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).

Those here pearl-clutching ought to read about Gillick competency
It doesn't just relate to medical issues
I suspect there's just a lot of snobbery here. If they were both fresh-faced healthy, outdoorsey types, who were mountaineering together not-one would say a word

As an outdoorsy type myself who is a member of an outdoorsy sports club I can assure you that down our club if a 21 year old (male or female) started to court and subsequently establish a relationship with a 16 year old eyebrows would be raised. Our sporting governing body's safeguarding guidelines does not even allow adults (over 18s) to share the same changing rooms as juniors.

Nasty quote again.

This is a parenting site, can some of you get a grip and stop insulting a young man?? As i said before, if he played rugby you'd all love him.
So much nastiness and snobbery on this thread.

He really does look 38, I’m 30 and he definitely looks much older than me.

That aside, I would say the gap is inappropriate. I think 16/17 is legally a very grey area. Legal to have sex but I thought they could technically only have sex with other under 18s at that age? You’re obviously not an adult at that age so dating an adult isn’t appropriate, I’d say.

The age gap wouldn’t be a problem if he was 18+ at all but at 16, it is odd. I don’t think I’d have had the slightest interest in a 16 year old at 21.

I don’t think I’d have had the slightest interest in a 16 year old at 21

I wouldn't have done either. But DH's first serious girlfriend (at university) was 5 years older than he was. He was 19 when they got together, so she was 24.

He does sometimes say he wonders what she saw in him.

At what age does it become acceptable to have a partner 5 years older than you? I know from other threads that things seem to have changed a lot since I was 16 and everyone went out with boys at least 2 years older than them.

I should say DH was babyfaced and did not look 38 at 19!

Spare me the faux outrage. If he was not a darts prodigy in line for a potentially lucrative career of prize money no 21 year old woman would be interested in him. Same for Wayne Rooney when he hit the headlines as a 16 year old football sensation. Would be WAGs were hardly falling over themselves for his wit, charm and intelligence were they.

You’re insulting a 16 year old based on his appearance while also telling him no one could find him attractive unless he has a lot of money. Thats really quite disgusting.

Mayve she's after money? Ir he's very mature for his age due to his lifestyle?

She's a beauty consultant and an amateur player

And I suspect you are being willfully disingenuous. Stating that he is not a conventionally attractive young man is not 'disgusting', juat a factual observation. I did not state that 'no one' would find him attractive, just implying that it would be very unlikely that your typical 21 year old woman would not be seeking him out if he was not famous and/or soon to be very wealthy. Did you seek out overweight GCSE students with no full time job, unable to drive or drink legally when you were 21?

TBF, though, what is he really going to have in common with girls his own age? He isn't doing what your average teen does. How many ordinary 16 year olds would we think he is meeting on the darts circuit? How interested do you think he is going to be in someone who might be the same physical age as him, but in terms of life experience he will have MUCH less in common with the average 16 year old than he has with the 21 year old darts player.
How many of you with 16 year old DDs would be happy for her to be dating someone who had his life? What do you think they would have in common apart from being the same age?

I get why you would simply see the numbers and wonder what a 21 year old is doing with a 16 year old, but if you look at it from the other way round, most girls his age really aren't going to be on his wavelength, because he really isn't going to have anything in common with them.

It's pretty noncey tbh. Hopefully he's quite mature in personality as well as looks.

He only took one GCSE (sport) and left school before the final term to pursue his professional career. So no.

He's been playing at elite level all over Europe for the past 3 years. Does that not count as work to you?

I wouldn’t be impressed by a 21 year old woman dating a 16 year old rugby player, no.

Me neither, it is weird AF let's be real.

It is hypocritical of me to say I think it’s ok for a 16 year old male to date a 21 year old female. I would be very concerned if my 16 year old daughter started dating a 21 year old man. Yes I know it happens but it doesn’t make it right.

we still have different expectations of behaviour for males and females. Sad in 2024.

You just cant stop commenting on his weight can you? Really unpleasant.

Doubt they care if you are impressed really. But a rugby player wouldn't get half the abuse this guy is getting on mn.

Well this is MN. There are very specific approved educational and occupational pathways and anything that strays from them is fair game to be sneered at and devalued. Horrible snobbery on this thread.

Are you serious? If someone posted saying my 16 year old son is dating a 21 year old woman plenty of people would have something negative to say about it. I suspect the reason you don't hear much about it is because it doesn't often happen- there aren't many 21 year old women that are interested in dating 16 year old boys (tends to not be the case when reversed which is also gross). Its disingenuous to suggest people only find it weird because he plays darts, although it's relevant as let's be real I'm sure a huge positive factor for her is the £££ and the lifestyle.

@puncheur I hope his professional career takes off. As he won't get anywhere with only one GCSE. He's made a massive mistake in not continuing his education.

I just think back to when I was 21.

The thought of being attracted to/going out with a 16 year would have been inconceivable - I would have been ribbed mercilessly by my mates. Blimey I was married to a guy a year younger and that raised a few eyebrows.

Women mature earlier than men which is why most women used to marry a guy a few years older.

What a nasty, hateful thread this is. Admins, how long are you going to let this shite roll on ?

More accusations she is only interested in his money. Who cares??

Thats the real issue here, its not the difference in their ages, which is absolutely none of our business , its the fact a young working class darts player is set to make a fortune and he doesn't fit the stereotypical mumsmetters son image.

Bloody good on him i say.