Both dynamics are problematic either way, but it's important to note the nuances of these tropes.
Usually, with Older Top, they are actively predating on the Younger Bottom, and using their position of power (whether age or hierarchal position) as a manipulative tool – things like "I can teach you ...", "You will learn ...", Etc are examples of this.
In tropes where the bottom is the older one, their societal position is often more so seen as an obstacle – "we can't do this because... ", "It's not right for me to ...", Etc – thus these "barriers" are used as something the Younger Top must "break down".
There is also something to be said that it feels more real that a student would be preyed upon by a teacher (we see this all the time, unfortunately), than a scenario where a student is successfully courting an older teacher.
That's why the second dynamic is often more accepted, because the dynamic doesn't present the power imbalance, grooming, and predatory behaviour as clearly as the first example. Whilst it's wrong either way, it's understandable why the latter would be easier to palate, I suppose.
Yes, of course! I wasn't implying that one was better than the other, by any means, because both are inherently... You know, morally deranged and illegal. More so that there's likely reasons for why it could be perceived that one dynamic is more accepted than the other :)!
Mind you, I haven't actually read this story because the comments turned me off, but this topic fascinates me, lmao
i like the story, it's cute and i dint mind the age gap at all, but i bet this will get less complaints if their age is reversed. i mean, I've been in this field for so long and this is what i always observe, e.g., hs student seme x teacher uke doesn't get much complaints or nothing at all unlike hs student uke x teacher seme