Age disparity: can't help your feelings
I have a strong opinion on age disparity and feelings. I'm aware that society frowns on someone in love with someone twenty years their elder or younger, but who is society to judge feelings?
Sure, it's simple to stand there, and look down your nose at grand age differences. "Oh how disgusting!" one might say, or, "She just wants his money," or even, "Oh he's using her to feel young."
There's a million and one things people say, but do they ever stop and try to look at it from the two involved's points of view? Readers who are in love, think about that person right now. Think about your feelings for them, can you really explain why you love them? Why you'd pick them over someone else with the same traits and/or characteristics? Hopefully not, (or else I suggest some soul searching on this "love") you're probably just sitting there smiling about your love. Well now readers, imagine everyone around you, and people who you don't even know, whispering about you and your love. Imagine them saying the two of you are terrible, that you should absolutely not be together.
What do you feel? Angry, frustrated, down right confused? How can anyone tell you it's WRONG to love your love? You can't help who you are, you can't help what you feel! After all, it is downright wrong to try and force yourself to feel differently.
Well that's how we feel. We, being anyone who faces feelings of attraction to people "far too old" or "far too young" for them. I propose a new idea, instead of judging them, think of your own love, think of feelings, and think of the fact that you just can't help them.
I have a confession, I don't think Humbert Humbert (from Vladimir Nabakoc's "Lolita") is a creep. I don't think he's sick. I think he's human. I think he's in love. So he's in love with someone far younger than him, so what? That is how he feels, and to me, it just simply isn't wrong. How could you bash someone for feelings? You just can't help those!
And here's a secret, I'm sick of people psychoanalyzing the people with chronophilia who are attracted to people younger than them. How about those of us who have burning attractions for people ten, twenty, or maybe even thirty years our elder? We exist you know! It's not all old men creeping on young girls who'd rather be left alone. Some of us, truthfully, chase the older individual! WE seduce THEM. Yes, you've heard it here, sometimes WE are as much at fault as they are. So how about some literature on us? How about some studies on why we have these overwhelming, usually unquenchable feelings? Because there isn't much out there. Plenty for the opposite, but not much for us.
So tell me, is it normal to want some information on why I feel how I do, to be so accepting of others' feelings? What's your opinion on the topic altogether? Have a persuaded anyone to look at "pedophiles" (not those who break the law, but the ones labeled for being attracted to someone much younger than them) in a new light?