Old men coming back with Thai Brides aged 18

[Dom Tuk]

Is this not wrong. A British man who is between 70-75 years old is allowed to to bring back a Thai bride who is aged 18-20 years old. This is a sick practice, bordering on paedophilia and it is allowed in this country. In a year about a thousand such visas are granted where the British man is above 65 years old and the Thai bride is less than 25 years of age. Why is it allowed?

[loudickson71]

If a person is attracted to someone under the age of 16 by virtue of the fact that they are a child, this person is a paedophile. If they are attracted not to such a person, but someone over 16, they are not a paedophile. You cannot be 'bordering' on paedophilia just because someone's normal courting group would be in their 70's, making an 18 year old relatively young.

It may look odd, but it is not sick.

What is a regular partnership, anyhow? Mutual exchange of goods....within the sphere of a loving relationship.

Did you read this in the Mail?

[WaldoMcFroog]

It's allowed because it is not paedophilia. The age of consent is 16 in this country, is it not? Are you saying that a 20 year old is not able to make their mind up about who they date or marry? Or that older people are sexless?

If I read between the lines, you perhaps seem to be suggesting that there is some sort of element of coercion going on here, but you have no way of knowing if that is the case. It certainly may happen, in which case we can probably agree that is morally murky (depending on the nature of the coercion - for some it might be a financial driver, being able to send back money to dependants. If the bride has been forced into marriage, that's something else entirely and there are laws that cover it). We may not like the idea of marriage based purely on financial advantage, but let's be honest; it wouldn't be the first time a marriage has been driven by such considerations.

[loudickson71]

bloody hell, that's the same post, just different words.

[WaldoMcFroog]

:-)

[jenstar]

Paedophilia is sexual attraction to pre-pubecscents. The word you're looking for is ephebophilia.

[netibiza]

In my opinion these men are pathetic (not in the mean sense) and are desperate to have a normal wife er... life. They can afford to "buy" one, the girl needs money for her family so it keeps everyone happy. Anyone want an older woman......................?

[Miss Zippy]

As long as these woman are not being abused in any way, whether physically, sexually, emotionally or otherwise, then I do not see a problem with it. Money may well be a reason for these young women marrying such older men (let's face it, your average 20 year old who is going places wouldn't look twice at a wrinkly) but let's not forget that it is only in very recent decades that, in this country at least, financial security has not been a prime motivator for women to marry. Women in other parts of the world don't have the same opportunities we do here to make a good life for themselves through education and wording hard, so you can't blame them for wanting to better their lot in other ways.

[tigga]

Age is man made, if we hadnt invented ways to work out time and age we wouldnt be able to have this discussion.

[derekpara]

tigga, what a great, succinct answer ! You have the respect of a 72 year old who loves working beyond the prescribed retirement age. (Another thread, I know.)

[woofgang]

Can I point out that under certain circumstances, it is the man who is conned/coerced into the relationship??

[mimififi]

This is not a new thing..... years ago in times gone by, usually, girls were married by the age of 14 or 16 to men at least in the early 30s possibly older. Marriages were arranged when the daughter was born to a man who was 'worthy'. She was kept and brought up to understand that this was her fate. It wasn't all abusive, but it was nearly always because it was a smart match and for financial gain.

Have younot read P&P? "A Man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife"?????? Women, do marry for security and healt/wealth, for a good place to bring up their kids. Even subconsciously, when we choose the more modern method of choosing our husbands, we are calculating in our brains whether he will be healthy/strong/a good provider, in other words, what can he offer me?

It is a modern phenomenom of choosing your partner yourself and them being in your own peer group.

[Ward-Minter]

So we have some fat balding OAP with a few quid in the bank and he decides to "buy" a beautiful 18 year old exotic Asian bird who will bow to his every need.

Good luck to him.

[Dark Angel]

This reminds me of a film I watched a few days ago. Anybody see The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, with Helen Mirren? Similar situation except that the man is younger than the woman!!! - btw if you saw this film, did you like it or did you think it was sick?

[joko]

dom - What do you care? They are both adults - and you can't control them.

Your post just sounds like a knee-jerk, squeamish reaction, judging by phrases like 'bordering on paedophilia' - which makes no sense

It is not a case of it being 'allowed' - there is no laws broken so there nothing anyone can do even if they wanted to .