When people ask your age?

[Anonymous]

I don't think I've been asked about my age by another adult since I was 30 and I'm super social in many different circles.

Who are these people running around asking people their age?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Please do share, OP, in what context your group of male coworkers asked your age.

I am all agog.

They randomly asked and a female coworker said I was her age, 26, before I could respond. She's sweet as could be. I was put on the spot. Why is it a bad thing to look young on this dcum forum?

No no, do not side-track. "They randomly asked" is what I'm getting at. Why did they ask? What was the conversation before the question?

I'm helping you here. Sometimes you can see the question coming before it's actually said, and at that moment you have agency to redirect the conversation. If you really wanted to avoid the question, that is.

(Also, no, the coworker does not believe you're 26. Feel free to ponder why she said what she said. Also, it's not a bad thing to look young, unless you're not taken seriously at work or can't find dating partners - which have both happened to me, but that's for another thread.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Please do share, OP, in what context your group of male coworkers asked your age.

I am all agog.

They randomly asked and a female coworker said I was her age, 26, before I could respond. She's sweet as could be. I was put on the spot. Why is it a bad thing to look young on this dcum forum?

No no, do not side-track. "They randomly asked" is what I'm getting at. Why did they ask? What was the conversation before the question?

I'm helping you here. Sometimes you can see the question coming before it's actually said, and at that moment you have agency to redirect the conversation. If you really wanted to avoid the question, that is.

(Also, no, the coworker does not believe you're 26. Feel free to ponder why she said what she said. Also, it's not a bad thing to look young, unless you're not taken seriously at work or can't find dating partners - which have both happened to me, but that's for another thread.)

Yes she does believe I'm 26. I get mistaken for being in my 20s by nurses and medical doctors. An rn looked at my chart and exclaimed that i look to be in my 20s. Another medical doctor kept telling me i looked to be a college student in my 20s and advised me how I could keep it up. I also don't see why you would not find dates when you look younger. Sounds ridiculous to me.

The question was randomly asked. When a coworker tries to get to know me it's one of the questions they ask especially if male. The ages of the guys who asked were in their 20s and 40s.

[Anonymous]

If people ask me, I just say my age. I don't care. Is it rude or presumptuous to ask someone? Yes, but I don't find it to be bothersome when it happens unless a person is somehow trying to use the answer as a way to discredit the speaker.

For example - when someone obviously older asks a younger person, usually in an attempt to assert that they know more because of their age. Or when someone younger asks an older person in at attempt to paint them as out of touch because of their age.

Unless the reason is something like that, I don't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can either tell the truth or be precious and ask "why do you need to know?" and then keep evading.

I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times people have asked my age as an adult. I'm 43, and being of mixed Asian heritage, people can't easily tell either.

Yes lucky you have Asian genes so you likely by default look younger than your age as many Asians I have known do.

[Anonymous]

Lord I just say my age. Why should I care if people think I’m old? I am!

[Anonymous]

Add 10 years and tell them you are 53 so they can tell you that you look amazing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Please do share, OP, in what context your group of male coworkers asked your age.

I am all agog.

They randomly asked and a female coworker said I was her age, 26, before I could respond. She's sweet as could be. I was put on the spot. Why is it a bad thing to look young on this dcum forum?

No no, do not side-track. "They randomly asked" is what I'm getting at. Why did they ask? What was the conversation before the question?

I'm helping you here. Sometimes you can see the question coming before it's actually said, and at that moment you have agency to redirect the conversation. If you really wanted to avoid the question, that is.

(Also, no, the coworker does not believe you're 26. Feel free to ponder why she said what she said. Also, it's not a bad thing to look young, unless you're not taken seriously at work or can't find dating partners - which have both happened to me, but that's for another thread.)

Yes she does believe I'm 26. I get mistaken for being in my 20s by nurses and medical doctors. An rn looked at my chart and exclaimed that i look to be in my 20s. Another medical doctor kept telling me i looked to be a college student in my 20s and advised me how I could keep it up. I also don't see why you would not find dates when you look younger. Sounds ridiculous to me.

The question was randomly asked. When a coworker tries to get to know me it's one of the questions they ask especially if male. The ages of the guys who asked were in their 20s and 40s.

Be careful telling your age at work because it can lead to workplace discrimination beyond 40. Yes looking younger attracts younger men and discourages older men you might actually have commonalities with. That sucks especially if you find younger men dopey.

[Anonymous]

I'm 43 and got carded at a wine store ?!? I said to the person behind the counter, how old do you think I am? He mumbled something and refused to look at me but still insisted on seeing an ID. Probably on the spectrum. It was more irritating than not.

[Anonymous]

Person: How old are you?
Me: 47

end scene

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can either tell the truth or be precious and ask "why do you need to know?" and then keep evading.

I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times people have asked my age as an adult. I'm 43, and being of mixed Asian heritage, people can't easily tell either.

+1

People try to ask - very rarely do they come out and ask. Socially, I just say younger than my husband, because it is the truth.

[Anonymous]

I understand you OP.

Men at work asking my age (never women), but I also get asked my age elsewhere. Whenever the ages of my kids comes up in conversation the next immediate question is usually, “ you have a kid in college? How old are you?” Now that I’m 45, it does feel a lot more awkward. Didn’t really feel that way in my late 30s-early 40s.


At work I fear that there will be age discrimination so I’ve been trying to come up with ways to change the subject. Elsewhere I just state my age.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been asked by both men and women. I take it as a compliment.

My 74 year old MIL also gets asked all the time because while she definitely has all the lines and freckles of someone who spent 50+ years in the California sun, her personality is much much younger and people gravitate toward her. She also has a great fashion sense.

[Anonymous]

They're likely asking because you're the old one. Let me guess, you waited to have kids and now you're the old mum at sports activities and school events?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 43 and got carded at a wine store ?!? I said to the person behind the counter, how old do you think I am? He mumbled something and refused to look at me but still insisted on seeing an ID. Probably on the spectrum. It was more irritating than not.

I think it's just store policy and want to make sure your license is not expired. Don't kid yourself, they certainly don't think you're 19 or 20.