Confused!What do people mean when they say 'i don't want someone with baggage'?

Question

What do people mean when they say 'i don't want someone with baggage'?
(and not suitcases etc)
This is aimed more at people over 35 who find themselves single for whatever reason.
Assuming that you have not been living in a void, most people of that age or older have some form of baggage.
Eg, there are two people you like exactly the same, one is a single parent the other isn't . You choose the one with kids, although you have told the one without that you don't want baggage. (taking into consideration that these people are "normal")
I really need to understand what this baggage issue is!
Could you also identify if your Male or Female in your answers.

Answer 1

female
we all have baggage
I personally have no children and remain single
several men in my life have made decisions to look elsewhere
they're the ones who lost out
I am worthy
maybe someday Mr Right will come; maybe not
but I'm happy in myself
that's all that matters

Answer 2

I think in your mid thirties as in any time - the issue of baggage is more an issue of not wanting someone with such different pasts. Obviously if you are a single father with two kids and you're 38 say, a woman who is also a single mother would have most in common and be more willing to accept that. It would be difficult for a 30 year old woman who has had no long term serious relationships to accept it and would therefore say he has too much baggage. It all depends where you're coming from and your own personal history. There are varying levels of baggage - even in your thirties.

Answer 3

They don't want someone like theirselves. I don't care what they say, everyone has a past. Some might be good and some might not. But, bottom line is...we (most of us) have our own baggage, I am Female 100% and definetely have baggage, but it's in the past right where it belongs.

Answer 4

Female, 51..........Baggage, referring to emotional issues, children, ex-wife's that are a pain in the ***, ex-husbands that are a pain in the ***,mountains of credit card dept, mountains of bills any thing that interferes with ones happiness.
As far as the two people go, one single no children, one single parent...........personality over rides baggage issue

Answer 5

Maybe people that don't get the fact that they are not still 19 years old.

I'm Female, age 29 with plenty of baggage, but my husband married me anyway and we made more baggage..lol

Answer 6

Baggage can mean emotional or mental issues you have from previous bad relationships. It can also mean children from a previous relationship. Really anything that would keep you from having an "easy" relationship with someone new.

Answer 7

I'm not exactly sure ...but I think it means that they don't want to go through all the trouble of going to the airport...paying to park the car....walking and waiting around until your flight comes in ....waiting for ever to get you BAGGAGE off the conveyor belt.

They would much rather pick you up from a club or a park and if things didn't work out it wouldn't take so much work to throw you out.

Answer 8

it means they are an a** and not worth the time....obviously they have much more "baggage" than they can handle...and don't want to "carry" yours.--i think of "baggage" as pertaining to relationship issues, etc...not children...children are not baggage, and should not be thought of that way.

Answer 9

When I was a single mom, I absolutely refused to have my kids referred to as "baggage". They are lovely human beings, certainly not baggage.

Answer 10

Female
Baggage = ex wife, alimony, child support & kids, tons of bills, mental issues, serious health conditions like HIV/Herpes etc., criminal record or any other obstacle following them through life, which would pose a risk to your relationship and/or happiness.