When Sarah Harris went in for surgery to remove her wisdom teeth in the summer of 2020, she must have thought she was in good hands. The oral surgeon she chose, Dr. James Ryan, had years of training, a good reputation and a thriving practice near her Washington, D.C.-area home. As a new patient at 23, she may never have dreamed he’d allegedly watched her when she was just 14. And Ryan would do more than take out Sarah’s teeth. Her family says he would take her self-control and eventually take her life.

  • Doomsider@lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    In this case it is not a normal relationship. The person who is love bombing is not being genuine. They are manipulating someone to get what they want.

    50 year olds pursuing 20 year olds is not common and definitely is creepy when it happens.

    • fine_sandy_bottom@lemmy.federate.cc
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      2 hours ago

      That’s subjective.

      If you have a narrow definition of a “normal relationship” then sure, anything else is creepy and weird and someone must be manipulating someone.

      I’m sorry to inform you that there are a great many 50 year olds who would absolutely party with 23 year olds given the means. In fact I would suggest that almost all sexually active 50 year olds, who are free of romantic entanglement would knock on that door. Fewer would be interested in setting up a long term committed relationship, but still a significant portion. Bars and brothels and strip clubs are full to the brim with these “abnormals” every night of the week.

      Actually, there are a great many cultures in which this type of age disparity is the norm. I’m certainly not arguing that it’s ideal or even “better” than your definition of a “normal relationship”, just demonstrating that your views are indeed subjective.

      It’s really only creepy if the 23 year old doesn’t appreciate the attention, or doesn’t reciprocate, or is manipulated.

      Yes it would be possible for a 50 year old to manipulate a 23 year old with lavish gifts. It’s also possible for a 23 year old to manipulate a 23 year old with lavish gifts. It’s also possible for a 23 year old to manipulate a 50 year old into giving them lavish gifts. It’s also possible for a 50 year old to simply want to impress the object of his desires with nice things.

      It’s absolutely fine for you to find the age disparity creepy. It’s also absolutely fine for others to engage in this type of relationship.