Too young for love?

[Wolfram22]

I just want people's opinions here. Can someone be too young for romantic love? I know that I'm only sixteen, but I am absolutely sure that I love my girlfriend.

[Nicole!]

I said no. Although obviously 6 year olds cannot comprehend what love is, I think 16 is old enough. Some couples who begin dating while in their teenage years believe they are in love and end up together for a long time. I think if you know in your heart that you are in love, then it is true.

[Aletheia*]

I voted yes. I honestly believe that some people are just TOO young for love. Why? Love is often confused with lust. Lust is the first stage of a relationship, an infatuation if you will. I hate when the word love gets "thrown" around when some people can't even describe what it means (And, I know everyone has a different definition for it). I just can't say no because I can't see a 12 or 13 year old being "in love".

[Incompris]

I said "yes" because you have to reach a certain level of maturity before you can comprehend what "real love" is. Some people hit that at 14, other's don't until they are 25. It's different for everyone.

[Akito]

I agree with Nicole. Young children aside, love can come or manifest at any age. It is entirely possible to fall in love at the age of sixteen, although it is not an absolute.

[PSY]

I said yes - but I want to elaborate on my answer. There isn't a set age where you become capable of romantic love (I specify "romantic" love because I believe it's entirely possible for children to experience "familial" love with a parent). You become capable of romantic love once you have reached a certain point in your emotional/mental development... and generally, that doesn't happen until you have reached an older adolescent or young adult age. Prior to that, you're simply too self-absorbed to participate in a true exchange of romantic love. I don't say that to be mean - but it's a fact, children are self-absorbed! They focus on their own needs and can't see things from another person's perspective. That's something you develop with time and experience. So do I think it's possible for a person to be too young for romantic love? Yes, but it's not based strictly on age. It's based on the attributes you develop as you grow older, and that age will be different for everyone.

[Revolution]

Yes, but it's a maturity thing, it's not a set age. I know people who are in their early teens who have been in love, and I know people in their twenties who are still immature to have a real, romantic, love filled relationship. My example, my former best friend says she's been in love, like ten times, with half of the relationships she's been with, and I don't really think she was in love with most of the men she was with, but rather in dependence, in lust, or an unhealthy infatuation. It's not really about age, but I used young in a more broad sense meaning maturity.

[Childish Giggle]

^ agree with Traci totally! I have seen people who at the age of 50 can't handle relationships.

[Illuminate]

I voted No.
Children grow up feeling love. They grow to love thier parents and friends and family. There's a film of my sister showing my mum just how much she loved her by stretching her arms as wide as possible. She's only 4 in the video.
Everyone can love, no matter what their age.

[Shawn K.]

I vote yes, but really agree that it's age as it relates to maturity and experience. I'm learning that being in love with a girl at my age is way more involved than it looks: For me:

Does she feel the same way, how do I look today, who's she talking to, she facebooked another dude, her friend said something about me, my friend said something about her; somebody said take it slow, somebody else said step to her before somebody else does; what do I wear today; i got her number, now what; was what I just said stupid; what happens if she wants to make out.

I'm known as a dude that has no problem talking to girls. I've gone out on "dates" since 7th grade. Dudes come to me for advice all the time. Throw love in the mix and I'm a f**king idiot.

If you don't have the maturity and experience to deal with complicated things because of your age, then you can be too young for love. People are different. But for me, I might be too young.