[HPFGU-OTChatter] Strange SHIPs

[bloubet at incanmonkey.com]

Matilda Trelawney said:

>>Well there's no need for everyone to get in a snit about it. I'm basing this on most of the men I've known. I'm sure there are exceptions, much like your aunts. I was referring to the stereotype. Stereotype's aren't just pulled out of thin air, you know. They are what commonly occours with a type of people, in this particular situation, men.
But aren't we getting a little off topic? The original conversation was why Minerva and Severus shouldn't be together. I really didn't mean to get all these people infuriated with me because of my own thoughts and opinions, and I'm sorry if you felt I was claiming that 70 year old women and 40 year old men just SHOULDN'T be together. I was just saying that Minerva/Severus don't seem like a particularly 'cute' couple, and I was only talking about Minerva/Severus parings, not every couple similar to the 'woman is older then the man' relationship.<<

Matilda Trelawney <linkajarjarbinks at y...> wrote:

> 3. As a guy, I'm sure you'll agree with me that men don't like
to 'date' or have romantic relationships with women who are 30 years
older then them. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I never thought 40
year old men found 70 year old women attractive.<

Me (Bel):
No snit here. Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion. As I originally stated, I was just curious, because the age difference seemed to bother you for Minerva and Severus, but not for Hermione and Severus (who are approximately the same number of years apart).

I am curious as to where you got the impression that younger women like older men, but younger men don't like older women. I've dated men as much as 8 years younger than I am with no problem, and I have friends married to men 10-15 years younger. <shrug> I do admit, however, that, as I said before, there does seem to be much more acceptance in society for a 50-year-old man with a 25-year-old woman than there is for a couple with the ages reversed. Maybe it hearkens back to our tribal origins and biological imperatives -- men of any age can still breed, but only younger women can bear children. Hence, it's acceptable for men of any age to be with younger women, but older women (non-breeders) shouldn't be taking younger, virile men out of the breeding population. (Is my anthropology degree showing? <grin>)

I'm also curious where you got the impression that I'm a guy. <grin> (At least, I THINK that was the implication in number 3 above.) Definitely female. Over 40, and happily accepting applications for romance from any males age 21-60. No age discrimination here. <VBG>

To bring it back in line, I originally questioned your statements because you were seeming to use age difference and house affiliation as your reasons for heartily disliking Minerva/Severus shipping, yet were seeming to ignore the exact same differences (age and house) between Hermione and Severus. I wanted to discuss the two ships further to see why exactly the differences bothered you in one case but not the other. In general, BOTH ships don't work for me. But then, I'm not sure WHO I'd pair with Severus. <grin> While I can sort of understand the attraction to him, he just doesn't ring my bell. It would have to be someone who could sympathize with him without being soft about it, and who wouldn't take his sharp tongue personally. Hmmm -- maybe Hooch? <grin>

bel