'Cougar' Trend a Myth

The Boston Globe reports:

Maureen Trickett, an event organizer for 8minuteDating.com, had an idea based on all the hype surrounding younger men dating older women. She decided last year to plan an event specifically for that demographic - a night of speed dating for women-of-a-certain-age and the boyish men who love them.

Trickett posted the event online, and women quickly signed up. But the men - they were slow to show interest. After only six men registered, the event was canceled.

"I need eight men," Trickett explained. "If I don't get eight, the system cancels the event."

Trickett decided it was worth a second try. She set up another speed dating event for a recent Sunday afternoon at Tommy Doyle's in Kendall Square, this time for older women and younger men, as well as older men and younger women. The room would be split in half - age-inappropriate on both sides.

But again she had a shortage of younger men. The "cougar event," as Trickett was calling it, was canceled.

You'll want to read the whole article.