Is 26 a normal age to begin thinking of dating or should a guy have had experience earlier?

[grandpoohbah]

[DummyThiccFeraligatr]

I'm on the spectrum, so discerning when someone actually wanted to date me vs. just being friendly or wanting attention was very difficult. I also put my life on hold for years to take care of my grandmother, and we live in a place with few single people in their 20s. 26 is a better age to begin than 31.

Go for it, and I wish you the best, man.

[DummyThiccFeraligatr]

Thanks for MHO.

[BoopBoopBeep]

Statistically normal, no, but surely you knew that. Did you HONESTLY think most people START dating at 26? Are you autistic? Do you plan to date non autistic people as well?

You're not most people so it doesn't matter what they do. You do you at YOUR speed.

[grandpoohbah]

I actually am on the autism spectrum.

[BoopBoopBeep]

That makes sense. Well then "normal" age to start thinking of dating doesn't matter may man. You just do it at the time that's right for you. So autistic and non-autistic dating? Or does it have to be one or the other. I ask because I've known some autistic people who will ONLY date other autistic people (now that I think about it... it was ONLY the men who felt that way), and while... cool... I get that... it IS going to severely limit your target population, and since you've got what statistically is a late start on things, since most people start dating in junior/senior high school, there's going to be a REAL fast learning curve for you, and you've gotta be aware that most of the non-autistic women you (will/may?) be dating are going to have a head start on you experience wise.

[grandpoohbah]

I haven’t thought about that part yet.

[BoopBoopBeep]

Ya know, there's plusses and minuses to whichever way you choose to go on that one... and I don't need to tell you that "all autism is the same" is just not accurate at all... so if you DO pick autism only, not only are you limiting your pool, but how do I say it..."her autism may not play well with yours" sort of thing. Sounds like I'm advocating for one way over the other, which I'm not, because I've seen it work out really well and really poorly both ways, so I can't honestly say I think one way is more prudent than the others. Haha, I actually thought it was pretty refreshing when I dated the last autistic woman because there was less bullshite having to repeat myself to play into her head games. Anyway, the one bit of advice I CAN give... is don't just try to meet women online. There's too much catfishing and subtle headgames that men and women play online. Go find a hobby/cause/charity you like... do it a lot... meet someone there (or when you make friends they'll set you up with their friends...) and it's been way more sucessful for me (big picture) than just doing the online/apps thing.

Cheers mate.

[lilylangley]

@BoopBoopBeep woah! Pump the breaks! You can’t just go around assuming that someone is autistic because of how late to the party they are!

And @grandpoohbah just because you are autistic doesn’t mean you need to tell someone who you’ve never met that you are autistic. There are some bad people out there who run scams and steal money off people, and if they are aware that you’re autistic then that could make you their prime target. What I’m saying is just don’t go advertising that you’re autistic online.

[BoopBoopBeep]

@lilylangley except he IS austistic, so pump your own breaks. (It's brakes, by the way). I gave him a better, more accurate answer because of it. Being autistic isn't a slur like "you're ugly," stop being a bigot. They look at things differently than normies but they aren't some sort of broken model or prototype. Number two, I was reading it with my best friend while we were waiting on the movie to start, and while I was wondering it internally if the poster was autistic or not because I saw a lot of the indicators, my best friend was like "I bet he's autistic, too." The "too" part is there because he's f'ing autistic, so I bet he'd know too, so I'll be sure and tell him to pump his brAKEs for you.

If you were asking about how to have an orgasm and I couldn't tell if you were a man or a woman, it would help me to know in order to give you an effective answer. Same with him. Your bias is showing that you automatically assume that "autistic" is something so negative that he a) should BE offended and b) needs the savior normie to come in and save him

What's next from you? Want to throw the R word around too in your next round of virtue signaling?

[Sugar100]

I’m 26 and have 0 experience I never had a boyfriend. I want know what it’s like have a boyfriend meet my family, take couple pics, live together, I have no experience.

I feel like a 26 year old that’s 15 .

my whole life I never had men chase me asking to be my boyfriend. When I approach guys I’m rejected. In highscool no guy liked me.

[Jamesier]

Are you introverted? Are you a snub? If you're not bad looking and you receive attention, you're probably intimidating...

[Sugar100]

@Jamesier well in past I approached guys and rejected , so then familt said u never shud talk to a guy n need wait for guy make first move. So I wait and no guys talking to me. They come near me or look at me but refuse talk and mute

[Sugar100]

I felt my crush intimidating but I was still going to go up to talk to him but he quit the job so it never happened

[Nifrayu]

With all due respect, your family doesn't know what they are talking about. There is nothing wrong with you approaching a guy. Both of my serious relationships began with a gal approaching me.

[Sugar100]

@Nifrayu Wen I was young I approached a guy and got rejected but I guess it’s different at my job as the guys show interest first or walk next to u on purpose so u initaite the talk first

[Anonymous]

26 is when people start to seek more serious relationships in general. Most start dating younger. Personally didn't date as a kid, started at 25 and I only wanted serious relationships. There's no should, you just do it when you feel like it.

[Pegases]

Guys should always strive to have experience with women before dating. Women respect men that know what they are doing, and you can't know how to lead unless you understand the laws of the land. That being said, you can absolutely learn in a relationship, but the best way to learn today, is to gain experience.

[Lliam]

I was 16, in my first year of high school, when I got into my first relationship. I knew people who had girlfriends before that.
She's the one who initiated contact. But a lot of girls showed interest in me even though I was kind of skinny back then.
By 26, I had had 4 girlfriends. Those girls were really good people and my experiences were wonderful. I just wasn't ready to get married and settle down yet.

[Anonymous]

Live life at your own pace. I’ve just now started thinking about dating too., it’s different from people who think dating should start earlier but tbh I was even struggling with regular friendships at that age. There’s no way I could have handled a romantic one

[Anonymous]

I’m 33 and have little to no experience but I think I can say it doesn’t bother me anymore. The only experience I think someone needs is the experience of being content alone, if you have that everything else will fall in to place when it’s supposed to.

[WhitneySnow]

It’s no big deal if you don’t. Better late than never. There will probably girls your age who won’t mind that you’ve never dated before.

[Nikki1989]

26?

You should have been dating for 10 years or more by that point.

[Giddyup]

Wait until your ready, whenever that is! I promise you it will be better and more memorable!

[Anonymous]

It's our Level 1 Fake Question of the Day!

[exitseven]

I was married with a kid by the time I was 26. You might be a little behind the curve

[User1365]

Go for it. Your brain stops developing at 25. I believe this is a good age to finally settle down or dare. I became way more mature at 25.

[Nifrayu]

I started dating at age 23. I honestly wish I started sooner. I could have used the relationship experience at 23.

[Anonymous]

Whenever a person is ready. Too many people begin dating at a young age like idiots just because they see other people doing it.

[BoobMan]

Probably should start about 10 years earlier. But better late (VERY late!) than never!

[zagor]

Who cares? If he is 26 and he wants to date he should, without regard to his past experience.

[Awesomesauce2005]

I've been trying since i turned 16 and im still failing lol

[BrightBubblyKat]

There is no ‘should.’

[grandpoohbah]

Thanks. I wouldn’t say I’m serious about dating at this point in life, but I do want to get my toes wet in that aspect (like joining this site).

[BrightBubblyKat]

Sounds fair 😊

[BrightBubblyKat]

Best to take it slowly and become friends first anyway.

[lightbulb27]

Good time. Some earlier but not too late

[slatyb]

Earlier is over. Start now.

[Unit1]

Its pretty late but never too late

[MJtheCoach]

for a guy doesn't matter too much..

[jojoiwiwbwjo]

No one cares.

[sheikalana]

It's fine.

[In_Trance]

Like..12 years ago