Yup... a number of Thai young men have told me their own theory about why they like older men is that their fathers were absent/philandering/unaffectionate. This plays a little bit too much into the "absent father" myth about homosexuality in the West, but it may have a grain of truth to it.

I've heard of some study which said that Asians in Western countries do not share this proclivity for older partners, but then the study did not (to my recall) check whether those Asians had actually grown up in Asian countries or not. And I've known a number of older-farang younger-Asian pairings in the U.S. and U.K. as well.

"Steven"

Steven, that is probably so true...I myself have always preferred the company of much older men as lovers. I have never ruled out having someone around my age as my lover but my preference is definitely for older men. My present boyfriend is also a lot older than me. And...I had never been close to my father...we didn't have any 'bonding' or anything like that, so what you wrote could be true for me too

Regards,

Jem

Dear Aussiefella

I am also from Australia and I have been to Thailand many times.

I have had two really good boy friends over the years, and yes they

were younger than me.

I fail to see why a gay person with a younger lover is any more a dirty

old man , (to use a more polite terminology than you used) than a older tourist with a younger woman.

I loved my boy friends very sincerely and I always treated them with respect and helped them both in a financial as well as being their friend.

From the early Greek times to today, good relationships have developed regardless of age.

The only thing I draw the line at is, not to be involved with any person below the legal age.

If you do , have under age boys you deserve to be put in some establishement such as the Bangkok Hilton!! or worse, and there is no need, as there are some great meeting places in Thailand for gay people to start a realtionship with a boy friend -who is not a money boy over the legal age.

So brighten up Aussie fella as an older person I know what fun I get from travelling and enjoying a young guy, and I mean not just for sex!!

Pedroau[/b][/color][/color]

Thanks, Jemjem! Good to hear from both sides, I think.

"Steven"

Don't want to be beating a dead horse, but thought I'd mention that I know of at least one 60-something yo who's been offered money by 20-something yo Thais to go with them when he wasn't particularly interested in doing it for fun. That's right, the younger Thais offered the older farang money.

Young Thais aren't all poor. Old guys aren't universally undesirable. And I think anyone who wants to tell someone who's THIRTY that they know his interests better than he does should go ahead and try- yeah- go out to some of these bars where you'll see a 30yo Thai sitting with his 50yo boyfriend, and TELL the Thai he shouldn't be dating such an old guy. Do it in the nasty condescending way you like to do it here, where you feel safe 'cause you're anonymous cowards. I just hope I'm there to see the aftermath.

As a "punch"line, I've been told by Thais in their early twenties that I'm just not old enough yet (I'm in my mid thirties).

"Steven"

For those who raised an eyebrow, this happened also to me...43 years old...

How does 38-68 grab you?? My Thai thinks any guy his age or younger are just twits!! He can admire male beauty of his age or younger and does admire many younger sports heroes, but in reality, he prefers them much older.

Three years of communal bliss backs it up and we are monogamous.

And 21 - 52 works for me/us too...

My Thai bf (of 21) has always dated older men... by choice, not necessity. He is extremely beautiful (not just imho) with a dazzling smile, and could attract almost anyone he chose... He likes them for their stability, confidence, maturity, life-skills, lover-skills, patience, good heart......

And yes, he wasn't close to his father.. either.

ChrisP