOX chat room. Shes 21, I didn’t fancy 16 year olds at that age and even the thought of dating someone that young would’ve repulsed me

Ugh that is so creepy. Honestly, her being after his potential earnings was the least nefarious of her possible motives. She sounds predatory.

Crampsfan60 · 03/01/2024 14:32

Have you not seen Steve "Adonis" Beaton then?

the80sweregreat · 03/01/2024 16:54

Crampsfan60 · 03/01/2024 14:32

Have you not seen Steve "Adonis" Beaton then?

I had to look him up !
He likes an ironic nickname ..

soupfiend · 03/01/2024 18:24

whatsitcalledwhen · 03/01/2024 10:07

@MyTattooIsBetterThanYours

I’m 7 years older than my DH so when he was in Year 8 I was at uni. But I didn’t meet him until he was 28 so no one batted an eyelid.

Of course they didn't, because you were both adults and didn't meet when he was in year eight. Completely different to meeting when one could have already graduated uni / been working for a few years while the other is sitting their GCSEs...

Year 8?

Overcome2023 · 03/01/2024 21:16

The kid is a star, I’ve never watched darts ever in my life yet I’m glued to it tonight. Him and his girlfriend look well matched to me, I cannot see the issue.

Tempname24 · 03/01/2024 21:40

Nothing wrong with the age gap imo. He’s 16-hardly a child! I dated a man of 22 when I was 15. My best friend dated a 14 year old when she was 17. Some people are more mature/ immature, so it works to have an age gap.
not sure why today it’s unacceptable for an age gap of more than a year. No one made a fuss about it 20 years ago.
leave them alone.

Stressedafff · 03/01/2024 21:42

Tempname24 · 03/01/2024 21:40

Nothing wrong with the age gap imo. He’s 16-hardly a child! I dated a man of 22 when I was 15. My best friend dated a 14 year old when she was 17. Some people are more mature/ immature, so it works to have an age gap.
not sure why today it’s unacceptable for an age gap of more than a year. No one made a fuss about it 20 years ago.
leave them alone.

It’s unacceptable because these men are now rightfully seen as the predators that they are. No one made a fuss about racism or grooming back then, doesn’t mean they were right.

Tempname24 · 03/01/2024 21:48

@Stressedafff some were, but definitely not in my case.
16 is the age of consent and you can legally marry. A lot of fuss about nothing.

puddypud · 03/01/2024 21:49

16 isn't 'hardly a child' it IS a child!

Stressedafff · 03/01/2024 21:51

You can’t marry at 16. The law was changed in 2023, it should’ve been changed years ago.

Whether they look well suited or not what could you possibly find attractive about a 16 year old at 21?!

Tempname24 · 03/01/2024 22:02

Ok didn’t realise the law changed, fair enough, but It’s embarrassing how many view 16 as a child. They are not breaking any laws. Most 16 year old will have had sex if not earlier. Really nobodies business but theirs.

Dinoboymama · 03/01/2024 22:05

Stressedafff · 03/01/2024 21:51

You can’t marry at 16. The law was changed in 2023, it should’ve been changed years ago.

Whether they look well suited or not what could you possibly find attractive about a 16 year old at 21?!

It was only raised in England and Wales. In Scotland you can marry at 16 without parental consent.

Also at 16 if a person lacks capacity to look after themselves medically or financially an adult must apply for guardianship for them. This means at 16 you should be classed as an adult who can make decisions for your own life unless unable.

puddypud · 03/01/2024 22:16

Tempname24 · 03/01/2024 22:02

Ok didn’t realise the law changed, fair enough, but It’s embarrassing how many view 16 as a child. They are not breaking any laws. Most 16 year old will have had sex if not earlier. Really nobodies business but theirs.

How is it embarrassing that people view age 16 as a child? 16 IS a child! People are not legally classed as adults in the UK until 18.