Man, 24, weds 82-year-old bride
By ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
Singapore
September 29, 2007 4:04pm CST
Just saw it in the news today...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7019998.stm
sheez... and I was just reading about a topic with regards to older women marrying younger men by a fellow mylotter the other day about this! Heh heh... what a coincidence!
That woman is old enough to be his grandmother!
I cannot imagine how a young man of 24 is able to even think about marrying someone who is old enough to be his grandma!
And this bride was his guardian when he was 15.
I dunno, maybe it is an asian upbringing that make me feel that this union is wrong.
On a personal level, if that woman was my guardian, I would feel a sort of respect for her for being my guardian... that is it. Marrying my guardian would be the last thing on my mind, especially when she is old enough to be my grandmother!
what do you think?
2 people like this
15 responses
@marylouu69 (297)
• United States
30 Sep 07
Well my husband is 30 and I am 45. If they love each other who cares how old they are. They are both adults and make their own choices !
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Oct 07
True, true... who are we to make judgment, rite?
But then again... putting yourself in their shoes... how would you react to it if say your grandmother is gonna be marrying someone who is old enough to be your son?
It is good that you are able to find your spouse who loves and dotes on you. And the age gap between you and your spouse is still acceptable to many levels for the various cultures of the members that are in mylot.
The question here is, if the gap between you and your spouse is 50 years, how would both your family react to the union?
@laylomo (165)
• United States
29 Sep 07
Brought up with an blend of Asian and American influence, I think the union is nothing to be disgusted over. If they are truly in love (so it seems, willing to bear the cross of public criticism), they should be married. Love knows no age, gender, race, etc.
In the news, it says that he "always liked mature ladies" and the marriage is not just spiritual. He may be one of those people who enjoy the "company" of older women.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
29 Sep 07
you are right that love knows no bounds. Well, disgusted was not on my mind when I posted this thread... it is more like amazed. Amazed at the fact that this is happening. I am happy for them if the marriage is really based on love and not other motives. They are going to face a lot of obstacles... that is for sure!
I dunno, I was just sharing my personal views.
Well, like I said, takes all sorts of people to make this world.
Thanks for the input!
1 person likes this
@smoke_gun (1243)
• Malaysia
30 Sep 07
i dont know is that the man married with his guardian with his own wish,or it's just another bad tradition?i knew this would happen in china,the boy will get married with his guardian arranged by his family when he grew up to a man.if the man really love his wife,then we just wish them happiness forever!
@smoke_gun (1243)
• Malaysia
1 Oct 07
no,the boy family will buy a young lady to take care their boy since baby.the lady will stay with the boy and married him after the boy grew up to a man.you can find this happen in any china village,especially in the conservative and rich family.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Oct 07
really? there is such a tradition in china?
Where the parents of the boy will let him live with the bride-to-be family, and they will take care of the boy till he is of marrying age?
Then they will marry their daughter to this ward that they are taking care of?
That is really new to me. Which part of china practices this tradition?
@ketybhagat (4123)
• India
1 Oct 07
Maybe the boy was looking for a mother figure, or should I say grandmother figure. Some men feel secure in the presence of older women. I hope they stay happy and it is not the case of some money involved. Many a marriages take place with the sole object being money. God help the lady if that is the case, but if it is love, well it takes all kinds to make a world.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Oct 07
hmm... that is an interesting perspective to see this union.
well... if the fella was looking for a mother figure (or grandmother figure in this case), getting married with that role model would be the last thing on the fella's mind. no?
Logically speaking, one usually would never think of marrying the mother figure. rite?
Like they say, love is blind. In the case of the old bride and the young man, they are seeing past the physical and joining together on the higher level of love. Time will tell if this is the case or not.
Thanks for the interesting perspective. Makes one see things in a new light.
Food for thought yah? ;)
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
1 Oct 07
Hello there. I personally feel there are 2 possibilities. One is, they truly love each other and Love is Blind. However, to be frank, I am quite skeptical about that.
Another possibility is that the old woman is rich and the guy is going after his money. We have seen so many classic examples of that. In this case, i would say Money is Bright (and the brightness blinds the guy).
To be frank, I really hope the young lad truly loves her and will give up the TLC (tender loving care) that she needs in her sunset years.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
2 Oct 07
you are not alone in your train of thoughts.
But there is not much details in the news article to speculate that.
The discussion here is more about the age gap that exists between the couple.
Having a age gap of 50 years is really hard to swallow for many, not to mention that the age gap between this couple is 58.
Most people would not be able to accept the age gap, especially the immediate family members of the couple.
Like i said, I really hope this union is truely out of love and not anything else. Only time will tell.
@jasminejlcn (14)
• China
30 Sep 07
OMG,can not belive it ,in my view ,that kinds marriage must have some other goal,like money ,like insuranc,like ....,but speak of the that ,I remeber in China also have same thing happen ,A old scientist 82 ages marry his student 28 ages girl,that`s thing also arose dissuscion in our country .but now seems they feel very good
@jasminejlcn (14)
• China
1 Oct 07
cann not found enligh new link ,only have Chinese news.but that scientist is very famours have got Norbel I remebe,if you seaching must can found it
@gorgeousdreamer (1034)
• Philippines
30 Sep 07
Well, all I can say is that people have different way of thinking nowadays. But I have nothing against this. Who knows that man really loves that woman in spite of her age. What do you think? As some will say, age doesn't matter.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Oct 07
I agree with you that different people have different ways of thinking.
Well, everything is always lovey dovey at the beginning of every marriage.
The real test of love is the journey that both the groom and the bride has to walk after they exchange their vows.
Whether this be a union of love, only time will tell.
Thank you for your response.
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
30 Sep 07
Sorry to be the suspicious weasel here but I really think this is not a case of "age doesn't matter". Come on! 24 versus 82? No way!
The woman obviously is not going to live much longer, so the guy is just going for whatever wealth she will leave behind like house, insurance, etc.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Oct 07
well, as of now, the news are all reporting about their mutual love for each other. That is why they got married.
As for the other suspicions, we have no grounds to prove it.
Only time will tell if it is true or not. Only time will tell.
One thing is for sure... the uphill journey for this couple has only just begun. And it will continue way even when one of them pass away.
@velvetprinzess (1064)
• Singapore
30 Sep 07
Well, I guess that's real love for us. Genuine love knows no boundaries, whether it be age, nationality, cultural differences, etc. Real love should be unconditional.
I too know of couples in which the wife is much older than the husband by more than 10 years and these are all happy marriages. They are still together after so many years, which is great.
I guess I am happy for them and hope they'll be happy for a long time to come.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Oct 07
well, like I said in my previous postings... in related topics... an age gap of about 10-15 years, heck even 20 years is still acceptable to many.
But to have an age gap of over 60 years, where the wife is old enough to be the groom's grandparent, that is another story altogether.
The other story that I can think of is the anna nicole smith's marriage to her aged husband. None of the family members of the groom could accept the union. Much less for this one where the bride is 82 and the groom is 24.
Not much details in the news article though. Else I am sure there will be more gossip going around with regards to this union.
Like I said, if the union is the result of true love, then all the best to the couple. This couple is really gonna be facing a lot of obstacles with regards to their relationship!
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
1 Oct 07
Oh my gosh... this is a love affair that is somewhat like impossible to happen... I can't imagine how they will consumate the marriage... if it is the other way around, like if the bride is 24 and the groom 80... people will say that she married him for the money... i think it is the same in this situation...
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Oct 07
well, it is happening... and it is already reported in the news!
Like I said, if the age gap is about 10-20 years, it is still acceptable in many cultures and society.
But if the gap is too big, such that one of the spouse is old enough to be the grandparent of the other, then a different tune is sung!
Most times, when people can really see past the physical bodies to be joined in love, it is an admirable thing. But we are all only human. And human nature is cruel.
Only time will really tell if this union is really forged in love or not.
@spiderlizard22 (3444)
• United States
30 Sep 07
I didn't think anyone especially men would have Gerontophilia. I find it surpising. If I didn't know any better I say that article is a lie. It seems to defy the laws of logic. First its chubby chasers, now its gerontophile what's next? zoophile?
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Oct 07
Like I said, it is all a matter of upbringing.
Where I am from, such relationships would be frowned upon. And the couple would be ostracized!
That is why I am amazed that such a union can take place.
Ah well, takes all sorts of people to make up this world!
@skeen1981 (54)
• Australia
30 Sep 07
I think that it is shocking, what would a 24 year old man want with an 82 year old? what are they going to do for fun? actually i dont want to think about that!
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Oct 07
ha ha ha... I never really brought myself to think that far.
What they do for fun is really none of our business. It is something special between the bride and the groom, regardless of who the couple is and the news will never report such stuff unless the couple wants them to.
So, it is up to your imagination.
Not my cup of tea to do that though! :p
@twilight_75 (479)
•
30 Sep 07
she's old enough to be his great great grandmother. I myself am with a younger man, 10 years between us and i worry about that alot. I know lots of men find older women appealing, more experienced more confidence etc but this age 'gulf' is so huge that i can't help wonder if it's more a disturbing dependancy than a romantic union.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
1 Oct 07
those are my exact thoughts when i read the news article.
if the age gap is smaller, I guess it is not such a big deal that it has to be reported in the news.
I have friends and relatives who have spouses that are about 10 years apart and living very harmoniously together. And when they go out, the age gap is not so obvious that would arouse stares of disapproval.
Which makes this union between a virile young man of 24 with an old lady of 82 such news. no?
@lgwlong (199)
• China
30 Sep 07
it have beyong all my imagination ,i can accept the truth : younger guy marry a elder woman ,but the bride can be brideroom's grandmather ,it is hard to believe to me
