# Do you lie about your age? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 20, 2000, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982 "2000-03-20T16:22:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/1 "2000-03-20T16:22:00Z")
. . . And why? There was a pretentious think-piece in the Times this weekend (I know, that’s redundant) claiming that more women are lying about their age younger and younger. The only reason I would lie is professional—I feel like I should be further in my career than I am at 42, and I hate working for people half my age. But socially, 42 doesn’t bother me a bit. I’m not looking for a husband or boyfriend, so I don’t care if men know how old I am. I also know as many men as women who lie—one friend I went to college with is now six years younger than I am! ---
**Author:** ![CanadianSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@CanadianSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianSue)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/2 "2000-03-20T16:42:00Z")
Not something I would ever do. I love my late thirties, they have been the best years yet. Standing up proudly… I’m 37 🙂 * * * We are, each of us angels with only one wing,and we can only fly by embracing one another ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/3 "2000-03-20T16:42:00Z")
Nope. Doesn’t pay in the long run. Until recently, I’ve had a tremendous advantage, though in not looking my age. The fact that my mental age hasn’t kept up with the passing years also makes a difference, I think. People tend to assume that I’m just a very old looking child. ## I turned 57 on Thanksgiving, '99 * * * **SDMB’s oldest living female!** Acclaimed author of: _No Bad Brontosauri 365 Ways to Cook Sabertooth Tiger The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Wheel_ ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/4 "2000-03-20T16:55:00Z")
I used to lie about my age, until very recently. ## But I would add a couple years. I will be 30 in August, my children will be 13 & 9 this weekend. The math is pretty telling. I just got tired of the explanations and the off looks from fellow parents at school functions, etc. etc. There seems to be a stigma that goes along with a woman that has her children at such a young age, and with good reason, no doubt. I knew I didn’t fit that stereotype and just wanted to avoid it. Since then, I have become much more confident in myself, no need to rush 30. I’m thinking I may need to hang on to 29 for an extra year or so to make up. I like it here-can I stay? And do you have a vacancy for a Back-scrubber? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/5 "2000-03-20T17:16:00Z")
If I lied, I think I’d add on, too. I look OK for 42—but for 62, I look FANTASTIC. ---
**Author:** ![curious\_george](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@curious\_george](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious_george)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/6 "2000-03-20T17:17:00Z")
Eve, nice photo. You sort of resemble Julia Louise-Dreyfus. I’m not lying. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/7 "2000-03-20T17:22:00Z")
Oooh, thanks, George—beats resembling Jason Alexander! ---
**Author:** ![ultress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7c8e57/32.png) [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/8 "2000-03-20T17:48:00Z")
I haven’t lied about my age since I was a teenager. I’m 44, I’ve earned every year, and I’m proud of it. Most people are shocked when they learn my age, they think I am about 35. * * * _I’ve learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it._ ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/9 "2000-03-20T17:49:00Z")
God, that article depressed me! Well, MOST of the things the TIMES publishes in the SundayStyles section depress me, come to think of it. The editor has a fascination for people who don’t seem to have to work for a living. The idea that young people are living in mortal fear of their thirtieth birthdays, with an attitude of “If I haven’t made my first million by thirty I’m NEVER gonna make it” or “If I haven’t met the pefect mate by thirty I’m NEVER gonna find him/her”…and that they feel the solution to the problem is to make themselves younger by LYING, is really creepy. I’m 39, and no Jack Benny jokes, please. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2000, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/10 "2000-03-21T06:02:00Z")
Is this the article you’re referring to? [http://www.nytimes.com/library/style/weekend/031900age-lying.html](http://www.nytimes.com/library/style/weekend/031900age-lying.html) ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2000, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/11 "2000-03-21T06:05:00Z")
I feel no reason to be ashamed to admit I’m 19. ---
**Author:** ![curious\_george](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@curious\_george](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious_george)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2000, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/12 "2000-03-21T06:35:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Eve: > Oooh, thanks, George—beats resembling Jason Alexander! Hey now! People say I resemble Jason–more his personality than his looks. I’m younger and not chubby, but my hair is almost as bad. You can look me up and see for yourself at: [http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/profiles/](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/profiles/) Hope I’m not getting too off topic. ---
**Author:** ![Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trout_Mask_Replica)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2000, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/13 "2000-03-21T06:50:00Z")
Do I lie about my age? I don’t need to – I just give my real age and people think I’m lying. – TMR, almost 23 but looks 16. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2000, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/14 "2000-03-21T06:56:00Z")
I don’t lie about my age, because I’m 29 and look much younger (go to my website, see my pics and judge for yourself!) If anything, I wish I were a little older (for professional reasons). It’s hard to rub elbows with older professional people when they think you just got out of high school. Zette * * * “If I had to live your life, I’d be begging to have someone pop out both my eyes. Just in case I came across a mirror.” - android209 (in the Pit) [Zettecity](http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/zettecity/index.html) Voted “Most Empathetic”- can you believe that? ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/15 "2000-03-20T19:01:00Z")
Only to buy beer! BEER! YAY!! I’m 21, _really_! ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/16 "2000-03-20T19:08:00Z")
I don’t _intentionally_ lie, but I may screw up the math occasionally. I honestly do not remember my age most of the time. It’s not something I think about. On the rare occasions when it’s necessary, I usually have to do the math. Lessee, 2000 minus 1963 + haven’t had a birthday yet this year = 36. ---
**Author:** ![purrplebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90ced4/32.png) [@purrplebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purrplebear)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/17 "2000-03-20T19:49:00Z")
## Funny you should ask that. Actually, I used to be more selfconscious about my age when I was in my early 30’s than I am now. I’ll be turning 41 this next June. People tell me that I look about 30 and usually act even younger, so I guess that’s okay. 😉 You sing in my consciousness like a counterpoint to my life. L.L. ---
**Author:** ![Sylence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Sylence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylence)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/18 "2000-03-20T21:01:00Z")
I forget my age too, and I was born in 1979. No, really. I think it’s premature Alzheimer’s. ☹ – Sylence * * * “Excuse me, are you reading Torah and eating crayons?” ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/19 "2000-03-20T21:15:00Z")
[[. But socially, 42 doesn’t bother me a bit. I’m not looking for a husband or boyfriend, so I don’t care if men know how old I am.]] Hm, but otherwise you’d have to lie? Hm. I’m 45 and what am I, chopped meat? Jill ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2000, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982/20 "2000-03-20T21:17:00Z")
Well, Jill, you have to admit, most men want to date “girls,” who are considerably younger than themselves. So once you’re OUR age, who is there to date? Bob Hope? Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-lie-about-your-age/14982.md?page=2)