No more Tinder mercies: ignore my age, beg over-60s. They say their chances at love are better if they lie about their age – and matchmaking agencies aren’t unsympathetic.
Dutchman Emile Ratelband, 69, wants his official age-adjusted to his ’emotional age’ – 49. Age is simply not just a number when it comes to finding love after 60.
Described as a “good-looking, vibrant move-and-shaker”, a 75-year-old Cape Town man was so desperate to find love that he provided a false identity number to a well-known SA matchmaker to appear 10 years younger.
Others have often begged Shannon Davidoff who heads dating and matchmaking agencies Perfect Partners and Match VIP to completely ignore their ages.
The first thing the over-50-plus single seekers of soul mates grumble about is their need to reveal their real age. The two most common factors are that they hate their age, and the second is their weight. I hear please… please make me younger and please don’t mention my weight daily, she told Times Select.
Age and dating has become a trending topic worldwide following a 69-year-old Dutchman’s legal battle to be recognised as being 20 years younger so he can achieve greater success on dating app Tinder and go back to work.
The Telegraph reported that Emile Ratelband told the court in Arnhem in the eastern Dutch province of Gelderland that he should be allowed to change his date of birth as the transgender community are permitted to change their sex on their identity documents.
While most over-60s want to appear younger in the dating pool, sugar daddies flaunt their advanced years.
He argued that doctors told him that he had a body of a 45-year-old.
When I’m on Tinder and it says I’m 69, I don’t get an answer. When I’m 49, with the face I have, I will be in a luxurious position – Ratelband reportedly said.
Davidoff said that generally anyone over 60 felt discriminated against in the job market, when buying a new home or even applying for a loan.
Now it’s impacting on people’s love lives. Divorce is never planned and death comes with its own will, leaving many mature folks single when they should be enjoying the autumn of their lives together.
Davidoff explained that while she does screen her clients well, there are some who are a younger spiritual age and old than what they are.
I believe people age first at a cellular level, and even if they are 40, if they are tired and have lost their mojo, are bitter and resentful in all areas of their lives, their bodies are giving up because spirit and mind are giving up. Many 40-year-olds are 60.
While most over-60s wanted to appear younger in the dating pool, sugar daddies flaunted their advanced years.
They are honest about their ages because they know their money, comfort and security will be the drawcard rather than their looks or real age, said Davidoff.
In the case of the good-looking, vibrant move-and-shaker, Davidoff – decided to give him the benefit of the doubt to test the results.
I thought it would be his bad luck if a lady took her handbag to his head and beat him for lying, or if he was lucky he would wing it and love would find him.
Luckily, love found him really soon. He confessed and she didn’t mind at all. She actually said they were meant to be and if she had known his real age she would never have asked to meet.
“No more Tinder mercies: ignore my age, beg over-60s. They say their chances at love are better if they lie about their age – and matchmaking agencies aren’t unsympathetic.” Reprinted from and with the permission of Times Select. Article by Nivashni Nair. Originally published 13 November 2018