Wally said Carol’s boyfriend was about 24 or 25. He looked 32 but was really 30. Carol was 25. I guess they both were out of Wally’s league.

or age group

Wally said Carol’s boyfriend was about 24 or 25. He looked 32 but was really 30. Carol was 25. I guess they both were out of Wally’s league.

I suppose if one wants to think of it that way, perhaps this might be an indicator that Wally might have had social issues?

I always thought it peculiar that Wally hung out with misfits like Eddie and Lumpy, and not with fellow "alpha peers" from his school sports teams. Perhaps Carole and Don were socially challenged as well, and that's why they were looking to a young kid for companionship?

Seems like when I was of that age, I was hanging out with "friends" who were 2-5 years my senior most of the time. At the time I thought it was because I was more mature than my actual classmates.

But looking back with the wisdom of a lifetime as benchmark, I think it more likely was because I really didn't fit in with the "cool kids" of my own age group, and more easily fell into friendships with the outcasts from the age group ahead of me.

Boy, they sure taught me some bad habits too,....LOL!:cool:

Wow that was enlightening! Isn’t it funny how sometimes it takes years to figure out why we did stuff. I used to hang around in the early grades with a girl that stayed back but I found her mature?? She got me into trouble. Later in 8th grade I hung around with another troublemaker but she was very entertaining.

I think there is a natural tendency for us to look at "age imbalanced" relationships involving children and just assume the worst. (with all the trimmings)

But, I'm not sure that is always the case. The older person might have some vulnerabilities of their own.

Sometimes age imbalance is simply the younger has outgrown their peers and enjoys the challenge that the older person brings. It's strange the other way though. Why would an older person who had their stuff together want to hang out with younger kids?

Why would an older person who had their stuff together want to hang out with younger kids?

Socially "lazy"? Personal insecurity? The latter I offer from my own experiences. The older friends I tended to gravitate toward.....I told myself at the time that it was because I was more mature, and fit-in better with "advanced" personality types.

But, I'm thinking the reverse might have been more true. Peer pressure to be a leader among the socially elite can be daunting, where it's easier to impress kids who are a couple years "more innocent" than you are.

Bear in mind, I really felt I was elite at the time, being 15 years old and hanging out with 18-22 year olds (especially the girls ;)) But I now suspect that we were all just outcasts, sharing our social ineptness. Yes, I'm being a tad harsh on myself, as well as the others.

Also keep in mind that TV shows are rife with examples of the soc's and snobs making it difficult for "average" people to fit in.

My premise is that those of us who were outcasts, from a range of ages, found comfort in one another's ineptness.

That's not really so hard to believe, is it?

I don't want to get overly "cerebral" because I understand these boards are for fun, but also TankerYanker to address the "why" as you ask it. There is a difference between friendship and people who just share a common interest.

I don't think that I was sophisticated enough to understand the difference back in the time period in question. Many of us likely just shared a common interest (being part of the 60s-70s counter culture, in my instance)

Carol was a jerk ! and a cute one at that (just like a real life spoiled pretty girl can be)
that's one of the reasons the episode rolled like it did !!
I wonder if Carol knew Marlene ? LOL

Carol was a jerk and a cute one at that, really sums it up well.

Ward was right when he advised Wally to bow out of the situation. He ignored the advice and found out Ward was right that she had used him. Ward could have also said, You can keep playing tennis with her, but beware that she may be using you to get back at her boyfriend. And before you protest, note that I said MAY be using you.