Since a number of people seem to be arguing a "black & white" age appropriateness of relationships

[Godhumor]

Go back to the old "Divide your age in half and add seven rule". So an 18 year old should be OK dating a 16 year old.

edit for inappropriate snarkiness. 4 years means a whole lot different depending on how old the couple is, but there should be some qualifying factors, I think, for high school relationships--i.e. a senior dating a freshman.

If you don't believe the rule exists, just start typing divide your age by 2 into google it will helpfully show it to you.

[XemaSab]

1. So a 10-year-old

could be banging a 14-year-old?

[Godhumor]

4. Heh, almost added the young age qualifier

It only works from 14 (where it returns an equal value) up.

Though it does get a bit creepy in extreme old age, too.

[WinkyDink]

2. Never heard of that "rule". Don't get your "outrage" point.

[Godhumor]

3. It is a real thing, actually

And my outrage point is more the idea of trying to quantify a 4 year age gap working on a sliding scale.

Essentially 4 years is nothing if you're in your 30s but can be huge in your teens. The divide and add rule attempts to correct for that.