# Did I just get age slighted? And is this my life now? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 29, 2025, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406 "2025-10-29T23:32:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/62 "2025-10-31T19:15:49Z")
It takes longer to pull out your ID than it would otherwise. It’s a stall tactic. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/63 "2025-10-31T19:23:05Z")
That’s strange. Don’t they want to sell as much beer as possible? And if you pulled that trick on European football (soccer) fans, there’d be a riot in an instance. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/64 "2025-10-31T19:29:18Z")
Drunken fans getting into fights was hurting attendance. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/65 "2025-10-31T19:33:47Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Ah, whereas i think of both “sir” and “ma’am” as a generic “respectful way to address an adult you don’t know”. > [@Chefguy](#): > > Same here. “Can I help you, sir?” is better than “Whaddya want, asshole?” Of course it depends on context, but my inference from watching police bodycam videos is that “sir” starts to get thrown around a lot when things start escalating, as in “Get out of the car NOW, sir, or you will be arrested” and then when the inevitable arrest happens, “Please, sir, I was only asking questions”. And so on. “Sir” can be respectful when the situation is respectful, but in a hostile situation the best word I can think of to describe it is “officious” – as in, “I hate you but look how professional I am!” > [@Alessan](#): > > See, and I prefer a “Hi there!” or “Morning!” or “How ya doin’!” Personally I’d regard that as friendlier. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/66 "2025-10-31T20:13:43Z")
> [@Ancient\_Nerd](#): > > It’s a stall tactic. If you don’t want to serve people alcohol, you stop selling alcohol. Or you don’t serve it to someone who already looks intoxicated. Asking people to card “as a stall tactic” or to cut down on beer sales makes absolutely no sense, and sounds like some silly rumor somebody made up. It’s both counterproductive and unnecessary. On the other hand, in most jurisdictions confirming ID _is required by law_, so there’s no need to come up with some wild and senseless conspiracy theory to explain the practice. I’m almost 50, my beard is grey and my hair is turning grey. I am quite obviously of age, and I get carded just buying some kinds of cough medicine at the grocery store, because again, it’s the law. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/67 "2025-10-31T20:13:46Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Some woman in her 20s stood up and tried to give me her seat on the bus a few months ago. I just glared at her and remained standing. I’m only 51, for God’s sake! I am capable of standing on a bus! I look at the shoes; it’s a proxy for how much pain they’re willing to put up with for the sake of fashion. If they’re wearing orthopedics or Hush Puppies, I offer my seat. If they’re wearing dress shoes or heels, I let ‘em stand. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/68 "2025-10-31T20:33:03Z")
What if they just came from a funeral and wanted to show respect by dressing formally? ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/69 "2025-10-31T21:24:21Z")
I dunno, just trying to be kind, while not insulting people who don’t want to be treated like they’re elderly, who are perhaps only 51 and can stand up on the bus just fine (thank-you-very-much). It’s a judgment call, especially if they’re of an apparent age where they may or may not have struck their Elderly colors yet. I’d be moderately insulted myself – I probably look older to others than I see myself, and being offered a seat would remind me of that. 5 years from now, I’d probably just be grateful. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/70 "2025-10-31T21:32:10Z")
It’s definitely a tightrope. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/71 "2025-10-31T21:34:25Z")
I read a Reddit post of interest just yesterday, in which the poster asked for advice on traveling with their elderly mom. Several posts later, the OP mentioned that their mom was 61 years old. Sheesh. mmm ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/72 "2025-10-31T21:55:25Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I read a Reddit post of interest just yesterday, in which the poster asked for advice on traveling with their elderly mom. > > Several posts later, the OP mentioned that their mom was 61 years old. > > Sheesh. The health differences are immense in that age bracket. I have a friend exactly my age (57) who is obese, diabetic, arthritic, incontinent, has coronary heart disease, has got an artificial hip more than twenty years ago that fails now and is irreplaceable, and also has had mental illness since he was 17. In other words, he’s a wreck. He’s been in a retirement home for half a year now and will never have another home in his life. I’m not very healthy myself, even retired six years ago for health reasons, but compared to him I’m a spring chicken. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/73 "2025-10-31T22:18:52Z")
Do you need help cutting _yours?_ ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/74 "2025-10-31T22:29:24Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Must’ve sparked something cause she then ripped that lid right off. Adrenaline rush. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/75 "2025-11-01T00:14:10Z")
That’s a problem for me, because all I own are sneakers, boots, sandals and flip-flops. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/76 "2025-11-01T21:18:59Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > The first time i was called “ma’am” i was 18. I had recently gotten my driver’s license, and my father asked me to drive a diseased tomato leaf to the local ag station to find out what was wrong with his plants. The person who worked there, who looked to be about 18, too, called me “ma’am”. It was the first time I’d been unambiguously treated as an adult in that kind of situation. It felt weird, but also flattering. c’mon ‘puzz … don’t make this into a cliffhanger … give us the skinny on the diseased tomato leaf!!! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2025, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/77 "2025-11-02T02:43:21Z")
Lol, i don’t remember. But the next year, my father selected cultivates that were resistant to that tomato disease. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2025, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/78 "2025-11-02T02:54:37Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Must’ve sparked something cause she then ripped that lid right off. > [@DesertDog](#): > > Adrenaline rush. Maybe. But whatever it was, my visualization of this was hilarious and cracked me right up! ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2025, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406/79 "2025-11-02T23:08:44Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Must’ve sparked something cause she then ripped that lid right off. “Watch it kid! You won’t like me when I’m angry.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-just-get-age-slighted-and-is-this-my-life-now/1024406.md?page=3)