# How do you respond ? \[Guessing someone's age\] **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 21, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522 "2016-07-21T21:29:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ToughLife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/1 "2016-07-21T21:29:40Z")
Sometimes people ask me _How old do you think I am?_ / _How old do I look ?_ An honest answer, if way off, might disappoint, an obvious understatement might feel flattering but considered as a sign of a weakness. But the harder I try to avoid answering there harder they insist. The situation is particularity uncomfortable when the request comes from a woman. ( I’m a man) How do you respond ? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/2 "2016-07-21T21:33:28Z")
“Oh, I never guess a woman’s age.” If they insist, you continue to insist that it’s something that you just don’t do. For a man, you can always give what you think minus five. I’m a woman, and I sometimes do that for other women. But putting it on you, as something that you personally don’t do, is probably the safest solution. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/3 "2016-07-21T23:17:26Z")
I say I’m terrible at guessing ages, so best I don’t even try. If they insist, I deliberately low ball it. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/4 "2016-07-22T00:10:44Z")
As though the question were “How old do I want people to think I am?” ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/5 "2016-07-22T00:48:31Z")
Mentally guess their age, subtract 10 years and tell them that number. After they tell you the truth, reply with “oh you look young for your age!” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/6 "2016-07-22T01:06:19Z")
Thread title edited to be more descriptive. ---
**Author:** ![SantaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@SantaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/7 "2016-07-22T01:11:38Z")
“No way of telling. I’m sure you looked as good ten years ago and will look just as good ten years from now” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/8 "2016-07-22T01:16:52Z")
“As old as your ID says. People are always guessing my age wrong, I’m not playing that game.” I don’t ask people to guess my age, they just do it. Both my age and my income level get underestimated all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/9 "2016-07-22T01:19:26Z")
If I’m pretty sure they’re younger than, say, 60, I’ll say “you don’t look a day over 90!” It’s absolutely true, and if they’re crazy enough to interpret that as saying they look 89 (which is not my meaning at all), that’s their problem. Obviously it’s meant to be a joke, and it’s just a different way to essentially say you won’t answer. If they push the issue, I’ll change it to “you actually don’t look a day over 100!” And I’ll keep going (110, 120, etc.) if they’re silly enough to keep pushing. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/10 "2016-07-22T01:29:22Z")
I am so well known at being a bad age guesser that when I get cornered like that friends/family start a fast betting pool on just how wrong I will be. I consider it a victory if I get within 10 years either side. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/11 "2016-07-22T01:32:36Z")
Generally I’ll guess something incredibly off; 12 or 90. Then if they pish the issue I’ll give an honest answer. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/12 "2016-07-22T02:43:37Z")
I normally guess high. Teaches them to not ask those kinds of questions. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/13 "2016-07-22T03:07:43Z")
“That’s the sort of question that fully deserves the wrong answer.” ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/14 "2016-07-22T03:16:01Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Mentally guess their age, subtract 10 years and tell them that number. After they tell you the truth, reply with “oh you look young for your age!” 🙂 Sort of this. I usually say about 20 years younger and then do a bit of the ‘wink wink nudge nudge’ thing and BS about how young they look. They get I’m playing and fun is had by all. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/15 "2016-07-22T03:52:25Z")
I’d just do it. If they look 45, 45. If they look 26, 26. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/16 "2016-07-22T04:13:04Z")
My stock answer is 72. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/17 "2016-07-22T12:23:55Z")
I hate this question and I’m honestly kind of a dick about it when I’m asked. I patently refuse to answer. Even if the person is being joke-y with me about it I just say no and move on. It’s a stupid question with no right answer. Might as well ask me how much I think you weigh or whether your shave your hoo-ha or not… ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/18 "2016-07-22T12:42:15Z")
You can’t get away with saying 29 anymore…? > [@SantaMan](#): > > “No way of telling. I’m sure you looked as good ten years ago and will look just as good ten years from now” > 😉 Charming. _golf clap_ ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/19 "2016-07-22T12:59:32Z")
A guy I was dating and I were helping a cousin of his, she had 4 kids and her husband left her for a younger woman. I was watching the younger kids and my b/f was helping around the house then the door bell rang and it was the ex-husband with his g/f ! I was :eek: my g/f cousin let them and we sat down and got talking. I said I was pretty good at guessing people ages and what sex their baby would be and the g/f took the bait and asked me how old I thought she was . I knew she was in her 20’s but I told her I thought she was 45 yo ! LOL! She almost fell out of her chair and my b/f cousin looked at me with a big smile on her face any trying not to laugh . She knew what I was up to . The g/f was sitting showing off her body to my b/f cousin and trying to show how better she looked and I was getting pissed off so I set her up to try and take her down a peg or two and it worked ! 🙂 I had a new friend , my b/f cousin really liked me . ---
**Author:** ![ToughLife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2016, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522/20 "2016-07-22T13:08:53Z")
A lot of great options so far I particularly like Ambivalid’s and Abtinor01’s 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-respond-guessing-someones-age/760522.md?page=2)