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Bruce Willis' character Paul: Massive hypocrite?

posted 4 years ago by hans (68)
9 replies | jump to latest

Rewatching the episodes that he's in, I think it's weird nobody mentions how huge of a hypocrite he is. He dislikes Ross for dating Elizabeth, mainly because he's 12 years older. Fair enough, thats his daughter. Hes going to be protective. But he makes multiple jokes about the age difference, saying Ross can't get a girlfriend his own age. But then....he dates Rachel, who HE is much older than.

I really wish someone had brought this up. Either to Paul himself, or just to Ross as a way to say how unfair Paul is being. Bruce Willis is 14 years older than Jennifer Aniston. We know Rachel was under 30, probably 28 or 29. Elizabeth is 20. And we know Paul had Elizabeth when he was very young, so let's just say 18. So at the very least, Paul is 38 in the episodes he's in, he's around 10 years older than Rachel. Maybe even more, since if he was 20 or 21 when he had Elizabeth, he'd still be very young.

So yeah, just surprised when I did the math that Paul is literally around the same amount of years older to Rachel than Ross is to Elizabeth. And its weird its never pointed out by anyone.

[–] BillySlater (4241) 4 years ago

I noticed that too. I don´t think the age difference ever really bothered him, I just think it was an excuse to be a jerk to Ross.

[–] Hans-Wilhelm (1359) 4 years ago

People can be hypocrites with their own kids. Just because you do something doesn't mean you want that for your kids.

[–] PaladinNJ (21525) 4 years ago

He didn't want Ross dating HIS daughter. He didn't mind doing it himself with someone else's daughter.

[–] sut6432 (2908) 4 years ago

I personally don’t care one way or the other. I thought it made for some funny episodes. But there’s a counter point I could post that makes sense to why Paul was upset:

Ross was a college professor and Elizabeth’s teacher. She probably couldn’t even drink yet. There is a difference dating someone that young as opposed to just standard age difference in my opinion. Rachel is also a grown adult approaching 30.

[–] hans (68) 4 years ago

I agree and understand about Ross being her professor, but he also wasn't anymore. I think that makes a big difference. He couldn't be using his position as her professor to influence her at all. When they started dating, they were just two adults who previously had a "professional" relationship. I understand why Paul wouldn't like that, like I said in another reply he doesn't actually mention Ross being her professor until he uses it to threaten to get him fired. He seems more bothered by the age difference. And in Paul's own words, why can't he get a woman his own age? Why is he still single after 20 years?

[–] Zinger (2365) 4 years ago

There's a big difference between 18 and 30 and 30 and 42.

[–] CharlotteXavier (2357) 4 years ago

Ross was also Elizabeth’s professor, so dating her is considered unethical by many people, which is why it was against the rules.

My high school art teacher had a thing for students. He married one, put her through college, and she divorced him. I had a guidance counsellor who told me something about it and she jokingly told me me to ask him how his wife was. He said: “ex.”

The teacher had made a really inappropriate remark to me about my sister that I didn’t understand: “she has a body that won’t quit” is what he said, which was basically a comment on her large breasts. So I asked the counsellor what it meant. She should have reported him.

What a creep. He would get fired for that today.

[–] hans (68) 4 years ago

I agree Ross being her professor was the problem, but thats a lot different than a high school teacher and a student. Ross wasn't Elizabeth's professor anymore. Its not like he could use her, promise her good grades in exchange for sleeping with him. Once the class ended, they had no "professional" relationship anymore.

And to me, Paul didn't seem to focus on the professor student relationship. He only mentions it because he can get Ross fired. He seems to care most about the age difference.

[–] CharlotteXavier (2357) 4 years ago

Oh right, I forgot that he was no longer her professor.

I agree with everything you say, but imo it is a bigger deal to date a 20 year old with that age difference than a 28 year old.

I didn’t care much for the Paul character. I’m neutral on Bruce Willis. I just didn’t get one laugh out of his lines. There were so many funnier guest stars.