# Age misperception on the SDMB **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 22, 2002, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155 "2002-08-22T23:29:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/61 "2002-08-26T07:54:59Z")
I have little or no conception of the ages of everyone on here. I don’t know zev’s postings well enough to have any idea what age he seems. ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/62 "2002-08-26T08:01:33Z")
I picture \*_Opalcat_ as being in her mid-80s. I know of several elderly women named Opal and they tend to own cats, so there you go. [sub]I’m kidding. I’m familiar enough with her postings here and elsewhere to have a pretty good idea of her age.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/63 "2002-08-26T12:05:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \* > \*\*Thank you, everyone. FTR, I’m only 32 (my parents aren’t even 65 yet). I didn’t take it as an insult **Ace0Spades** , in fact, I was flattered. > \*\* :eek: :eek: 32?!? Boy, do I feel stupid. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/64 "2002-08-26T18:46:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enderw24 \* > \*\*RTFirefly, > > That’s the first time I’ve seen the acronym IANAJ on the boards. It had me laughing. > > You’re all old farts. I’m 6. \*\* Is your birthday Feb. 29? Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/65 "2002-08-26T18:50:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\*I don’t know zev’s postings well enough to have any idea what age he seems. \*\* What? You don’t read every word I write?!? I’m crushed!! 😃 Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/66 "2002-08-26T19:37:10Z")
I just picture everyone to be like Storm Troopers. That weird Norweigan, Johnny Quest villan type of race. Not really asian, not really white, not really hispanic. All 30-sometimes with black hair. It makes it easier for me to direct my hate onto you all. ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/67 "2002-08-26T21:53:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by modro \* > **Francesca** , your only 23? Wow… I Imagined you much older. Having said I was flattered that most people I encounter online think I’m much older than I am, I’m not really sure if I should take that as a compliment after all. I mean - do I sound like a grouchy old woman or something? ---
**Author:** ![celestina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@celestina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/celestina)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/68 "2002-08-27T00:11:28Z")
**Francesca** , no you don’t sound like a grouchy ol’ lady. Mind you, I don’t read all your posts, but the one’s I’ve read, you just strike me like a nice, down-to-earth person who ain’t afraid to speak her mind when she feels like it. [shrug] **zev** , wow. I didn’t have a clue how old you are, but I did get the sense you’re older than 32. Maybe 42 or 52. As far as my own age is, hell, _I_ don’t know how old I am on any given day. That is just too much math for me to contemplate, and besides I run out of fingers and toes when I try to add, and I get all confoosed. I always have to laugh when folks try to guess my age or try to card me when I buy alcohol. I do know I’m old enough to legally drink and vote, and that’s really all that matters. Still, it wouldn’t surprise me if Dopers or anyone else for that matter guessed my age to be anywhere from 16-70. 😃 But, [giggle] I know folks–myself included–really couldn’t give a rat’s ass how old I am, and if I ever do figure it out, you may rest assured I ain’t fessin’ up neither. [sub]This has been my contribution to wasted bandwidth today, brought to you by our lovely sponsors, Procrastinators, Inc. [sigh] Tune in tomorrow to find out what other pearls I’ll post in their name.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![johncole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f9b8f/32.png) [@johncole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johncole)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/69 "2002-08-27T04:32:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SmackFu \* > **I have a tendency to assume everyone on the Internet is younger than 35** …and so it seems do many others You bunch of young whipper-snappers. I have been in IT since I left university in 1967 (do the math), including some work on the very early networking software (in banking). Here in the UK the rapid growth of Silver Surfers is still feeding the PC boom, with 40% of all households online (and growing) and 40% of my age group (55-64) having used the internet.[cite (pdf file)](http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/intacc0702.pdf) How old do I sound? I have no idea, but I know I’m really only 18. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/70 "2002-08-27T04:48:12Z")
When most people see my musical tastes (Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, etc.) they assume that I am in my forties or older. But, I’m not, I’m 16. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/71 "2002-08-27T14:04:40Z")
[Blink 182] What’s my age again? [/Blink 182] ---
**Author:** ![Kingpin53](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d26b3c/32.png) [@Kingpin53](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingpin53)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/72 "2002-08-27T14:18:12Z")
John Carter of Mars… Hey, cool nickname! I used to love reading those comic books! I’m sure the subject of your nick has probably been mentioned before…but I’m new to this board, and just had to mention it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/73 "2002-08-27T14:36:00Z")
Thanks, **Kingpin53**. \*\* Tars Tarkas\*\* is here too. Since the subject of this thread is doper’s age, I’d submit that Tars and I are among the oldest dopers, dating back to Civil War days as we do. But then there’s Loki’s wolf, **Fenris** , who is certainly much older than most. And a few other ancients that I’ll not try to name. 😉 Welcome to the board. ---
**Author:** ![Kingpin53](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d26b3c/32.png) [@Kingpin53](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingpin53)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/74 "2002-08-27T15:12:22Z")
I just looked at how long I’ve been a registered user here…guess I should have said RELATIVELY new to the board! :smack: I don’t post much (obviously) but I read a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Doubting\_Robert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@Doubting\_Robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doubting_Robert)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/75 "2002-08-27T19:33:16Z")
I’m 57, so I tend to think of all of you as being quite a bit younger. Obviously, this means I am way off on some of you. **johncole** , it would appear we are close to the same age. ---
**Author:** ![Mobius74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@Mobius74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mobius74)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155/76 "2002-08-27T23:36:53Z")
Never met anyone IRL that I first spoke to on the internet… However, just to set the record straight when you run into me: I am neither 74, nor born in '74… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/age-misperception-on-the-sdmb/125155.md?page=3)