Humans logo

Why

Age does, in fact, matter.

By Jeremy JettPublished 6 years ago 2 min read
Like

I’ll be the first to say it: I’m sick of age gap apologists. I’m sick of people seeing no problem with today’s dating era of ages. I’m sick of people not knowing what legit consent is and what constitutes as "okay," to the point that people have to sit there and explain what the problem is to college age adults and over.

Age matters. More than you’d like to fucking admit or think. Teenagers, they are not well-versed to the world around them. They don’t know what they want. They are still learning, growing, developing, and understanding. And they are so very easily influenced by media (listen to me sounding like a non-millennial—that’s too rich), their friends, peers, or complete garbage like Call Me By Your Name. Adults who think they know everything and look or sound mature and tell impressionable young adults that they are very adult and very mature and know everything, getting coerced into feeling responsible, comfortable, and secure with said adult—it’s just wrong, and it’s manipulation at its very finest, thinnest point.

I don’t care what you say, I don’t care what people tell you. Age gap between adults is perfectly acceptable both socially and morally. But an adult with a minor, that’s a whole other story, and it baffles me to think that people can have no morals or try to explain it and work their way around the whole thing just because ‘My [ insert generation family member here ] are ten or more years apart!’

Yeah, that was then. This is now. There are laws in place for this very reason and again: morals. Do you people really have no morals? Because of the world around you, what you hear or read or see? I can’t wrap my head around it. If someone is under 18, they have no business being romantically involved with someone of a 20+ year age. They just don’t. Not only is it morally unacceptable, but also legally. Whether they consented or not, whether it’s sexual or not, it is still morally and legally unacceptable. And still, as I write this, cannot even begin to wonder just what people see as being "Totally okay."

So I’m going to say it now and continue to say it until the day that I take my last breath, and you can say what you want about it, think what you want about it, or tell me otherwise. You’re not going to change my mind and you’re going to look like an apologist that I really don’t have any consideration for or would like to associate myself with.

Don’t get into a relationship thinking you’re wiser than "most people" your age. That’s not how it works. You are still a young adult—a child even—and you’re acting on feelings and looking through rose-colored lenses. You’re getting the attention you want and crave and you’re not really thinking about the long haul. You need to give yourself time and room to grow rather than diving head first into the first person you come across. That’s not going to end well for either side. And legally, you can have a lot of repercussions against you.

It should go without saying that age is a problem and is a huge factor in dating. Unfortunately with this current era, it seems to just be an argument point rather than something that should just be.

There are laws, and Lord above, there are also morals. That’s the very end of it, as it should be. Stop being an apologist.

dating
Like

About the Creator

Jeremy Jett

A tired, disabled trans cat dad who wants more tattoos & never has enough coffee. I write sometimes.

twitter: twitter.com/catnip_coffee

ao3: archiveofourown.org/users/lordbatty

instagram: instagram.com/catnip_coffee/

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.