Yeah, I’m in my mid 30’s and my best friend is nearing 50. His oldest child is the same age as my younger brother. Believe it or not, people can have common interests that aren’t entirely reliant on their age.

Though I will say that age becomes less relevant as you get older… A 29 year old dating a 19 year old is pretty universally creepy, but few people would say the same about a 49 year old dating a 39 year old. Same age gap, but it’s assumed that the 39 year old has enough life experience to actually make their own decisions. Even in my mid-20’s, I was looking at 19 year olds as if they were literal children. There’s a lot of maturing that happens in the late teens and early 20’s.

Sure, but there's a difference between hanging out with some 20 year olds, and being romantically involved with them.

The latter requires a hell of a lot of maturity and being in a similar place in life to deal with things life throws at you. The former just requires laughing at some meme together you both find funny.

You don't date though. A lot of people I know are young. Who else tf you going to meet nowadays.

Though I'd date 25+, screw 22+, not younger.

Acquaintances/Friends and "dating" are not the same.

I am not in any way suggesting it should be illegal. I don't think I mentioned that once.

What I am insinuating that if you're that young dating someone much older, there is almost always a massive power imbalance between the two in the relationship, romantically, and so it's a very difficult thing to overcome.

If you're a 30/40/50+ year old person dating a 19 year old, there is usually something wrong with one party, the other, or both in that scenario. A 19 year old, romantically, is not mature enough or at the same place in their life as a 50 year old person. This will, at best, strain the relationship significantly as each partner will want something different out of life as the relationship progresses.

If they don't, then one of them is likely a deeply broken individual. And that's usually going to be the much older person that's got some issues happening.

The 19 year old truly doesn't know any better, or thinks they do, or is getting something in trade like security from the much older person and they're willing to give up other aspects of their life in trade for this.