Why is it "not appropriate" to talk to your coworkers just because you're younger?

I started an office job a few months ago, and while it's not a bad job, it's also lonely, and I've hardly talked to anybody here.

There's this one guy who's actually pretty nice, especially when we bump into each other outside of work, but I've rarely had any deep conversations with him. So I've tried to get his attention, and get him to talk more, but he once pulled me aside to tell me that it wasn't appropriate, and that having conversations with each other isn't appropriate, and generally not socially accepted, because I'm 18 and he's 35, so we have to keep everything limited and strictly professional.

And honestly, that broke my heart, since he was one of the few people who I've managed to have a semblance of conversation with. In fact, it was at this point that I realized that the only people who've talked to me were him and the only coworkers here close to my age.

>>33398483 (OP)
>not appropriate
He made it up lmao, or It’s your office culture, or just his shit.
My favorite relationships at work are with my supervisors. Age difference 15 years.

>>33398483 (OP)
It isn't inappropriate, if you're a women he is concerned of accusations other women older than you will throw at him. He doesn't actually feel that way but has to in order to lower the chances of accusations.

You both are adults, nothing wrong with friendship or even you two dating. older women are jealous of your youth and scared of competition.

>>33398497
>office pedo

>>33398483 (OP)
because it's not. it's weird and crosses too many boundaries even if you guys aren't actually doing anything. he shouldn't be around somebody younger and you shouldn't be around anybody older. it's fucked up, op

>>33398497
How was your relationship with your dad?

>>33398512
you're retarded or trolling

>>33398524
>>33398512
same fagging

>>33398524
Horrible! Thanks for asking.
But I also work 1 foot away from my boss at all times and we have to work directly togetjer so, you know, it’s good to have a pleasant rapport.
>>33398498
Me? Im 25 dawg my boss is 40

>>33398483 (OP)
He wants to fuck you. He’s afraid he can’t resist. That’s literally it.

>>33398536
nothing wrong if they do

>>33398530
meds

>>33398483 (OP)
He's just doesn't want to tell you you are annoying and he doesn't want to talk to you. You are doing the clingy needy female thing, but you are not attractive enough to pull it off with your level of irritating-ness. 18 years olds are generally stupid and cringe/boring though, maybe you'll grow a reasonable personality later.

>>33398483 (OP)
he's a weird loser

don't talk to him but don't let his bad attitude affect how you think about things

>>33398594
18 year olds are hot, at their physical prime and can be shaped into wives. after 25 they're too far gone, hopefully they already married or settled down by then

>>33398620
She's posting on 4chan so she's probably one of those 18 year old girls who are ugly piglike mutts with tattoos and nose piercings and big plastic glasses.
He's totally just making an excuse. She keeps trying to force conversation with him but he is not interested, and she's concentrating her attention on him which is awkward and cringe.

>>33398483 (OP)
Age differences just makes people uncomfortable

Had something similar happen with a friend (who's ironically 15 years younger than me). People kept having issues with it, and accusing us of "flirting", but we never understood why, and I'm not sure if they would've felt the same way if she was a guy. Still, it impacted our friendship, and she's now more cautious about how she talks to people (not just me)

It sucks, as this was one of the few friendships I've had that actually felt like one. Often, especially with opposite sex friendships, there's this tension about whether or not you're actually friends, or if the other has something different in mind. So you're constantly micromanaging your words/behavior to not give the wrong idea, or keeping your guard up just in case. But my friendship with her felt like a real one, and one of the rare friendships where you were assured that's all it was, and that your boundaries were effectively and clearly communicated, and that you can be yourselves without being misread

Friendships like this just don't come around often. But it still had to go through shit just because others (many of which we didn't know) felt otherwise, and kept pressuring her about it (as they always gave *her* shit for it, never me), and somehow interpreted our behavior as "flirty", even though we thought it was obvious that it was platonic

It's been a bit awkward between us since. I still talk to her and her boyfriend, and I even helped her get a job at her new place because a buddy of mine worked there, but she's more cautious about how she presents herself, and tries her best to be mindful about her behavior (unless it's just the two of us, then she lets loose like old times). But it still sucks to see a genuine friendship go through the ringer just because people apparently can't fathom gender and age differences between adults. And it also sucked having to watch this affect her, and influence how she expresses herself

>>33398483 (OP)
Guy either doesn't like you or you work in a company with a shit culture.
Where I work I talk to everyone no matter the age. My favourite people there are 25 - 30 years older than I am.

>>33398483 (OP)
That just sounds like you’re in a shitty workplace. I have all my coworkers added on instagram lmao. If I had to work in a place like that I’d probably just work enough to pad my resume then leave

>>33398732
she is young enough she can turn it around and become hot

>>33398483 (OP)
>Why is it "not appropriate" to talk to your coworkers just because you're younger?
Oh! Because they think you're trying to fuck. And you're not meant to solicit people at your workplace for sex if they aren't interested.

>>33399945
What are you going on about. He's not interested in even talking to her. Nobody at work talks to her, probably because she's a cringe autistic femcel. This is real life not your coomer fantasy.

>>33399899
>>33399566
>>33398599
>>33398497
>>33398498
>t. incels who are inches away from an accusation
It's not okay to be around people half your age. It doesn't matter if you're co workers, strangers, "friends", or anyone—it's just creepy and not okay and you're old enough to know better

>>33398512
you like kids and project

>>33398483 (OP)
Talking to someone of a different age is perfectly appropriate; flirting with someone of a different age is not. Probably either he thought you were hitting on him, or he was worried that other people would think he was hitting on you.

>>33403946
>Talking to someone of a different age is perfectly appropriate; flirting with someone of a different age is not
Neither of those are appropriate, and your concept of appropriateness is dated
Age differences have an inherent power dynamic, and that applies to every circumstances you will find yourself with this person. Whether it's working together, simply knowing each other (however loosely), strangers in a room barely paying attention to each other (if at all), or literally any circumstance that somehow puts you two in contact with the other (whether or not it's deliberate), etc. are inherently imbalanced because of your age differences, and thus no longer appropriate even if neither of you are doing actually anything
So keep whatever you two are doing to as much of a brief minimum as possible and then move the fuck on. It's not okay, and it shouldn't be hard to understand