One of the big liberating experiences of the internet age is that practically everyone can access vast and possibly unbiased knowledge and information.

In the pre-internet age, my buddies and I created a close-knit coterie of fellow college students and few other men of our peer group to facilitate easy sexual encounters. Hardly anyone dared to venture beyond our self-imposed limits. We knew that 'older guys' were obviously interested but we mostly shunned them out of fear that they would abuse us simply because they had more experience, cash, were better networked, etc. The risks were simply too high even for the few guys who were showing some interest in 'older men'. No one has ever reported anything positive about intergenerational dating, and the few stories we heard in our time and day invariably featured an abusive older top who was 'buying' younger dude's favors.

This did not sound too attractive to most of us.

With the onset of the internet age with its massive information exchange, a far more precise image of the intergenerational dating emerged. Sure, some 'older' guys are still preying on the inexperience, lack of funds, lack of functioning social environment, etc.. But as it turned out, a big number of 'older guys' were actually supportive, caring, good providers or simply basically correct mates happy to enjoy a romp in the hay with some or no strings attached.

I am not saying that the internet has brought about a landslide change in the attitudes of young gay men. I have little doubt that most college guys still look for other college guys or dudes in their peer group to hook up with, date, start relationships, etc..

But the intergenerational alternative is visible and present in the lives of many men of all age groups.

The stigma attached to dating older men as in, 'you are whoring yourself for the gifts, money and travel' has been fading away.

I have come across a number of young(er) dudes who, while still playing in the gay/bi mainstream admit to having a daddy on the side. There is a rising societal acceptance to this arrangement in a number of European countries, where a degree of consensus has been reached that your sex life is really your business, and that you should be doing what you feel is right for you.

KD

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