Heterosexuals: If your choices for dating was someone "significantly" older or "significantly" younger, which would you choose?

[OlderAndWiser]

The question arose whether guys would prefer to date a woman younger or older, I expressed my opinion, and some whippersnapper" called me "ignorant." So please tell me the answer, guys and girls! Would you prefer to date someone younger or older? (Please assume that the younger person has at least reached the age of consent.)

I'd rather date a signifcanly younger person of the opposite sex

I'd rather date a signficantly older person of the opposite sex

I'm under age 18, and if those are the only two choices, I'm not dating!

I'm age 18-25, and if those are the only two choices, I'm not dating!

I'm over age 25, and if those are the only two choices, I'm not dating!

Updates

+1 y

Always amazed at how many people don't read the question: "Please assume that the younger person has at least reached the age of consent."

[Jamie05rhs]

Significantly younger, of course.
... UNLESS she's Jennifer Aniston!

[OlderAndWiser]

Understood!

[Jamie05rhs]

@OlderAndWiser Well, I wasn't thinking of her with that little amount of clothing on. But I have to admit, her body looks great, too!

[Jamie05rhs]

Thanks for the MHO!

[AviatorTom]

Jennifer will always be a gorgeous 20 something...

[Jamie05rhs]

She will always be beautiful, that's for sure!

[worldscolide]

My wife is 9 years my junior, that should answer your question for me.

[OlderAndWiser]

My girlfriend in nine years younger than me.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

My first husband was 1 Year older my second 5 1/2 years older (knew him when younger, his best friend was my best friend’s brother but we never dated or were into each other like that till years later)

Significantly older would be like dating my dad and significantly younger would be like dating my kid- hell no to that🤣

[Bethany22]

Older, yet I'd probably always be wondering what a nice firm wrinkle-less body felt like once again.

[Guardian45]

Boy, you like them OLD!

[randyzuchows]

I'm don't think I'm wrinkle

[AviatorTom]

I actually prefer someone in my age range, but given only these two choices, I'd go with younger.

[Avicenna]

Significantly younger is much preferred. I'd like to have some more kids.

[Guy13]

Significantly younger please.

[Lliam]

Given a choice between the two, I'd go with significantly younger.

Every girlfriend I ever had was at least 2 or 3 years younger. Except for the most amazing girlfriend I ever had who was 31 when I was 37.

I don't know what I would have in common with a significantly younger girl, but at least she would look youthful and beautiful.

[OlderAndWiser]

At our age, that is an easy decision!

[Lliam]

True that. LOL

[Emiliamazing]

I have always said that if something happened to my husband, I probably wouldn't date ever again. We have three children to raise, and I would be concerned about the individual being a good fit for our family. I think I would focus on our children.

[belle_kai]

My mum did that. Married for 25 years when my dad passed me and my sister were teenagers. My dad was her only partner she's never dated since and that was 18 years ago. She focused on us and her career

[WhitneySnow]

I voted C because significantly younger than me would be middle school and significantly older than me would be older than I’m comfortable with. I might change my mind in a few years once I’m out of college and working in the adult workforce with people who are not close to me in age.

[Potteplante]

Well, an indivual has reached age of consent at 15 where I'm at and no way in hell would I even consider such a thing.

I'll not date below 30, just thinking about dating someone in their early 20s give me the ick, I want someone fully developed and on the decline - like me. 😂

Older - I'll not go over 10, but now I've always gone older also as a minor. There the age gap didn't really matter to me.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

Significantly older, to be honest.

"The one that got away" for me was a woman who was almost 20 years older than me, and you can imagine why she didn't want for ours to be a permanent relationship.

[Simspawn]

I'm male. There is no point with an older than me female. They are unlikely to be able to safely carry a child if we're we so blessed as to create one. I would obviously prefer to date someone with high chances of successful delivery rather than someone with high chances of miscarriage.

[meetkitty123]

Older is best for me. I have a weakness for those older Gents

[meetkitty123]

I was accidentally cut off and it posted before I was done. I believe there has been studies that shown that older is usually better for women at least the minimum of 3 years older for mentality maturity compatibility. Of course there are those studies that also say it shouldn't be any younger than 20 years or older than 20 years difference between a couple. But I have broken that rule a few times while dating. Had my boyfriend/fiance not passed away in that car wreck he would have been 60 years old today. And as you can see there's quite an age gap between us but we got along marvelously. As far as dating now as a mom of two teenish kids I would be uncomfortable dating someone too younger than I because I would worry about their maturity and capacity of the individual to be responsible to care for children.

[randyzuchows]

I would care about how my kids liked who I was seeing and I don't care if older or younger it's if we can connect with each other and the kids I'm a single father raised 3 kids on my own and now the kids are out of school and moving out , I just wish I can find 1person who would care and want to be with all I ask for is honesty, just be honest

[Apple1996]

Younger for sure as long as they were over 18. I get along with gen z way better then any of the older generations. Literally could never imagine being with someone older then me

[Sixgunsound]

You need to define significant; for some people significantly younger is jailbait.

[OlderAndWiser]

At 20, dating a girl three years younger would be significant. At my age, dating a woman nine years younger is insignificant. That's why I didn't specify a particular age gap.

[Sixgunsound]

Fair enough. I was hoping you didn't mean student aged.

[OlderAndWiser]

Last sentence of original post: " (Please assume that the younger person has at least reached the age of consent.)"

[NamerOfStars]

I'm at that awkward age where I can both geeze and whippersnap simultaneously; going too far in either direction is likely to leave with someone I struggle to relate to, so it's kind of a toss-up.

I'll go with younger; they'll be easier to impress with cassette-tape case tricks, if nothing else.

[SpokenTruth]

I would chose significantly younger if that was the choice however I'm no longer interested it dating anyone again.

[SpokenTruth]

I think I would choose that option instead of chose it. This is why gag needs to have a editing option.

[OlderAndWiser]

There are other problems that arise when you do have an editing option. It was a part of G@G when I joined in 2015 and it was abused.

[SpokenTruth]

The lack of editing options is a good deterrent to refrain from commenting and posting I can say that much. Half the questions I don't go through with asking them for the fear of putting something the wrong way or asking it the wrong way. A single word out of place can change the entire meaning of what someone is trying to convey and without the ability to edit prevents them from saying it in order to avoid that gotcha moment deer the the headlights by mistake.

[RavVid]

I don't know what significant age difference is but assuming it is above age of consent always.

I am not dating if significantly older is the only choice.

I would consider dating significantly younger. AoC is 16 in some places and I am certainly not going to date a child. 18 would be too young also. At around 20 I'd start to consider it.

[slatyb]

At my age, significantly older would be rather old, so I'll go with younger. My wife is three months older.

[LaFemmeFatale_1]

I’d go with significantly younger. 19-20 year old boys look pretty cute actually.

[TacosRAwesome]

I consider significantly older and younger to be more than 10 years either way and in my opinion both directions have more negatives than positives.

[PainusNdeeAnus]

The younger one because I’d pretty much be raising her to be my wife

[OlderAndWiser]

"Younger" means above the age of consent!

[PainusNdeeAnus]

Well that was a given I assumed so anyways

[OlderAndWiser]

No assumption necessary, t was stated in the original post.

[Emerald55346]

Older!!! Lol younger men are not it for women at least, it takes more time for men to mature

[Sjoerd85]

I would go for a younger wife, given the options.

[NewsReader]

I'm a guy so obviously I will go for a younger girl. It's in our nature.

[annabananna]

Older for sure. I can’t deal with the youngins. I’m my experience younger guys are more likely to be jerks or shallow.

[DarkLegacy]

This helps with an argument to another question, im happy that so many women would date men that are significantly older then them.

[Rockstarrrrr]

Hmm... I think based on my current age I'd go with significantly older... Of course my type is a girl my age.. Not younger or older

[Massageman]

If I were dating, since I'm 70+, my choice is mostly younger - I wouldn't fight the odds. :- )

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I'd rather date someone younger than me.

[Babygirl_S]

Last option. I don't want to see my lover die and significantly younger than me would be a turn-off.

[smilelots]

I would like a woman that knows what she wants and is not afraid to ask for it , so around my age or older is good..

[NostalgiaSenpi]

I'll go with older, despite the possibility of her not being able to have kids with me. I can accept not being a father.

[KostasKouvalis]

Significantly younger. Whatever the minimum legal age is

[Likes2drive]

I would date significantly under because I’m already a lot older anyway

[Shiningtempest]

@OlderAndWiser I chose significantly younger because I don't see a future with significantly older woman (e. g. woman over the age of 30).

[19magic]

If I were to date significantly younger I'd be a pedo, so my only option is significantly older lol

[OlderAndWiser]

The question states: "(Please assume that the younger person has at least reached the age of consent.)" I am NOT asking if you are interested in underage boys.

[19magic]

Sorry this is the first time in ages that I didn't read the question, still, even with the choice of 16 year old boys I'd rather date a 30/40 year old.

[OlderAndWiser]

Okay.

[strlb]

Within certain perimeters younger but NOT significantly lol

[Guardian45]

I don't give a ratsass about older or younger, but they HAVE TO BE complementary & compatible!

[Leopard23]

Younger all the way. Women my age are expensive, an 18 year old is just happy she got new nikes, she's not looking her kitchen remodeled

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I don't date at all to begin with, so I'm good to not date at all.

[OlderAndWiser]

To each, his own.

[Phoenix98]

Younger would be my choice since my goal is to get married and have a family, the latter of which gets harder and more dangerous the older a woman gets.

[Nikki1989]

Older is always better.

[WhiteBoyChill]

Well I am 21 years old and I’m not sure what you mean by “significantly”. Like how many years? Also I’m not looking to date girls under 18.

I’m just not attracted to them but I’ve met plenty of 40 year old women that still slap.

[WhiteBoyChill]

Either way I’d still rather date somebody my age or nobody at all.

It’s just having to pick between the two, I’d say significantly older

[Berethor]

Men get old, Women get replaced trope, I am not Macron, obviously young Women are better.

[msc545]

Significantly younger as long as the person was at least 18. In some states, 16 would be enough to be legal, but that seems far too young to me.

[exitseven]

I am over 50 and for me to date somebody significantly older she would be on medicare.

[VIVANT]

Someone around my age.

[VIVANT]

If I had to go 5 years plus or minus I didn’t really care but I wouldn’t do more then that in either direction and if I absolutely had to choose, all else being equal, I’d go younger.

[SnowedIn]

I'd choose significantly younger.

[LiamJHayden]

Older by default, as significantly younger would be under age. I have dated 17 years older.

[LovingJo]

10 years up or down from my age.

[Alex8736]

7 years older/younger range but the maturity level is key

[mrkdvsn]

At my age, finding a significantly older person would be pretty difficult

[opheeowlscout]

Going older here, even if I grew older myself.

[Jennz6]

I’m not dating anyone now

[UncleBilll]

The younger the better.

[HippieVeganJewslim]

Older, as I’ve experienced that already.

[LemiaOfThunder]

It depends in how much i like the person

[melanieeeB]

Older

[riverrat3]

At my age, younger

[OlderAndWiser]

Understand!