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Nobody said it is the only thing. But it is one of many factors.

I will say though that since you admit you both came from bad home environments where you were not supported and allowed to mature in a more organic manner instead of having to learn to cope with certain things overnight, that you do not have the knowledge to raise children allowing them to mature on a more even keel.

17 year olds should not be forced to be on their own. They learn certain skills in order to survive safely but there's a whole raft of other things that they don't have the luxury to learn which they will need in later years in order to prevent repeating this with their own kids.

Because of your life experiences people are saying you are mature for your age, not mature in general. Obviously judging by his ex and by your defensiveness, he still has a lot of growing up to do in order to pick healthy partners. You will notice that I did not say posers or fake or real or true. What matters more is healthy vs unhealthy.

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ORIGINAL: LadyPact


This isn't much different in other places where time in makes a difference. I don't know how many second lieutenants that have earned the respect that goes with the rank. Frankly, I'd deal with a First Sergeant instead any day of the week because he generally knows what he's doing.

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I think that saying that is putting everyone into a box. My Master has been through more at his age than most people twice his age. I am 25 myself and have probably been through more than you have. Some people don't have the luxury of waiting until they are 18 to become an "adult". Some of us are forced into that much younger.

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ORIGINAL: toxic66
To the OP: Let me share some wisdom I learned over the years. Some are saying you are too young and inexperienced right now. Get used to it. It won't be too long and there will be some that will tell you that you are too old. Women have different things they are looking for and age is a criteria that they do use. Some are young and want older men, some are older and want younger men, and others want men pretty close to their own age. But you will never be at an age where all women want you at.

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ORIGINAL: wulfelaw



And here's the point where many say "Bullshit, you're only 25, you're not old enough." Honestly it makes me laugh. I see a lot of people on here in their mid thirties, mid forties, and 50+ who claim to be dominant (both male and female), yet their behavior speaks volumes to the contrary.

Now, I'll be the first the tip my hat in respect to my elders, just on principle, being how I was raised. However, quite a few of them are going through mid-life crises, just getting out of a nasty divorce, or in some other way jaded about their life or just plain perving on kinky people. I throw my hands up in disgust when I see these people get the same blanket respect and adoration that their "peers" do, when said peers have lived this lifestyle longer than I've been alive. Its annoying.