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).

MN is moderated through reports, you need to hit the report button and say why you think it breaks talk guidelines if you think it does and should be deleted.

If he wins the championship I assume she'll be pregnant by Easter?

Yeah this. I know a few young mums who had their first child at 17-18 and now have 2 at 21, and they are far more mature and sensible with waaaay more critical thinking skills and emotional intelligence and life skills that some people I know of 25. And they had this all this common sense etc, before the babies. Some people I know don't have it still at 30!

The lad is 17 in a couple of weeks - the lass is 21. Big fucking deal. She's not 50! Get a grip people FFS.

🙄

And you seem to be studiously avoiding answering the question. Would you have included largely skint 16 year old GCSE students living with their parents in your dating pool when you were 21?

He won't get anywhere with only one GCSE?? He earned £200k yesterday. In one day. How did you do?

I struggle to believe this darts player is really 16, especially when his girlfriend is 21. What can a 21yo see in a 16yo other than £ signs?
None of my daughter's 16yo male friends look that much older than they are!

I've reported this thread. So many nasty hateful comments about a 16 year old. By presumably parents who have kids themselves!!! Some of you here should be ashamed of yourselves.

This thread shows mn in the worst possible light.

So many others saying that a child doesn’t need to be protected from a relationship with an adult so long as the child has money and prospects that would benefit the adult.

Do i count a 13-16 year old travelling around playing darts work? No of course not 🤣 I'm sure he's really good and will do well but he's not been working for the last 3 years in the proper sense of the word

@AllIsWellish what is the 'proper sense of the word?' then?

Are you one of those chippy people who think that being a sportsperson, entertainer, musician, actor etc isn't a 'proper job'? It's a hell of a lot harder work than sitting on your arse in an office 9-5.

To be honest I have met 16/17 year olds that are more mature then 20 year olds. I personally don't think the age difference is that big or a concern. They are mature differently. I do find the double standards are laughable thought as if it was a 21 year old male, 16 year old girl it would be uproar. I also find on alot of threads one minute every one on here is saying the brain doesn't fully mature until they are 24, then they are adult at 18 they should know what they are doing etc ......

Nope, I think 13-16 year olds are children who are still at school and not at work regardless of how much training they do

"Nope, I think 13-16 year olds are children who are still at school and not at work regardless of how much training they do"

Training? Or competing?

Reality disagrees with you on under-16s working. There are plenty of under 16s (and lets not forget Luke Little is over school leaving age) who have earned handsomely working as sports people and entertainers. They might still be children, but they also have jobs. And many of them won't be 'at school' either - or did you think that e.g. the cast of the Harry Potter movies did all their filming during morning break?

I've been reading this with interest. I'm really surprised at how some people are defending this by having digs at MN users. It's quite sad.

Again I will reiterate a few things.

1. I have not started any other threads about this.

1. I am not (and nor do I think any other posters) having a go at this kid.

1. This has nothing to do with class. Yes I'd feel the same if it was rugby or any other sport or profession.

1. If one of my 16 year old pupils reported a relationship with a 21 year old it would absolutely be treated as a safeguarding issue.

Its really incredible

Everyone trying to make a point that if it was a 16 year old girl and a 21 year old boy that people would be up in arms, well not everyone would be, but you can bet for sure that post after post wouldnt be painting her as a 'chubby 16 year old with bad teeth' and 'what on earth can he see in an overweight 16 year old'

Complete fat shaming

Education is more than being at school or college

For some people its much better that they get out into the world of work if that suits them better.

He clearly has a significant work ethic or he wouldnt have got as far as he has.

I am detecting a lot of jealousy and resentment on this thread for Luke Littler. He is a normal looking, working-class lad who didn't have an illustrious education, and he has done fucking well in life, because he is bloody good at what he does!

So many bitter, snarky, sour comments on this thread. SO many people who are so jealous because they paid for a uni education, or went to private school - or have kids in private school, and think they're better than him!

Must really sting seeing someone ordinary and average - with a very average education doing so well. Get over yourselves, stop being so rude, and wish the lad well!

I agree with the posters on here saying this is a truly vile thread. SHAME on some of the posters here. SHAME on you.

Freshwintermorning You're deluded.

@FreshWinterMorning Agreed, peak Mumsnet outrage driven by posters worried about people getting ideas above their station.

"What was it that attracted you to insert insults here". Wow. What a witty observation, never heard that before. How about drive or talent? Or other aspects of the lad's personality that we are not aware of because we don't know him?

Explain?

wouldratherbeapieceoftoast and Freshwintermorning you two are hysterical. Nobody here has wished anything bad on this child. People have spoken out of concern for him.

Nobody has come over jealous at all, anyone with a tiny bit of common sense knows that people who don't go to university can succeed. This isn't some bastion of reverse snobbery.

At the end of the day, as I have pointed out in my school this would be reported as a safeguarding issue.

Well i did report this thread and mn told me that although some of the posts are less than complimentary towards this young guy they aren't breaking talk guidelines.

Which is totally their call.

I just feel there's so much nasty criticism of luke littler here that isn't called for. He is obviously not your average 16 yr old, thats why there's so much fuss over him. He seems pretty humble and hard working, going by how hes doing. And of course his relationship is unusual but his girlfriend is 5 years older, not 25 years older. Shes always shown at the darts with his parents so you can only imagine everyone is happy enough with whats going on.

It just feels so mean to discuss his weight and his exam results almost joyfully or with faux concern for him.

Let him be, he might win tonight and go on to be a champion for a long time or loose and go back home and just quietly get on with his practising his darts.

But there's worse things than a young guy expectedly doing brilliant and still maintaining his dignity.