It’s best to leave married men to their own wives

Q I’m a woman, single for four years. I’ve been on many dating websites and find that most single men my age, 50, want someone much younger.

Those who are interested in me, turn out to be married.

I got tired of it, so I went to a popular cheating website.

For me, no-strings-attached sex isn’t so bad.

It’s very hard to find someone to keep.

Men are fickle and like to move on, despite the fact that I’m pretty sexy.

I ask men why they cheat. Some say they’re estranged from their wives, or that their wives don’t want sex anymore. I don’t know if it’s true. But lots of guys cheat for the thrill.

True Story

A Your findings might be accurate, but skewed, since you’re on a website promoting adultery.

Fortunately for most marriages, a higher percentage of married women and men don’t cheat.

According to figures in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, some 22 per cent of men and 14 per cent of women will cheat on their spouses at least once during their marriage.

Meanwhile, many dating websites offer so much choice that women and men alike initially go for superficial traits.

Men seek younger women, while women seek successful men.

Yet studies show that the majority of couples still meet through traditional dating methods.

My point? Married men might be providing sex. But that’s it.

It’s worth a try to inform friends that you’d like to meet someone unattached who’s ready for dating a mature woman.

Q I run and participate on an adult men’s sports team. I’m one of the older players at 50.

One player, 29, is a good person who really enjoys the sport. However, he’s socially awkward and requires a lot of patience.

His teammates are accommodating, tolerant, and kind. He’s not had an easy life, as he lost his father over 10 years ago.

He’s confided to me that he cannot understand why he doesn’t have a girlfriend.

I suspect that a professional would diagnose him as being somewhere on the Asperger’s spectrum.

Is it out of line for me to gently mention that perhaps professional assistance might help him achieve his life goals?

Volunteer Coach

A Gentle and sensitive are the watchwords here. He might know perfectly well that he’s socially “different,” and find it even more awkward to discuss.

Also, don’t mention your suspicion of his “condition,” since you might cause him great anxiety and frighten him into not seeking any professional help.

Raise the matter when you’re alone with him, and based on his confession about difficulty finding a girlfriend.

Say that it’s not uncommon for people to need some guidance looking at their own approaches to meeting new people, socializing, and dating.

Assure him that counselling to help meet personal goals including seeking a relationship, is not uncommon and can be very helpful.