(05-14-2020, 11:12 AM)fredalwaysajag Wrote: It's not very uncommon. Today is different, but anyone can look to elder couples who've been together like 4 decades. My experience, the man is usually older by like 7 or 8 years and they got together when she was in her upper teens and he in his 20's. Shoot, my own parents. I think my Dad was 23 and my Mom was like 18 when they got married. It's not that far off what was once "the norm".

I get what you're saying. There's a 12 year difference between my gf and I (she's older)... but we got together as grown adults.
There's a certain time in life when the age doesn't matter as much.... But if I was say 16 and she was 28, I'm sure people would not think too fondly of her (and if the roles were reversed, I'd be in jail but I digress)
while one party (male or female, imo) is still in high school, is not the time for there to be a large age gap. I think it's silly as society we have magic numbers for when someone is "old enough" for something, 17 years and 364 days is too young for something, but add 1 day and *poof* all's well, but people in their late teens are still maturing mentally for the most part. Hell, plenty of people in their 20's are still mentally maturing (some never do lol). So for someone in their late 20's to "hook up" with someone that much younger is predatory no matter how you slice it. You know more, you've lived more and the younger person is still malleable.

For this instance.... Smith knew better, did what he did anyway, and should face the music.
He's 29.... he shouldn't be hooking up with chicks that are on the 17 year old mentality.

---