Comments on: Your Call: Pick the Official Term for Those Who Date Much Older People

By: ilestre

ilestre — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:21:52 +0000

“Gerontophile” is pretty well recognized as a proper word. I quite like it myself. The more so as each year passes, actually.

By: LB

LB — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:21:08 +0000

I agree with AlanK “human” seems resonable.

By: AlanK

AlanK — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:51:07 +0000

How about “human”?

By: Jay Jay

Jay Jay — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:42:25 +0000

Geri-o-phile? Or some sort of play on geriatrics?

By: nick

nick — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:56:09 +0000

well i would still be considered ageist,
i refuse to date a woman who isn’t atleast 5 years older than i am.
i’ve been called “whippersnapper” over that situation, i’ve also heard “youngin” and “boy-toy”
but i’m starting to warm up to paleontologist,

By: oldilocks

oldilocks — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:48:49 +0000

While writing the first comment I also thought Prejudice Impaired was a bit too universal but I could not think of a better word at that time.

I would now substitute Ageist for Prejudice.

I must admit though, for tongue-in-cheek, I do like whippersnapper.

By: PK

PK — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:07:14 +0000

I think we should re-coin whippersnapper. It’s fallen out of use anyway so why not appropriate it.

By: nick

nick — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:22:51 +0000

i think they are meant to be rather tongue-in-cheek.
terms like cradle-robber, cougar, sugar-daddy/momma, are not all that flattering either but the terms are still heavily used.

By: kb

kb — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:17:06 +0000

I have to agree, none of these seem very polite to the older SO in question. I disagree that the answer is prejudice impared, as there can be all kinds of other prejudice going on.

By: oldilocks

oldilocks — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:58:20 +0000

None of the terms offered seem flattering. Each, when applied to a living person seems a bit demeaning. At least to the older person.

How about one not listed.

Prejudice Impaired.