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: Begging the Question

ThunderCats!

By "Milbarge" and "Fitz-Hume"

What defines a "cougar"?  This discussion came up at work.  We (a mixed-gender group of varying ages) came up with something of a formula that defines the cougar parameters.

One person suggested if a woman is 10 years or more older than the guy, she is a per se cougar.  (pedophiles excluded)

Another proposed that as both parties get older, the age difference can be somewhat greater without it being cougar-y anymore.  So, if the lady is 65 and dating a guy who's 54, it's not real cougar-y.  Basically, you can "age out" of cougar-ism.

Someone else said that the bigger the age difference, the higher the cougar factor goes up.  So there might be some leeway for a 38 and 28 year old couple, but 42 and 28 was definitely cougar country.  The old "I know it when I see it" standard.

Finally, there was a general agreement that a cougar must be 35 years or older.  Basically, you can't be a cougar if you're not yet 35, even if the guy is 10 years younger.

Okay, so maybe this discussion didn't just arise out of a normal conversation.  Basically, I was told today that I am of cougar age.  !!!  I wasn't as shocked by the implication that I was not even completely divorced and people thought that I was already stalking much younger men (which isn't the case at all) as I was that I was now "old" and basically a per se cougar. : /  I had a hard time processing this, so I took it to the office floor for general discussion and debate.

My conclusion was that, to be on the safe side, I should just always date someone slightly older or slightly younger than me.   Or declare myself a spinster.  I've already got two cats, just gotta add a few dozen more.  I guess I could become a nun, but I'm not so great at singing or wearing long dresses or anything else nun-ish.  Guess I'm just going to have to live with being feline (a cougar) or with multiple felines (crazy cat lady).

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Full post as published by Begging the Question on March 19, 2010 (boomark / email).