I tend to agree with Jeanie on the age thing although I think that too big a gap either way has to be looked at seriously. Up to about ten year's difference there will still be a lot of shared memories of the public events, the music and all the other things that influence everybody. I think that those things do matter in a relationship and, with a larger age gap, there have to be other very strong factors to ensure any sort of success. But what is it with so many men who state that their ideal partner should be their age or younger? Is it the culture we've been raised in, an attempt to retain their own feelings of youth or just nature's imperative that says that reproduction is the reason we're here and the younger the female the better the chances!

I've got at least two friends who lie about their ages, one specifically on a dating site. I can see why they do it but, if that's what it takes to get a man interested I think I'll sit that one out. I think that it happens both ways though, this friend met quite a number of men through the dating site - I know because I acted as 'mum' when she met them for the first time - having their details and waiting for her phone call to say she was home safely - and some of the 'exaggerations' that were made were unbelievable. It's sad to think that so many people feel that they can't find a partner just by being themselves. It's also sad that so many people will discount others without even trying to find out more about them. Anyone want to join a campaign for more honesty or am I tilting at windmils here?