Do you follow the "Half your age plus Seven" rule when Dating?

[pervertedjester]

What is the acceptable minimum age for your own dating partners? When this question comes up in conversation, someone inevitably cites the “half your age plus seven” rule. This rules states that by dividing your own age by two and then adding seven you can find the socially-acceptable minimum age of anyone you want to date. So if you’re a 24 year-old, you can feel free to be with anyone who is at least 19 (i. e., 12 + 7) but not someone who is 18.1 The other side of the rule defines a maximum age boundary: Take your age, subtract 7, and double it. So for a 24-year old, the upper age limit would be 34 (i. e., 17 * 2). With some quick math, the rule provides a minimum and maximum partner age based on your actual age that, if you choose to follow it, you can use to guide your dating decisions.

Yes

Sometimes

No

This is the first I've heard of it.

Results

[MsLoli]

I've never heard of this before, but according to this "rule", my minimum should be 16 and my maximum should be 24 and that's ridiculous.
In reality, my minimum is 1 year younger than me, for obvious reasons, and my maximum is probably around 13 years older than me, while my boyfriend is 9 years older than me.
Anyway, a happy relationship is a happy relationship and age shouldn't be such a big deal in that case. Love isn't measured by age gaps.

[f250owner]

I just personally wouldn't date someone more than 5 years older than me... and definitely not date a minor.

[witherwing]

No, I have my own rule. My age give or take a few years. I'm not really into age differences.

[GoodManDave]

It's not really an issue for me. I would go 24ish. It's close enough to 25, it's after college, usually working (starting out, anyway)

But is there a similar rule for dating older women? Double your age, and subtract 7? Not my bag, but for those who love the grannies... ;)

[bloodmountain1990]

The oldest I’ll go is 30 and the youngest I’ll go is 24. I guess my rule is +3/-3 but according to your rule, I’d date someone who’s 21 and despite being legal, I still wouldn’t date a 21 year old especially considering how my youngest brother is 22. That’d feel weird.

[dante3531]

Have you ever seen the movie Operation Petticoat? Starring Cary Grant? There's a quote I like in there, just modified. "If she's under 18 she's protected by law, if she's over 80, she's protected by nature. Everything in between is fair game."

[ledfoot1964]

age is just a number its how you feel about the person you are dating my wife was 50 and i was 36 when we first met 16 years ago we married two months and one day after we met and still together 16 years later my wife is 66 and in a week and a half i will be 53

[LittleSally]

Not really... 5 years older or younger is my limit...

[kaisersnider]

Not worth my time worrying about. I'm figuring that she'll have more partners than me anyways. I don't really care. All I care about is do we love each other. If we do that's what really matters.

[cheesesteak7]

Wow @ all the people who voted "This is the first I've heard of it."

[pineappleshortcare]

The plausibility of these pairings has a huge slider for attractiveness. 😂

[AustinTXGuy]

Age is just a number. Be with whomever makes you happy

[KiaTate]

This is the first time I'm hearing about this "rule". It's... interesting.

[apple24]

Hahahaha. Rules? Charts? They weren't meant to be broken and I happen to be a drop out. Lol

[zagor]

Random stupid made-up rules. Follow it if you wish, but no reason anyone else will.

[WeirdoWerdo]

Well I get 14.5 and I agree I shouldn't date younger than that.

[MrHungwell]

Hey if a 50+ year old guy has 20+ year olds hitting on him I say go for it.

[Singlemom]

I won't date someone younger than me by 3 years. I find guys are immature when there younger than me.

[Lumberman53]

Too complicated just make she's legal and the gap is ok

[Lumberman53]

*make sure

[Nishi2000]

The rule kind of works when you are young--but once you hit 35, it starts to go out of whack. I mean, but the time you are 60, it's just pure nonsense. The idea that an old geezer who is 60 should date someone who is 37? That's laughable.

[SarahsSummer]

Yeah, I think it makes a lot of sense.

[BradGibson]

As long as they have both gone through puberty it's fair game

[utterlyconfusedlol]

seems like too big of an age gap for me

[kenjaminSlutton718]

That’s funny I’m 24 and she is actually 19

[JiminsHoe]

I'd be dating a 15 year old then, uh, no. lmao.