There are few absolutes in life, as there are in dating.

For instance, you should avoid those who have two first names or who abbreviate the term “probs” to “probs.” But you never know; that one horrible abbreviator might well be your soulmate.

As a result, I’m proposing the “8-year rule” in dating as a hard and fast guideline.

The 8-year rule advises that you should not date someone who is older than you are. I am aware that two people can date successfully despite having an age difference of more than eight years. It’s possible. I’m not going to try it any longer.

I’ve dated (or attempted to date) ladies who were older, younger, and, believe it or not, exactly my age. (She was born on the same day and in the same year as me.) If that isn’t a great way to start a discussion, I don’t know what is.)

But, after many successes and failures with women, I’ve discovered at least one recurrent failure: a big age disparity.

I’m not the wisest 30-year-old person you’ll ever meet, and I’m not suggesting that all younger women are flighty or immature.

There’s a reason we tend to date people who are closer in age.

But, let’s be honest, there’s a reason we prefer to date somebody our own age.

So, if something appears to be too good to be true (read: he or she is eight years too young for you), it probably is. If you break the 8-year rule, you’ll almost certainly face the following four issues:

1. They don’t understand your references.

I once dated a woman who believed Lauryn Hill became famous as a result of her role in “Sister Act 2.”

There are several possible responses to this.

“Well, it was a good movie,” for example. “God, people have already forgotten about The Fugees, huh?” says the second. Finally, “Did they make a sequel to ‘Sister Act’?” If you answered two or three, we’re on the same wavelength.

To be clear, not knowing who The Fugees are or not being aware of someone’s references does not suggest that you are a bad person. It makes you oblivious to wonderful music, and it’s not a good match.

2. They still rely on their parents for WAY too much.

Don’t get me wrong: my father continues to play a significant role in my life, and I doubt that anything short of imminent senility will change that. However, there is a distinction to be made between performing a role and codependency.

From a recent date with a 22-year-old female, here’s an example of what I’m talking about:

“Oh, my dad picks me up from the train station after work every day,” she said when asked how she intended on getting home after the date.

3. They may not live on their own yet.

If I could go back in time, I would not have moved out of my parents’ house as quickly as I did. I could have saved a lot more money, and my social life would have remained essentially the same.

So, just to be clear, I’m not trashing anyone who still lives with their parents.

However, if you’re 30 and dating someone who lives with their parents, you might want to reconsider your relationship.