Posted on 01/22/2008 11:12:36 AM PST by redrunner
Interesting. Do you think these experiences had any significant negative effects on your social development or later relationships? Do you ever feel like you were "exploited" or manipulated by those older women? What regrets do you have?
Tough questions. I never felt used or exploited because I was always very sexually motivated. I wanted to have sex with them and was grateful. I guess that's one reason I always have problems with these stories is because when I was a kid, I knew exactly what I was doing. They didn't hold me down or force themselves on me. As far as having regrets, I've never had any, probably because we genuinely liked each other, and they treated me with great kindness. One of the affairs went on for nearly a year, and we dated out in the open about ten years later. It's hard to say if there were any negative effects, but I don't think there were.
There are certainly predator relationships, sometimes with large age differences, but in my case, I think the women were seeking back the simplicity of their high school relationships. People in their late twenties can get pretty callous, in fact, I think that may be the meanest age, and they just wanted someone who would be kind to them and that wouldn't be a threat to them. Emotionally, they were battered and tired of being adults for a while. They wanted someone they could play with. Sex was part of it, but not all of it by any means.
That was a long time ago, and I've been faithfully married for over 25 years now. Through faith and years, my viewpoint about that type of relationship has changed. On a cognitive basis, I know I should probably regret it, but the goofy times we spent together, seeing movies, making popcorn, talking about things, sitting by the lake, and living in our secret world are some of my fondest memories.
Most of the time, yes. But that doesn't mean conservatives have to support the exact same policies for men and women, regardless of the situation.
I don't think there is any unjustified double-standard in being opposed to recruiting females to fill military combat positions, for example. There are some areas where men and women are legitimately different, so in the interests of fairness or common sense it is acceptable to have different policies as far as they are concerned.
Does that mean women should get away with having sex with underage boys? Absolutely not! But I think one can recognize real differences between those situations and older male/younger female relationships without being a liberal.
NOWI KNOW I will get flamed badly herebut I DO NOT CARE!! At LEASTI have NOT forgotten what a real conservative means!!
first of all......"You're not the boss of me, now."......I can do what I waaaaaanttt.
secondly....
ping
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