Is asking someone's age now acceptable?

[Anonymous]

I was always taught that you never ask someone their age. In the past few years, no fewer than eight people have asked me how old I am. These are coworkers and acquaintances, not close friends. Have we decided that avoiding questions about age is old-fashioned? I wasn't offended, for what it's worth, just a bit surprised and amused to be asked flat-out.

[Anonymous]

When I was 48 a woman in Giant at the check out asked me if I qualified for the "over 60's Tuesday discount".

I have not checked out in her aisle for several years since.

[Anonymous]

as a 54 year old who is routinely mistaken for someone in their mid-40's, I hate when people ask my age because I get that surprised "wow, your older than I realized" reply

[Anonymous]

8 people in a few YEARS? I wouldn't worry about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was 48 a woman in Giant at the check out asked me if I qualified for the "over 60's Tuesday discount".

I have not checked out in her aisle for several years since.

I’d say yes and take the discount. Why do people act like age is something personal or something to be ashamed of? I’m 51 and I like to represent!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:8 people in a few YEARS? I wouldn't worry about it.

Why do you think OP is worried about it? They're just asking if we've become more relaxed as a society around asking what used to be considered a kinda personal question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:as a 54 year old who is routinely mistaken for someone in their mid-40's, I hate when people ask my age because I get that surprised "wow, your older than I realized" reply

Isn't it nice that you are mistaken for being younger, though?

[Anonymous]

I worked at a company where the buzzword was "multigenerational teams" and "different generations in the workplace" and people wanted to know my age so they knew whether to assign me to Gen Y or Gen Z. So annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:as a 54 year old who is routinely mistaken for someone in their mid-40's, I hate when people ask my age because I get that surprised "wow, your older than I realized" reply

Humble brag. Even if you were "routinely mistaken for someone" younger, you wouldn't know about it. I doubt that many people actually ask you unless you're registering for something and they need your birthdate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was 48 a woman in Giant at the check out asked me if I qualified for the "over 60's Tuesday discount".

I have not checked out in her aisle for several years since.

Just happened to me at HT, I'm 47 and was asked by a teenager. Tried hard not to take it personally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was 48 a woman in Giant at the check out asked me if I qualified for the "over 60's Tuesday discount".

I have not checked out in her aisle for several years since.

You must look pretty awful for your age.

I have a really young face and I'm slim but I had stopped dying my hair that year and it was really, really gray. I think she was just seeing my hair and thinking "old lady!" which prompted me to dye it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was 48 a woman in Giant at the check out asked me if I qualified for the "over 60's Tuesday discount".

I have not checked out in her aisle for several years since.

Just happened to me at HT, I'm 47 and was asked by a teenager. Tried hard not to take it personally.

+1, @ the Tysons HT, same, 47 too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:as a 54 year old who is routinely mistaken for someone in their mid-40's, I hate when people ask my age because I get that surprised "wow, your older than I realized" reply

Humble brag. Even if you were "routinely mistaken for someone" younger, you wouldn't know about it. I doubt that many people actually ask you unless you're registering for something and they need your birthdate.

The reason it comes up is because my wife is 10 years younger than I am (I'm sure you will jump on the chance to call that a humble brag too) and when we are making new friends thru kids sports/the pool/school volunteering etc. they tend to be early to mid 40's given our kids age range... After they find out I am 54 it becomes a running joke about me being old as I am generally 8+ years older than all the couples we are hanging out with.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I think that is a very old fashioned notion. I don’t think there is any shame in being whatever age you are. if somebody asks my age I just tell them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was 48 a woman in Giant at the check out asked me if I qualified for the "over 60's Tuesday discount".

I have not checked out in her aisle for several years since.

Just happened to me at HT, I'm 47 and was asked by a teenager. Tried hard not to take it personally.

It’s just teenagers! They think everyone looks old. I remember in high school, I thought all my teachers were 50s/60s. Looking at my old yearbooks, I can tell that they’re definitely 40s. Had a couple teachers in their 20s who I would have sworn were pushing 40 back then.