# Yeah, I'm pretty much an idiot, yes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 6, 2010, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705 "2010-07-06T13:02:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/41 "2010-07-06T17:43:50Z")
> [@Cuckoorex](#): > > Should I take her up on the movie watching offer? Innocent enough, I know, but is there realistically a chance for this turning into a May-December romance? Don’t even think about the age difference. Go out with her. If you’re compatible, then great. If not, no harm done. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/42 "2010-07-06T17:56:18Z")
The years aren’t adding up for me, either, but if you’re not getting any crazy liar vibe from her, I’d also say go to the movie with her and see how it goes. I mean, don’t ignore the question mark, keep your eyes open for confirmation one way or the other, but don’t pass up the opportunity to spend time with someone you’re compatible with over it, either. ---
**Author:** ![Any\_Other\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Any\_Other\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Any_Other_Name)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/43 "2010-07-06T18:14:05Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > That doesn’t make sense. I mean, I’m sure it can vary depending on where you are, but where I live it works like this: you go to college and get your BA/BS – 3-4 years. Then, you get your teaching credential- 1-2 years, during which time you do student teaching, in addition to your classes. My daughter started teaching after getting her BA/BS, which took her the normal 4 years including student teaching. So she was teaching at 22. Friends of hers were teaching at 21. If she graduated from high school at 16 easily doable. Then you have five years to get your Masters degree. Note: all this likely varies state to state. Another vote for just go with the flow, no need to vet her just to go on a date to the movies. If things develop, you’ll learn more. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/44 "2010-07-06T18:19:51Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > I can’t believe people are actually believing this. Even if she _was_ a “prodigy”, a teaching degree = actual undergraduate degree and you can’t complete that in one year. I believe that’d make the newspapers all over if it actually happened. > > Grade A bullshitter, right there. I don’t get why people are so hung up on this. Maybe she’s student-teaching while she completes her accreditation, and it’s easier to just say she’s “a teacher.” Maybe she’s still working on her degree and she’s projecting her acheivements into the future a bit. Still no crime there. And maybe she really is advanced enough to be fully qualified at a young age. Or, she’s completly lying about the whole teaching thing in order to somehow get her hooks into **Cuckoorex** ’s bank account, because, um… why, exactly? Because there’s no way he’d fall for a pretty, smart, compatible 19-year-old if he didn’t think she was a teacher? That’s the part that doesn’t make sense. **Cuckoorex** , go ahead and keep one eye open for the con, and don’t give her any money if she suddenly starts complaining about her student loan debt on your second date. But I really don’t smell that from here. Enjoy this gift you have been given… And be sure to report back to us when you do! ---
**Author:** ![drillrod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@drillrod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drillrod)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/45 "2010-07-06T18:27:49Z")
Advice columnist Dan Savage says that when it comes to such relationships, it is up to the elder of the couple to abide by the “Campsite Rule”: at the end of the relationship, the elder partner should leave the younger in “better shape than they found them”. This includes no diseases, no fertilized eggs, no undue emotional trauma, and whatever education that can be provided. Anyway, she’s an adult, you’re an adult, so quit thinking so darn much and have a good time. ---
**Author:** ![Khaki\_Campbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Khaki\_Campbell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khaki_Campbell)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/46 "2010-07-06T18:29:08Z")
Go **Cuckoorex** go ! …And keep us informed, of course ; all the details 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/47 "2010-07-06T18:54:56Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I don’t get why people are so hung up on this. Maybe she’s student-teaching while she completes her accreditation, and it’s easier to just say she’s “a teacher.” Yeah, it could be shorthand for something. I will tell someone that I am a salesman just to give the the gist of what I do. If I get to know them better, I will expound. And maybe she is a damn prodigy. Hell, do a search for 'gifted, early reader, speed-reader, voracious reader, etc." on the dope and you get the idea that there are more prodigies than one would have guessed out there. But the main thing is, Cuckoorex is a big boy. If she gets her gold-digging spade out, I’m sure he has the good sense to say, “peace out”. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/48 "2010-07-06T19:03:12Z")
Relax. Do it. Don’t expect happily ever after, she might not be finished living her single/young life. But you can learn from each other and have fun. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/49 "2010-07-06T19:07:07Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I’ll simply offer my standard advise in such situations: Fuck her! Fuck her brains out! I concur with my esteemed associate in both reasoning and conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/50 "2010-07-06T20:21:55Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > I concur with my esteemed associate in both reasoning and conclusion. So many of these moral quandaries go away when you become comfortable with your inner pig! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/51 "2010-07-06T20:29:05Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Or, just go ahead, enjoy a nice normal dating experience with someone that likes you without checking for records of a prodigy graduating the uinversity she says she went to. > > Go for it, have fun, and remember that anyone can be a liar about anything. Just because she’s young and pretty doesn’t mean she has to be on the make. She may just feel a chemistry with you and wants to explore it. Maybe overweight 37 year old balding men do it for her. Who knows. Why would we jump to the idea that she may be crazy? Come on. > > My vote is, go for it, have fun, if she turns out to be crazy or on the make you tell her, “See ya, nice knowing ya” and you’re out. > [@Wheelz](#): > > You are overthinking, and then overthinking your overthinking. > > _She_ asked _you_ on a date. _SAY YES!_ She didn’t ask you to marry her, she asked you to see a movie with her. Go ahead and see a movie with her. Enjoy each other’s company. Let whatever relationship you may or may not end up having develop organically. > > Maybe your age difference will become a barrier, maybe it won’t. But you’ll never know unless you act. If she turns out to be a gold-digger (though from your description it sounds unlikely), you’ll find out soon enough. I see absolutely no reason not to pursue this. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > The years aren’t adding up for me, either, but if you’re not getting any crazy liar vibe from her, I’d also say go to the movie with her and see how it goes. I mean, don’t ignore the question mark, keep your eyes open for confirmation one way or the other, but don’t pass up the opportunity to spend time with someone you’re compatible with over it, either. All of these. Have fun dude, you’re almost 40. It may literally be your last chance to hook up with a hot young female, crazy or no. Whatever happens, happens. Its not like you’re a millionaire with assets to guard against gold diggers. ---
**Author:** ![justrob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/52 "2010-07-06T21:29:18Z")
I’d just like to point out that you don’t really need to be a “prodigy” to graduate HS at 16. I graduated at 17 just because of where my birthday fell. If I had applied myself when I was younger I’m pretty sure skipping a grade would not have been totally out of the question. Viola, 16 year old graduate! Certainly no “prodigy” though. ---
**Author:** ![RainGrowsBrite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@RainGrowsBrite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RainGrowsBrite)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/53 "2010-07-06T22:11:26Z")
The only different advice I have is to not assume too much. When I was her age I had an older guy friend… I thought we were just friends… we went to the movies and he assumed I was interested in more than that. Nothing too yucky happend but he ended up skeeving me out and our friendship all but ended. So… be careful on the making the move thing. She may be really interested in you because youre an older mature guy and you’re paying attention to her and taking her seriously as an adult. That can be infectious to a young chick. Just sayin’. But, if thats not the case and she’s all into you… then yes, fuck her fuck her fuck her! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/54 "2010-07-06T22:19:23Z")
> [@drillrod](#): > > Advice columnist Dan Savage says that when it comes to such relationships, it is up to the elder of the couple to abide by the “Campsite Rule”: at the end of the relationship, the elder partner should leave the younger in “better shape than they found them”. This includes no diseases, no fertilized eggs, no undue emotional trauma, and whatever education that can be provided. > > Anyway, she’s an adult, you’re an adult, so quit thinking so darn much and have a good time. Concur. With bells on. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/55 "2010-07-06T23:09:19Z")
I’m a 52 year old man and unless I looked like John Hamm of “Mad Men” or was a gazillionaire every alarm bell would be ringing if a 19 year old wanted to date me when I was 37. You need to view it in totality. While we like to think were are still dead sexy as the years roll off our backs, time takes a penalty. It’s a nice fantasy, but if she is attractive and very intelligent she quite likely has better hook up options than a pudgy, balding 37 year old regular. Re the “working teacher at 19” stuff this is absolute BS, and you are being played. The fact that you are being so credulous re her silly explanations about this obvious nonsense is concerning. Either you are misunderstanding her age, or there’s a scam of some kind being initiated. Three possibilities: 1: She’s a grifter and you are a mark. She wants or needs something from you. 2: She’s mentally unstable and has huge daddy issues. 3: She sees past the balding, overweight man pushing 40, and sees the beauty of the inner you, the sensitive artist and free spirit that defines your essence. You complete her. Pick one. Beyond this 19 year olds are crazy fertile. You make one mistake and you could be joined at the hip forever. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/56 "2010-07-06T23:38:13Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Beyond this 19 year olds are crazy fertile. You make one mistake and you could be joined at the hip forever. Word. Be careful, as one should be anyways. And you forgot an option. The girl just is actually attracted to 37 year old men. Period. No, ‘looking past’ anything, just straight up into older guys. I have known plenty of girls like that. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/57 "2010-07-07T00:58:20Z")
Don’t be a prude. As long as there’s grass on the field, you can play ball. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/58 "2010-07-07T01:16:27Z")
> [@justrob](#): > > I’d just like to point out that you don’t really need to be a “prodigy” to graduate HS at 16. I graduated at 17 just because of where my birthday fell. If I had applied myself when I was younger I’m pretty sure skipping a grade would not have been totally out of the question. Viola, 16 year old graduate! Certainly no “prodigy” though. You know, I did too. It slipped my mind (I’m sure it being so long ago has nothing to do with it!). It is entirely possible for a nice-looking 19 year old to be attracted to a 37 year old. It’s not _likely_, but it is possible. There is a theory that women become attracted to men that they enjoy spending time with; it may be that Ashley finds herself enjoying your company and that makes you more attractive to her. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/59 "2010-07-07T01:17:04Z")
It’s a less extreme example, but I know of a couple who met when she was 20 (still in college) and he was 32. He wasn’t fat and balding (though he did have and still has a thin spot), but he’d given up on dating, and so he didn’t really pay attention to her at first. Still, they somehow hit it off and were dating within a few months, and not long after that people said they were already like an old married couple. Indeed, we’ll celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary in a few weeks. 😃 Age is just a number. Go for it! (Previous caveats noted.) ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705/60 "2010-07-07T01:51:11Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I do. Right off the top of my head, my cousin. She’s been teaching for years, and still waitresses in the summer (and even during the year if they need her to cover a shift or a busy weekend). Heh. I work nights, part time, at a small pub myself, and two of my five fellow bartenders are also teachers (both elementary school) who want to make extra cash on weekends and during the summer. AND another guy who works there has a girlfriend who teaches art in elementary school, who waitresses full time (not at my place of work) during the summer. And my boyfriend’s sister’s husband’s sister has been a teacher for 15 years and a waitress for 11. Happens all the time. But the whole 19-year-old teacher thing.. sounds like bullshit to me. The age difference? Go for it. I started dating my boyfriend, who was 36, when I was 19 and we’ve been together 5 great years with plans for many more. My boyfriend is not fat or bald but not everyone is as shallow as me. And no, he isn’t rich, etc. I just love him for who he is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yeah-im-pretty-much-an-idiot-yes/545705.md?page=4)