I am judging from today's sensibilities, but it didn't see like enough of a gap for the early 70's either. People aren't that much different between age 26 and 33, to the extent that they showed it. I won't even say it's "dated" since it seemed odd then too.
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Wrong again, simpleton. It wasn't the fact that there was a 7 year age difference between Mary and the guy. But the fact that Mary's way of life and his way of life were so different. "Drinking wine from a paper cup!" Age was only an incidental factor. Don't talk about what you don't know.
shareExactly. And I'm sorry, since women typically mature faster than men ANYWAY, a 33-year-old-woman is often EONS more mature than a 26-year-old guy.
Again, certainly not across all guys, but, most. And in that episide, that guy might as,well have been a freshman in college....he acted like one, and his apartment was like that of one.
'Exactly. And I'm sorry, since women typically mature faster than men ANYWAY, a 33-year-old-woman is often EONS more mature than a 26-year-old guy'.
'Again, certainly not across all guys, but, most.'
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That is not mostly generally true; it depends on the individual after a certain age. But, as usual, you're writing sexist comments about men as you do on many boards, due to your personal issues. On EONS of boards. The other posters on this board are not aware of them. You just write these erroneous anti-male sentiments more politely on the MTM board.
That is not most generally true.
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No. Despite your appalling grammar, it is most certainly absolutely true. Did you get an 'F-' in 7th grade biology or something? Girls can begin to get their period as early as ages 9-11, whereas boys don't usually begin puberty until much later. How have you made it this far in life and yet remained unaware of these very basic, unchangeable rules of human biology?
How far in adolescence have YOU made it through? Have your balls descended yet? I didn't think so.
Yes it's true that girls mature faster than boys as children and into the teen years, but once past the early 20s there is no advance maturity of girls either physically or mentally. Have you taken anything beyond an intro psychology class because even in your statement you are talking about kids not adults. Also by the way girls getting their period before the age of 11 does happen, but is very rare. The average age is 12-13 when breast development has begun later if breast development has not begun.
shareYes it's true that girls mature faster than boys as children and into the teen years, but once past the early 20s there is no advance maturity of girls either physically or mentally.
Ironic that Mary Tyler Moore has been married for over thirty years to a man 17 years her junior.
I'm not crying, you fool, I'm laughing!
Hewwo.
"Ironic that Mary Tyler Moore has been married for over thirty years to a man 17 years her junior."
Yeah, but I don't think Dr Levine drinks wine out of paper cups or throws parties with left over hippies.
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked.
they (or at least she) simply had an instant physical attraction but they have nothing in common and they clash badly socially, mary is portrayed as a professional thirty something who maintains an apartment, new car (recent purchase in episode sequence), nice clothes (a lot of evan picone, etc.), twice weekly hair appointments & manicures, pedicures, pays her bills promptly etc. the list is endless to represent their different lifestyles, not to mention the circle of friends, co-workers, acquaintances and contacts she has, he at 25, dresses like he's 17, has a few dead beat friends, a ratty apartment he shares, has tacky kegger style partys and he's attending some college courses - they have no future :)
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they're in different groups, she's won ''teddy awards'' (shows equivalent to emmy awards), entertains and cocktails with congress women, mayors, president & mrs. ford, walter cronkite, johnny carson and goes on a date or two with the actor from THAT GIRL, etc. etc. etc. it's endless like the chances they'd have of being a couple ... not so much the age really. jmo. :)
shareThe 7 year age gap wasn't important in and of itself - it was simply the rationale the writers chose that week for why Mary couldn't stay attached to her boyfriend-of-the-week.
Don't get me wrong - Mary Tyler Moore was one of the best-written shows of that era. Simply the fact that most of the jokes would be identifiable as jokes even without a laugh-track puts it head-and-shoulders above other 70s fare such as The Brady Bunch.
However, one concession the MTM writers had to make to the conventions of the day was to have more or less every episode follow a general template:
1. Mary meets a new guy.
2. Mary and/or her friends, co-workers, and pretty much everyone else decides this is THE guy for Mary.
3. SOMETHING turns up to derail the guy's status as THE guy for Mary (too short, can't get along with Rhoda, can't stay away from Rhoda, etc). For this particular episode, it was that the guy was too young.
4. After beating around the bush, Mary and the guy finally air their grievances. Mary gains new wisdom on the subject of men - but nonetheless returns to single life for at least another week.
5. (Step 5 actually occurs randomly within each episode) At some point someone proclaims that Mary is the most beautiful, vivacious, irresistible woman in the universe - so why oh why can't she find a steady dude? (Personally, I think the writers always threw that in there so Mary Tyler Moore would keep using their scripts).
It really wasn't the age difference. They just needed something to keep Mary single for another week.
The plot device you're referring to with the 7 yr age difference only seemed askew based on the fact that 7 yrs between people of that age (26/33yrs old) is not usually significant. The real issue was that Mary and the man were very different, which could have been realistic even without the age difference.
shareThe real issue was that Mary and the man were very different.
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I'm not sure what to think about this one. I guess I should be pleased that Inherently Yours is able to offer a plausible solution for SimpleMindedSociety's absurd dilemma.
I suppose I should say nicely done.
I disagree. First of all, women mature faster than men. Secondly, the
difference in maturity between someone in their mid-twenties and early-to-
mid 30s can be quite profound. He seemed very immature, while Mary was
very MATURE. The age difference DID matter in this instance.
That was my point all along, the actual age difference, but I gave up on the thread. I was solely questioning the age difference in relation >>to the plot device. Even a plot device needs to be based in reality. This is one prissy board.
Lucille Ball was 6 years older than Desi Arnaz, but they had a hard time admitting this in public. She'd shave a few years off her age and he'd add a few to his. Even as of the early 70s, it was unusual (in my experience) to see couples where the woman was more than a year or two older than the man. Not at all unusual in the other direction (and even much larger age gaps).
shareWhat do you mean the Arnaz's had a hard time admitting it, the public knew their birthdates. Desi Arnaz was not too immature for Lucy due to the 6 yr age difference, was he.
I'm in my 30s and the thought of dating a 20 something makes me cringe...most just want to drink, party, and have a good time and aren't stable and don't have jobs or money..nothing wrong with enjoying your 20s but I'd never want that for myself.
shareI'm in my 30s and the thought of dating a 20 something makes me cringe...most just want to drink, party, and have a good time and aren't stable and don't have jobs or money..nothing wrong with enjoying your 20s but I'd never want that for myself.Cringe? Do you know most 20 somethings? Many of those 20yr olds are more mature (loss coddled) than 30-somethings. That's interesting. A significant other having a job and money is your priority, naturally.