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Archeologists, paleontologists and chemists are fond of talking about the half-life of certain elements. Carbon is one of the most popular and they discuss just how old the discovery is based on their analysis of the half-life. It usually represents a certain level of kfira but that's their problem, not ours. This process is usually called Carbon 14 dating. You find the date that it was originally created based on the content of carbon 14.

People today also sometimes sometimes follow a similar process. They date somebody who is so much older than they are that perhaps they can really see their age based on the amount of Carbon 14 that has accrued in the person's system.

Is Carbon 14 dating proper and wise? Should you date someone who is much older than you are?

Surprisingly, there's no simple answwer to this question. Nobody should automatically reject the concept of an older person merely because of their age. However, it is certainly a consideration and a very individual consideration.

What do you see in that older person that a younger person closer to your age would not be able to offer? Can you both respect each other despite the major difference in age? Does the older person look down on you as a child and treat you accordingly? Will the other person be able to be a parent for your children and be able to care for them in the proper way despite the age? Will the years in which you are able to have babies or children be limited because of this difference in age? Will you find that you are a caretaker for an old and frail person much sooner than would be necessary under other conditions?

In other words, the basic criteria might be suitable and acceptable, but despite that you may want to reconsider the shidduch because of other considerations. Do give it the proper amount of thought. Do give this age issue the proper amount of thought.

Dating at an older age is not necessarily as much fun as dating at a younger. It might not be fun at all. It's certainly no longer exciting. People have a feeling of deja vu, and in many cases they no longer want that procedure but it's unavoidable because you need it in order to marry even at a later age. This happens all too often. The process is harder. The dating is much more businesslike than in the case of a young person. The people who are dating are often set in their ways and they know precisely what they want and they tend to be less flexible about things, which also makes it more difficult to find the right partner. It also makes it much different. Each side has more demands and expectations of the other.

That doesn't mean that Carbon 14 dating is an impossible task, but it certainly does have its special challenges.