16 year old darts player and his 21 year old girlfriend.

[Witchcraftandhokum]

I'm no darts fan but I've seen loads about this new player Luke Littler who is 16 and is doing very well. His girlfriend is 21, am I the only one who rinks this is inappropriate? (Despite the fact that he looks about 38).

Schools report lots of things as 'safeguarding issues', mainly because they dont really have an idea about what is safeguarding and what isnt

What exactly would you report, that a young person over the age of consent is having a realtionship with someone else over the age of consent?

And what else?

Ffs.🙄 Two young people in a relationship. Totally OK.

I've worked in safeguarding for many years. I would expect a member of staff to report it to me if they knew a 16 year old was in a relationship with a 21 year old. It would be recorded as a cause for concern and the first port of call would be speaking to the parents.

You do realise there's more to be concerned about on a relationship than just the age of consent?

Your post and faux outrage is a joke. I suspect you are embarrassed. I would be too, especially as you believe you can comment on the motivation of all of the posters on this thread.

Do you honestly believe there haven't been any nasty posts about Luke on this thread? If you say yes, bullshit.

I am absolutely not embarrassed. Look at the voting, the majority agree this is concerning.

I'm literally embarrassed for you @Witchcraftandhokum

Thats right, so unless there is evidence of a toxic/bullying/coercive or violent realtionship, what would you be reporting

And the numerous posts on here talking about grooming, indicate they dont know what grooming is. It isnt about someone older being with someone younger.

I'm literally embarrassed for you @Witchcraftandhokum

Oh well, at least the feelings mutual.

You said:

"Nobody here has wished anything bad on this child. People have spoken out of concern for him.

"Nobody has come over jealous at all."

Are you claiming there have been no nasty posts on this thread about him? Yes or no?

@Witchcraftandhokum on what possible grounds would it be reported as a safeguarding issue? It would only be flagged as a safeguarding issue if the lad was classed as vulnerable or his girlfriend was in a position of responsibility over him. Neither is the case and you would just be wasting the MASH’s time. Luckily he’s not in school and out of the reach of busybodies.

This. 🙏

Yeah so what? 2 out of 3 posters think it's unreasonable for a 21 y.o to be dating a 16 y.o. Big deal.

However...

It seems you have difficulties with comprehension. My post - that you accused me of being deluded for - was about how nasty and CRUEL people are being about Luke Littler. No delusion there. Some people on here are being vile about him, and should be fucking ashamed.

Try reading my post again @Witchcraftandhokum then perhaps you won't embarrass yourself so much next time eh.

.

We see lots of these sorts of referrals and they are a waste of time as you say

Ive been qualified a lot longer than OP claims to have been working in 'safeguarding'

I do love that word when people throw it around like that.

And yet MNHQ think the thread is fine. However as I don't want it deleted on the 'bunfight' premises I'm going to stop responding. The result of the vote shows that most people think this is a tad worrying.

@Witchcraftandhokum

I'm going to stop responding.

Good for you. You can't stop other posting and responding though.

Well said!

Absolutely. You would speak to the parents. And going by his parents and girlfriend all shown looking happy enough on tv it seems this lad is doing ok. And if he isnt his parents seem sensible enough to help him.

The majority of people have voted in favour of all sorts of things. Doesn't mean it's right.

Anyway I'll sleep better tonight knowing there are people out there devoted to safeguarding kids in schools, sorry I mean finalists in the World Darts Championship.

Why, did you doubt it before? Genuine question?

Btw I'm on my phone and i don't see voting, if that was what you're referring to?

I was responding to a post that suggested because the poll is in favour of the OP not being unreasonable, it's case closed, but I disagree. There's been mean spirited posts. Also I think on any thread, a lot of people read the OP or just a few posts and vote based on that rather than thinking the issue through.

The court of public opinion is frequently wrong.

He’s nearly 17 and looks about 45, and like he drinks 10 pints a night, hanging out at working men’s clubs. He’s probably alright.

I'm more concerned about his health than anything else. Ham and cheese omelette with chips for breakfast, pizza for lunch, kebab for tea apparently. Poor lad is only 16 but already heading for a heart attack.

Well said. There are some extremely nasty posters on MN who have a very superior attitude. Apparently because they went to private school/uni/have a high flying career/married someone equally career/money driven they are better than everyone else.

Newsflash: they aren't, and in fact they might well discover that there are people who look down on them for their attitude as to what constitutes "success" the way they are looking down on others.

I'm not in the UK, and all I've seen of Luke is a snippet on the news each night, but he seems a pleasant young man and I wish him well.

As for the age of his girlfriend - who cares, as long as they are both happy.