As a female who was a teen in the mid-70s it was considered in appropriate. Many females here have agreed. As a mother, the most I would have tolerated in terms of dating age span for my daughter as a teenager was about 2 years.
Not saying Moore had any intention of taking advantage. But IMHO it looks bad, and I find it tiring that people defend it...
Maybe it was OK in the 70s in rural Alabama, but Gadsden was not rural, it is County Seat and had over 50,000 people living there then. Moore was a West Point Grad and practicing professional—not an Appalachian hillbilly. It was not wise then, not wise now. And if my single son who is now 32 was looking for 17-18 year old girls to dates, I would not be particularly happy or encouraging it.
In my circles in the 70s and now, it would totally inappropriate for a man 15 years older to date a 17 year old. Also inappropriate for them to have dated my 17-year old daughter. Frankly my parents would have thought a suitor that old was trying to take advantage of me in the 70s (younger tried...), & I would have thought the same for my daughter in the 2000s.
As people age, the span is less important, but as teens there is a world of difference and frankly many 17-year olds go thought a lot of changes between 17 and 32.
Not saying he did anything illegal or that it should be held against him 40 years later, I just don’t think the behavior should be defended as common or appropriate.
Guess we will agree to disagree
Sorry for typos—did not sleep well ;(
My daughter was 21 and she dated a 31 year old guy. My daughter was in college and just getting her act together. The guy was a nice earnest guy, but he just could not get his shit together. Holding my tongue was tough.
I thought that most 31 year olds would not find much in common with a 21 year old.
Thankfully she realized he was a dope.