My longest running relationship (11 years) was with  a guy who was 23 year older than my (started when I was 19, he was 44).

In my opinion age difference doesn't matter as long as both of the partners are consenting adults. So I would never date a teenager and i don't approve adults (of any age) dating minnors.

Nothing under 26 for me.

why 26? why not 25?

to me it has more to do with experience and being comfortable and not awkward. that said, dont think i would be comfortable and not awkward with anyone younger than 20.

France doesn't have an age of consent, Italy is 14, most other European countries is 15, Australia is 16. As seen by a post above, there is a belief by many that the legal age is 18 "in most places". I first had sex when I grew up in India at 14. I had a crush on my next door neighbour who was 19 at the time and I remember sex with him was a dream come true.

I know that there is a lot in the media about how some sexual relationships with young teenagers has caused terrible psychological harm to them, but that harm is not caused by their age alone but by their inability to cope with an abusive non-consensual, non-respectful, non loving sexual encounter.

It also has to be said that the hysteria around this issue, which is historically recent, adds to the damage these situations cause by causing the perpetrator to have to go to great lengths to manipulate and threaten the victim so that their acts remain secret.

I read recently a book called "Sandel" by Angus Steward which was published in 1968, about a love affair between a 13 year old choir boy and a 19 year old student at Oxford. This book was for many years considered a classic of gay literature, but I don't think people realise how recently attitudes have changed, even in the gay community.

I read some reviews of the recent movie "Call Me By Your Name" which is about an intense love between 17 year old Elio and 24 year old Oliver. One of these reviews (by an American) used the word "pedophillia" to describe the movie. Pedophillia means sex with a child, that is, someone who has not gone through puberty. 17 is certainly not a child and Elio was actually the seducer. Oliver was more reluctant. The age of consent in Italy (where the film is set) is 14. This just illustrates how off the rails many people's attitudes about the sex and age have become.

My partner and I are now married after 14 years. When we met, I was 51. He was 23.

Love is love. Why should age have anything to do with love.

It's so weird, complicated and sometimes absurd the topic of age when the age of consent in countries vary so much. In my country it's 15 and then anything's up for grabs. I'm more into older so IRL i wouldn't pursue someone so young, but I do think a teen with a daddy is hot to fantasize about and in porn. Hell, when I was 13 I wanted to of my 35+ teachers to fuck me.

First time I sucked a dick I was 14 and he was 20. He was great, don't feel as if I was used at all, it's what I wanted. But I've always been into older guys. I wouldn't tell anyone else to go after someone who was younger than 15 though, or 16, or 18, or whatever the legal age is in the country in question.

Assuming there are these factors being handled well between two people there shouldn't be an issue regardless of age.

However, I think the point where one partner needs to be "taken care of" is where the line should be drawn. What I mean is that they truly need to be taken care of, being paid for, given a place to live, etc and they do not contribute anything and barely have means to make something of themselves. Basically if the weight of responsibility is heavily one-sided on the older guy then that partner is too young, regardless of his actual age.

Hooking up with anyone under the age of consent is too young for sure.  Jailbait is not worth the fuck.

this.