weird stuff

[Bigdawg]

Two things that have come across as strange to me over that past decade. First of all is people going by their middle names. I moved to MD 11 years ago at age 43. Up until that point of my life I had maybe met 5 people who went by their middle name vice their given first name. In my 11 years in MD I have come across roughly 75 people (at least) that go by their middle name. Weird!

The other thing I have noticed that seems strange to me is relationships where the lady is older than the man. In the 3-4 hundred people I am friends/acquainted with I know 2-3 couples where the female is older than the male. I haven't taken a poll or checked to see if there was one on here but there seems to be many couple on ER.org where the DW is older than the DH.

I found the below data on google search.

Age difference Percentage of all married couples
Husband 20+ years older than wife
1.0
Husband 15–19 years older than wife
1.6
Husband 10–14 years older than wife
4.8
Husband 6–9 years older than wife
11.6
Husband 4–5 years older than wife
13.3
Husband 2–3 years older than wife
20.4
Husband and wife within 1 year
33.2
Wife 2–3 years older than husband
6.5
Wife 4–5 years older than husband
3.3
Wife 6–9 years older than husband
2.7
Wife 10–14 years older than husband
1.0
Wife 15–19 years older than husband
0.3
Wife 20+ years older than husband
0.3

 

[Nemo2]

The names and ages aside.....the thing I find weird is that someone could have 3-400 'friends'...wow.

 

[Boho]

Here are new stats for 2017. Skip to "Age Difference" in first column to see the lastest stats for what OP is talking about. This comes from this spreadsheet. For more 2017 stats see America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2017.

Table FG3. Married Couple Family Groups, by Presence of Own Children ¹ Under 18, and Age, Earnings, Education, and Race and Hispanic Origin ² of Both Spouses: 2017

(Numbers in thousands, except for percentages)

For more information about ASEC, including the source and accuracy statement, see the technical documentation accessible at: http://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/techdocs/cpsmar17.pdf

All Married Couples	All Married Couples		Without Own Children Under 18		With Own Children Under 18
	N	%	N	%	N	%
ALL MARRIED COUPLES	63,325	100.0	38,860	100.0	24,465	100.0
.AGE OF HUSBAND
..Under 20 years	52	0.1	41	0.1	11	0.0
..20-24 years	847	1.3	448	1.2	398	1.6
..25-29 years	3,002	4.7	1,326	3.4	1,677	6.9
..30-34 years	5,101	8.1	1,527	3.9	3,574	14.6
..35-39 years	6,128	9.7	1,210	3.1	4,919	20.1
..40-44 years	6,235	9.8	1,282	3.3	4,953	20.2
..45-49 years	6,437	10.2	2,238	5.8	4,199	17.2
..50-54 years	6,794	10.7	4,137	10.6	2,657	10.9
..55-64 years	13,267	21.0	11,540	29.7	1,728	7.1
..65-74 years	9,888	15.6	9,624	24.8	264	1.1
..75+ years	5,574	8.8	5,487	14.1	87	0.4
.AGE OF WIFE
..Under 20 years	80	0.1	50	0.1	30	0.1
..20-24 years	1,331	2.1	642	1.7	689	2.8
..25-29 years	4,113	6.5	1,669	4.3	2,443	10.0
..30-34 years	5,875	9.3	1,502	3.9	4,373	17.9
..35-39 years	6,463	10.2	1,060	2.7	5,403	22.1
..40-44 years	6,234	9.8	1,474	3.8	4,760	19.5
..45-49 years	6,903	10.9	2,974	7.7	3,929	16.1
..50-54 years	6,764	10.7	4,882	12.6	1,882	7.7
..55-64 years	13,150	20.8	12,393	31.9	757	3.1
..65-74 years	8,662	13.7	8,529	21.9	134	0.5
..75+ years	3,749	5.9	3,684	9.5	65	0.3
.AGE DIFFERENCE
..Husband 20+ years older than wife	655	1.0	395	1.0	260	1.1
..Husband 15-19 years older than wife	999	1.6	612	1.6	386	1.6
..Husband 10-14 years older than wife	3,154	5.0	1,937	5.0	1,217	5.0
..Husband 6-9 years older than wife	7,098	11.2	4,197	10.8	2,901	11.9
..Husband 4-5 years older than wife	8,127	12.8	5,057	13.0	3,070	12.5
..Husband 2-3 years older than wife	12,387	19.6	7,434	19.1	4,953	20.2
..Husband and wife within 1 year	21,448	33.9	13,164	33.9	8,284	33.9
..Wife 2-3 years older than husband	4,391	6.9	2,634	6.8	1,757	7.2
..Wife 4-5 years older than husband	2,154	3.4	1,403	3.6	750	3.1
..Wife 6-9 years older than husband	1,765	2.8	1,175	3.0	590	2.4
..Wife 10-14 years older than husband	679	1.1	508	1.3	171	0.7
..Wife 15-19 years older than husband	191	0.3	146	0.4	45	0.2
..Wife 20+ years older than husband	278	0.4	198	0.5	80	0.3
.RACE OF HUSBAND
..White alone - Non-Hispanic	44,355	70.0	29,305	75.4	15,050	61.5
..Black alone - Non-Hispanic	4,796	7.6	2,861	7.4	1,935	7.9
..Hispanic²	9,005	14.2	4,033	10.4	4,972	20.3
..All remaining single races and all race combinations, non-Hispanic	5,169	8.2	2,660	6.8	2,508	10.3
.RACE OF WIFE
..White alone - Non-Hispanic	43,686	69.0	28,855	74.3	14,831	60.6
..Black alone - Non-Hispanic	4,403	7.0	2,681	6.9	1,722	7.0
..Hispanic²	9,398	14.8	4,254	10.9	5,145	21.0
..All remaining single races and all race combinations, non-Hispanic	5,838	9.2	3,070	7.9	2,767	11.3
.RACE DIFFERENCE³
..Both White alone - not-Hispanic	41,466	65.5	27,719	71.3	13,746	56.2
..Both Black alone - not-Hispanic	4,095	6.5	2,519	6.5	1,576	6.4
..Both Hispanic	7,624	12.0	3,358	8.6	4,266	17.4
..Both Other alone or any combination - not-Hispanic	4,317	6.8	2,208	5.7	2,109	8.6
..Husband White alone - not Hisp., wife Black alone not-Hisp.	172	0.3	89	0.2	83	0.3
..Husband White alone - not Hisp., wife Hispanic	1,478	2.3	770	2.0	708	2.9
..Husband White alone not-Hisp., wife Other alone or any comb. not-Hisp.	1,239	2.0	727	1.9	512	2.1
..Husband Black alone not-Hisp., wife White alone not-Hisp.	409	0.6	190	0.5	219	0.9
..Husband Black alone not-Hisp., wife Hispanic	162	0.3	70	0.2	91	0.4
..Husband Black alone not-Hisp., wife Other alone or any comb. not-Hisp.	130	0.2	81	0.2	49	0.2
..Husband Hispanic, wife White alone not-Hisp.	1,147	1.8	576	1.5	570	2.3
..Husband Hispanic, wife Black alone not-Hisp.	82	0.1	45	0.1	38	0.2
..Husband Hispanic, wife Other alone or any comb. not-Hisp.	151	0.2	54	0.1	97	0.4
..Husband Other alone or any comb. not-Hisp., wife White alone not-Hisp.	664	1.0	369	1.0	295	1.2
..Husband Other alone or any comb. not-Hisp., wife Black alone not-Hisp.	53	0.1	27	0.1	26	0.1
..Husband Other alone or any comb. not-Hisp., wife Hispanic	134	0.2	55	0.1	79	0.3
.RACE OF HUSBAND
..White alone	52,612	83.1	33,038	85.0	19,574	80.0
..Black alone	5,088	8.0	2,991	7.7	2,097	8.6
..Asian alone	4,179	6.6	2,092	5.4	2,087	8.5
..All remaining single races and all race combinations	1,446	2.3	739	1.9	707	2.9
.RACE OF WIFE
..White alone	52,270	82.5	32,759	84.3	19,511	79.8
..Black alone	4,723	7.5	2,825	7.3	1,898	7.8
..Asian alone	4,760	7.5	2,461	6.3	2,300	9.4
..All remaining single races and all race combinations	1,571	2.5	815	2.1	756	3.1
.RACE DIFFERENCE⁴
..Both White alone	51,005	80.5	32,126	82.7	18,879	77.2
..Both Black alone	4,452	7.0	2,686	6.9	1,766	7.2
..Both Asian alone	3,919	6.2	1,983	5.1	1,935	7.9
..Both Other alone or any comb.	794	1.3	356	0.9	437	1.8
..Male White alone, female Black alone	205	0.3	104	0.3	101	0.4
..Male White alone, female Asian alone	738	1.2	417	1.1	321	1.3
..Male White alone, female Other alone or any comb.	665	1.0	391	1.0	273	1.1
..Male Black alone, female White alone	490	0.8	217	0.6	274	1.1
..Male Black alone, female Asian alone	55	0.1	33	0.1	22	0.1
..Male Black alone, female Other alone or any comb.	91	0.1	55	0.1	36	0.1
..Male Asian alone, female White alone	222	0.3	92	0.2	130	0.5
..Male Asian alone, female Black alone	17	0.0	5	0.0	12	0.0
..Male Asian alone, female Other alone or any comb.	22	0.0	12	0.0	10	0.0
..Male Other alone or any comb., female White alone	554	0.9	324	0.8	229	0.9
..Male Other alone or any comb., female Black alone	50	0.1	31	0.1	20	0.1
..Male Other alone or any comb., female Asian alone	49	0.1	27	0.1	21	0.1
.ORIGIN OF HUSBAND
..Non-Hispanic	54,320	85.8	34,827	89.6	19,494	79.7
..Hispanic²	9,005	14.2	4,033	10.4	4,972	20.3
.ORIGIN OF WIFE
..Non-Hispanic	53,927	85.2	34,606	89.1	19,320	79.0
..Hispanic²	9,398	14.8	4,254	10.9	5,145	21.0
.ORIGIN DIFFERENCE²
..Neither Hispanic	52,546	83.0	33,931	87.3	18,615	76.1
..Both Hispanic	7,624	12.0	3,358	8.6	4,266	17.4
..Male Hispanic, female not	1,380	2.2	675	1.7	705	2.9
..Female Hispanic, male not	1,774	2.8	896	2.3	878	3.6
.EDUCATION OF HUSBAND
..Not high school graduate	6,040	9.5	3,696	9.5	2,344	9.6
..High school graduate	17,525	27.7	11,601	29.9	5,924	24.2
..Some college	15,652	24.7	9,577	24.6	6,075	24.8
..Bachelor's degree or higher	24,108	38.1	13,986	36.0	10,122	41.4
.EDUCATION OF WIFE
..Not high school graduate	5,142	8.1	3,070	7.9	2,072	8.5
..High school graduate	16,829	26.6	11,970	30.8	4,860	19.9
..Some college	16,908	26.7	10,529	27.1	6,379	26.1
..Bachelor's degree or higher	24,445	38.6	13,291	34.2	11,154	45.6
.EDUCATION DIFFERENCE
..Neither has Bachelor's degree	31,891	50.4	20,762	53.4	11,129	45.5
..One has Bachelor's degree, other has less	14,315	22.6	8,918	22.9	5,397	22.1
..Both have Bachelor's degree or more	17,119	27.0	9,179	23.6	7,940	32.5
.PERSONAL EARNINGS OF HUSBAND
..Under $5,000 or loss	16,901	26.7	15,103	38.9	1,798	7.3
..$5,000 to $9,999	1,079	1.7	751	1.9	328	1.3
..$10,000 to $14,999	1,388	2.2	850	2.2	538	2.2
..$15,000 to $19,999	1,763	2.8	970	2.5	793	3.2
..$20,000 to $24,999	2,200	3.5	1,162	3.0	1,037	4.2
..$25,000 to $29,999	2,222	3.5	1,131	2.9	1,091	4.5
..$30,000 to $39,999	5,565	8.8	2,895	7.5	2,670	10.9
..$40,000 to $49,999	5,280	8.3	2,693	6.9	2,587	10.6
..$50,000 to $74,999	10,619	16.8	5,494	14.1	5,126	21.0
..$75,000 to $99,999	6,093	9.6	2,983	7.7	3,110	12.7
..$100,000 and over	10,214	16.1	4,827	12.4	5,387	22.0
.PERSONAL EARNINGS OF WIFE
..Under $5,000 or loss	27,061	42.7	18,777	48.3	8,284	33.9
..$5,000 to $9,999	2,019	3.2	1,068	2.7	951	3.9
..$10,000 to $14,999	2,630	4.2	1,443	3.7	1,187	4.9
..$15,000 to $19,999	2,697	4.3	1,459	3.8	1,238	5.1
..$20,000 to $24,999	3,068	4.8	1,722	4.4	1,347	5.5
..$25,000 to $29,999	2,733	4.3	1,677	4.3	1,057	4.3
..$30,000 to $39,999	5,570	8.8	3,262	8.4	2,308	9.4
..$40,000 to $49,999	4,480	7.1	2,471	6.4	2,009	8.2
..$50,000 to $74,999	6,726	10.6	3,544	9.1	3,182	13.0
..$75,000 to $99,999	3,071	4.8	1,664	4.3	1,406	5.7
..$100,000 and over	3,269	5.2	1,772	4.6	1,497	6.1
.PERSONAL EARNINGS DIFFERENCE
..Husband earns $50,000+ more	15,256	24.1	7,293	18.8	7,963	32.6
..Husband earns $30,000-$49,999 more	7,560	11.9	3,847	9.9	3,713	15.2
..Husband earns $10,000-$29,999 more	9,383	14.8	4,787	12.3	4,596	18.8
..Husband earns $5,000-$9,999 more	2,265	3.6	1,265	3.3	999	4.1
..Husband earns within $4,999 of wife	15,976	25.2	13,487	34.7	2,489	10.2
..Wife earns $5,000-$9,999 more	1,704	2.7	988	2.5	716	2.9
..Wife earns $10,000-$29,999 more	4,936	7.8	3,120	8.0	1,816	7.4
..Wife earns $30,000-$49,999 more	2,810	4.4	1,835	4.7	975	4.0
..Wife earns $50,000+ more	3,434	5.4	2,237	5.8	1,198	4.9

Footnotes:
1. Excludes ever-married children under 18 years.
2. Hispanics may be of any race.
3. "White" refers to Non-Hispanic White alone, "Black" to Non-Hispanic Black alone, and "Other" to Non-Hispanic Other alone or any race combination.
4. Race is regardless of Hispanic origin.
Source:
U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2017 Annual Social and Economic Supplement
Internet Release Date: November 2017

 

[Bigdawg]

The names and ages aside.....the thing I find weird is that someone could have 3-400 'friends'...wow.

"3-4 hundred people I am friends/acquainted with"

Hmm, I find it weird that you don't know, are friends with or are in some way shape or form associated with 300-400 people.

Or maybe you just happen to put on your grammar police hat today.

 

[harley]

Hmm, I find it weird that you don't know, are friends with or are in some way shape or form associated with 300-400 people.

Well, I certainly don't. I have 68 FB friends, and probably 1/3 of them are bands/musicians or interest groups who's feeds I follow on the rare occasion I sign on. Real friends and relations that I keep in real touch with (to the extent of knowing their spouse's age and whether they use their middle name) probably number less than 30. Of course, I am an introvert and really don't like or care about people very much.

The majority of people I associate with on a regular basis are on this board, and I only know a few of their real names. And unless they list it I have no idea of their ages.

 

[easysurfer]

Not picking on someone's height, but I find uncommon when seeing the wife taller than the husband. Like with Nicole Kidman with both Tom Cruise, then Keith Urban.

 

[Nemo2]

"3-4 hundred people I am friends/acquainted with"

Hmm, I find it weird that you don't know, are friends with or are in some way shape or form associated with 300-400 people.

Or maybe you just happen to put on your grammar police hat today.

No grammar police....it's just that I'm an anonymous individual that everyone hates.

(But I am a 4.8%'er.)

 

[grasshopper]

Back in Maryland in the 70's I had 3 other roomies that all went by their middle name. I went by my initials no first name. My BIL came to a party at our home once and asked about me by my given name and no one knew who I was.

 

[tmm99]

Not picking on someone's height, but I find uncommon when seeing the wife taller than the husband. Like with Nicole Kidman with both Tom Cruise, then Keith Urban.

Nicole Kidman is almost 6ft. so if she tried to find someone taller, it would definitely limit her pick.

 

[prudent_one]

I have a childhood friend who was badly behaved when much younger, he now goes by his middle name after moving to a new town. His new friends, neighbors and co-workers can't find his earlier misdeeds if they decide to research him on the internet. Maybe that's a thing these days.

 

[Mr. Tightwad]

I'm 6'1". The women I date are always shorter.
I'm white. 99% of the women I date are Latina.
I'm 57. I've dated as much as 35 years younger than me, and as little as 17 years (My current GF). I have never been attracted to older women.

And by the word "date" I mean the modern dating. When I was young, dating meant taking her out, courtship, etc. Dating has evolved to what many call "Netflix and chill" ( I dislike the term). Basically hanging out, movies, etc, but none of the wining and dining from the old days. Yesterday was a trip to Costco (we got to enter without waiting in line due to her being in healthcare, that was a first for me), a movie, a walk, etc. It was my turn to pay for the to go food. But my point is, blowing all that dough on "dating" is mostly extinct. I blew a lot of dough in my 20's, regretfully.

 

[pdxgal]

Not picking on someone's height, but I find uncommon when seeing the wife taller than the husband. Like with Nicole Kidman with both Tom Cruise, then Keith Urban.

IMO that IS pretty unusual. Several reasons: 1) statistically many men are taller than women, 2) some men aren't comfortable being shorter than a female partner due to emotional insecurity or other reasons, 3) some women aren't comfortable with being with a shorter man.

My sister and I both got husbands shorter than us My sister's DHis younger, too.

 

[Amethyst]

Well, if a woman is even somewhat taller than average, and wears any kind of heels, she is automatically taller than an awful lot of men. And the funny thing is, shorter men seem to love tall women.

It always seemed to me that the taller men went for quite small women (I always thought, naughtily, of a Great Dane going after a Chihuahua, and wondered how they managed).

Not picking on someone's height, but I find uncommon when seeing the wife taller than the husband. Like with Nicole Kidman with both Tom Cruise, then Keith Urban.

 

[harley]

I'm 57. I've dated as much as 35 years younger than me

I hope that's only been in the past 5 or so years.

 

[W2R]

Two things that have come across as strange to me over that past decade. First of all is people going by their middle names. [...]

The other thing I have noticed that seems strange to me is relationships where the lady is older than the man.

MIDDLE NAME: F is a widower and his wife died over two decades ago, about a year before we met. She had the same first name as me. So, I have always gone by my middle name for his extended family and for him, to avoid confusion. Everyone else calls me by my first name.

AGE: I am six years older than F (and around five inches taller than him, although I know you didn't ask). This hasn't been a big deal to us or anybody else.

 

[Mr. Tightwad]

I hope that's only been in the past 5 or so years.

When I wrote that I wondered if I should clarify that. Absolutely. Last 4 years actually.

 

[f35phixer]

Two things that have come across as strange to me over that past decade. First of all is people going by their middle names. I moved to MD 11 years ago at age 43. Up until that point of my life I had maybe met 5 people who went by their middle name vice their given first name. In my 11 years in MD I have come across roughly 75 people (at least) that go by their middle name. Weird!

The other thing I have noticed that seems strange to me is relationships where the lady is older than the man. In the 3-4 hundred people I am friends/acquainted with I know 2-3 couples where the female is older than the male. I haven't taken a poll or checked to see if there was one on here but there seems to be many couple on ER.org where the DW is older than the DH.

I found the below data on google search.

Age difference Percentage of all married couples
Husband 20+ years older than wife
1.0
Husband 15–19 years older than wife
1.6
Husband 10–14 years older than wife
4.8
Husband 6–9 years older than wife
11.6
Husband 4–5 years older than wife
13.3
Husband 2–3 years older than wife
20.4
Husband and wife within 1 year
33.2
Wife 2–3 years older than husband
6.5
Wife 4–5 years older than husband
3.3
Wife 6–9 years older than husband
2.7
Wife 10–14 years older than husband
1.0
Wife 15–19 years older than husband
0.3
Wife 20+ years older than husband
0.3

You are in SOUTHERN MD Dawg, it’s the locals probably!!!! yes we have 3-5 hundred acquaintance where we both work Dawg!!!! Hope you are well and safe, I have been teleworking for month, suxs.

 

[Stormy Kromer]

I believe the use of the middle name is a regional thing, being much more common the further south you go in the US.


DW is 4 years older than me. I was almost 30 when we met, I think the age gap between couples narrows as you age and people are getting married at a later age these days.

 

[LRDave]

I am 21 months older than DW. So which group do we belong in?? seems like the 1-2 years difference group is missing.

 

[UnrealizedPotential]

Maybe in MD some parents give their children weird names and so when those children grow up to become adults they choose the most tolerable of those names and then go by that.

 

[eytonxav]

I'm 6'1". The women I date are always shorter.
I'm white. 99% of the women I date are Latina.
I'm 57. I've dated as much as 35 years younger than me, and as little as 17 years (My current GF). I have never been attracted to older women.

Do you ever ask yourself if they are attracted to you or your money

 

[Mr. Tightwad]

Do you ever ask yourself if they are attracted to you or your money

It's a little of both. But if I don't spend any money on them regardless of what attracts them, I don't see any problem with that.

Current Gf makes 3x what I make but has 1/4 the net worth. But she is an outlier, the rest didn't have 2 nickels to rub together.

 

[Nemo2]

2 nickels to rub together.

I've always wondered about that practice.

 

[USGrant1962]

I believe the use of the middle name is a regional thing, being much more common the further south you go in the US.


DW is 4 years older than me. I was almost 30 when we met, I think the age gap between couples narrows as you age and people are getting married at a later age these days.

I observed in the South it is common for boys to be named after dad and use their middle name to avoid confusion. Beats "Junior".

 

[Nemo2]

I observed in the South it is common for boys to be named after dad and use their middle name to avoid confusion. Beats "Junior".

I was named after my father, and as a small kid I'd hate it when adults referred to me, in my presence, as "Little XXXX".