The 30 Something Cougar?

Exactly at what age are you considered a cougar? That was the topic of discussion at last night's Christmas party. The conversation started with someone saying that when they went out the other night they noticed that the bar was having a promotion. "Every Thursday is Cougar Night, 35 and Up." Excuse me? 35 and up. What the hell are they talking about? Is this place an 18 year old and up club? This was followed by a response from the youngest guy at the party, a spry 29 year old, saying he was hit on by a 38 year old and he felt that she was a cougar. Of course an argument ensued. The ages of the women at the party were 30-35 years of age, and yet we were all offended. I think that we get very protective of anyone with a 3 in front of another number.  How can you say 38 is a cougar? Isn't 40 the new 30, and 30 the new 20?

I mean, the television show 'Cougar' with Courtney Cox  implies that the cougar in that show is in her 40's. Is it the fact that you are dating someone that is 10 years younger than you? Or, are you dubbed the name once you hit a certain age? It was the first time I have been thrown into a category of "old". I did not appreciate it one bit.  I swear, I feel like I just jumped the threshold  from age 29 to 30. I have some amazing, beautiful, single girlfriends over the age of 30 that have received some attention from the younger fellows, and they have yet to get close to teasing out their hair, wear tacky nail polish and applying bright eyeshadow.  Does that mean they are out on the prowl? Or just out to have a good time?