# Do you think you look younger than others your age? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953 "2012-05-15T02:33:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/61 "2012-05-15T17:41:54Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Less than 5% of people guess my age within 5 years and most people’s eyes widen in shock when they figure out how old I am, so I don’t think it’s just my perception that I look younger than I am. Same here. In fact sometimes I get annoyed professionally when someone that’s younger than me starts pulling the “more age and experience” card and treating me like I’m way younger than I am. But the women in my family age slowly, not just in appearance but objectively -the “family women” usually don’t hit menopause until between 55 and 60. I have a photo in the Doper Gallery - I was 54 when it was taken. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/62 "2012-05-15T17:45:09Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > All you jerks in your 50s or 60s who haven’t gone gray yet get my eternal enmity! :mad: My dad’s hair was full \*white \*in his 40s. He was gray years before that. It looks like I’m headed down the same path ☹ My brother, who is 3 yrs older, turned completely white headed in his late 30s. Was odd, I thought. He still has his hair, just it’s a different color now. His hair was dark like my Dad when he was younger (Dad went grey about 40ish), while I was tow headed for most of my youth, turning a mix of strawberry to dirty blonde, and now just dirty blonde. Any grey I do get, looks like blondish highlights. Both my maternal and paternal grandfathers had a full head of hair into their 70s. My best bud went male pattern baldness in his 20s, so he got totally into fitness. He shaves bald now, and that looks pretty good on him. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/63 "2012-05-15T17:54:25Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > LOL, no-_everybody_ gets carded for that. Nice try though. Not only do they card everyone for this nonsense, but I was carded not too long ago for some DayQuil, but then _at the same store_ purchased 1.75 liters of gin, and not a peep. I don’t even think the cashier looked at me. I think someone made meth somewhere once, so everyone got in a tizzy and now we can’t buy cough medicine anymore without a retina scan. So anyway, 1) Being carded at bars or wherever doesn’t mean you look young. It means they card everyone. 1. In answer to the question, no. I do sometimes come across people from my high school on Facebook, and I generally look younger than they do because they’re for the most part fat and complete screw ups. However, when surrounded by normal people my age, I say I fall in line with them fairly well. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/64 "2012-05-15T18:05:31Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > And, **Ambivilad,** why be so ornry when people are _trying_ to “go along?” How did I give the impression of being ornery??😕 I honestly have no clue where that critique came from. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/65 "2012-05-15T18:38:10Z")
I sure as hell look younger than[this guy](http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/05/mitchell-guist-star-of-swamp-people-reality-show-dead-at-48/). That doesn’t mean I look young for my age, though. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/66 "2012-05-15T18:59:09Z")
I think my sense of my own appearance is pretty realistic on a day to day basis. I look in the mirror and see a middle aged lady. If any of you met me I imagine you’d guess that I’m “around forty five.” When I’m well rested and put some effort into it I could probably pretend to be forty. Where I have amnesia is in a group of people I’ve known a long time. At a college reunion I spent the whole weekend being amazed at how none of my friends had changed in the last ten years. Then came the banquet with the slide show of photos of us in school. So different. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/67 "2012-05-15T19:15:41Z")
About 5 years ago my father remarried and his new wife is only 5 years older than I am. My husband and I took them to Niagara Falls to visit the Casino and have a nice meal as a celebration. Since the route we took to several attractions took us through the casino were in and out of the building about 10 times that day. I was carded 8 of them and despite her ever more desperate attempts to convince them they needed to check her ID, she never was. I believe they’re required to ask for ID from anyone they believe is 35 or under so it wasn’t that much of a compliment, I was only 38 at the time 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/68 "2012-05-15T19:37:17Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I’m just thinking that this is a common tendency among people to see themselves through a certain type of ‘rose-colored glasses’. I could be totally wrong. I get the same mis-guesses whenever I have someone guess my age but I _have_ had someone guess my actual age. I know I _never_ “guess” the age I really suspect a woman to be; it strikes me as nothing but rude to tell a woman who looks like she is celebrating her 40th birthday that she indeed looks 40. I think what you’re seeing in this thread is a whole bunch of people confirming your theory. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/69 "2012-05-15T20:02:25Z")
I’m underguessed wrt age quite frequently. People act much more surprised when they find out my true age than I would expect them to if it were just flattery. However, I see it. To me, I look every single day of my age. I see the little crow’s feetz, the gray hair at my temples (and down south :eek:), the smoker’s lines around my mouth. I see how my skin all over has lost elasticity (maybe sags a bit around knees and elbows). Don’t get me wrong, I’m in better shape than I was in high school. If you just looked at my body, you might guess a good 20 years younger. I think, if you just studied my face, your guess would be much closer to accurate. All those changes are subtle (still, at this point) and I suspect they will become more marked over the next ten years. So I’ll be the outlier who actually _sees_ my own age. I may very well look younger than others my age, but I think being in good physical condition helps to that end. I don’t _look_ like I pushed out a couple of kids because, well, I _didn’t_. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/70 "2012-05-15T20:11:02Z")
Absolutely not. Alas, I have not aged well. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/71 "2012-05-15T20:16:43Z")
I am 37 and most people think I am usually 32 or so. Not being fat, bald, or grey helps a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/72 "2012-05-16T01:17:47Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > I am 37 and most people think I am usually 32 or so. Not being fat, bald, or grey helps a lot. Could you respond to the OP, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/73 "2012-05-16T01:59:09Z")
I’m nearly 50 with all my teeth, no grey in my natural hair, and just the beginnings of crowsfeet with no other wrinkles on my face. Yes, I look younger than I am and not just based on all the people who tell me so. When really tired I look closer to my age, but well rested I can pass for mid to late 30’s. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/74 "2012-05-16T02:24:15Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > How did I give the impression of being ornery??😕 I honestly have no clue where that critique came from. Uh, could be posts like this: > [@Ambivalid](#): > > Could you respond to the OP, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/75 "2012-05-16T02:29:34Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Uh, could be posts like this: Uh, that came _after_ the ornery comment. 😕 Got anything better? ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/76 "2012-05-16T02:51:32Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Uh, that came _after_ the ornery comment. 😕 > > Got anything better? Well, **Becky2844** will have to be the one to tell you which post prompted her “ornery” comment. I just thought it was interesting that you claimed to have no idea why anyone would think you were being ornery, and then in your very next post got snippy with someone who posted a perfectly polite and on-topic reply to your OP. ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/77 "2012-05-16T03:14:46Z")
I think I look 18 and devestatingly handsome. Unfortunately, mirrors and cameras disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/78 "2012-05-16T03:17:45Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Well, **Becky2844** will have to be the one to tell you which post prompted her “ornery” comment. I just thought it was interesting that you claimed to have no idea why anyone would think you were being ornery, and then in your very next post got snippy with someone who posted a perfectly polite and on-topic reply to your OP. It actually _wasn’t_ on topic and I had already specifically addressed this in the thread when that post came up. I was asking what people thought of _themselves_; not what _other people_ thought of them. And the post in question simply addressed the latter while ignoring the former. I don’t think I was being ‘ornery’ at all. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/79 "2012-05-16T03:28:07Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > No, I’m just not asking what _other_ people think of you; I’m asking what you think of yourself…don’t post what other people tell you. > [@Lamia](#): > > I just thought it was interesting that you claimed to have no idea why anyone would think you were being ornery, and then in your very next post got snippy with someone who posted a perfectly polite and on-topic reply to your OP. As you see, I clarified what the OP was asking early on in the thread. It showed me that the poster in question hadn’t bothered to read the thread before posting. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953/80 "2012-05-16T03:42:17Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > It actually _wasn’t_ on topic and I had already specifically addressed this in the thread when that post came up. I was asking what people thought of _themselves_; not what _other people_ thought of them. And the post in question simply addressed the latter while ignoring the former. I don’t think I was being ‘ornery’ at all. If you don’t like the replies you’ve been getting, maybe your OP wasn’t as clear as you thought it was. And if other people are telling you you’re being “ornery”, maybe your posts aren’t as polite or reasonable as you think they are either. > [@Ambivalid](#): > > As you see, I clarified what the OP was asking early on in the thread. It showed me that the poster in question hadn’t bothered to read the thread before posting. But you said **Living Well Is Best Revenge** didn’t reply to your OP. Your later clarification of the OP was not actually part of the OP. And frankly, even if it had been I don’t see why this should be such a big deal to you. Most people’s perceptions of their own appearance are going to be strongly affected by the way others react to them. It’s bizarre to insist that we pretend this isn’t the case. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-you-look-younger-than-others-your-age/621953.md?page=5)