# Is it rude to ask your age? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 23, 2018, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935 "2018-04-23T03:25:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/41 "2018-04-25T18:23:24Z")
> [@nexopia](#): > > Yikes, a lot of rude babyboomer style responses. Couple normal responses tho thank u > [@nexopia](#): > > Why is it that the default gender for people on the internet is always male? I could make a thread about my boyfriend and people will just assume I’m a gay dude. Sexist af. Getting annoyed about being called dude because you’re a woman is the most babyboomer style response in this thread. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2018, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/42 "2018-04-25T20:19:01Z")
> [@nexopia](#): > > I’m very curious lmao > It seems like I’ve come across a forum for 50+ > > \<.\< > > \>.\> > > Have I? How old are you? Or is that rude to ask? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/43 "2018-04-25T20:21:44Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > Getting annoyed about being called dude because you’re a woman is the most babyboomer style response in this thread. Yes, and what is a sexist auto-focus anyway? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/44 "2018-04-25T20:24:15Z")
> [@nexopia](#): > > Yikes, a lot of rude babyboomer style responses. Couple normal responses tho thank u They may be old but they’re still snarky. Me, I’m mentally 17. > [@Satchmo](#): > > I have a birth certificate that ‘proves’ I was born in 1958. That’s all I’m saying. But were your born in Nebraska or Kenya? And is that “birth certificate” the full one or the abridged one county clerks hand out to anyone with ten bucks? ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2018, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/45 "2018-04-25T21:19:14Z")
> [@nexopia](#): > > Why is it that the default gender for people on the internet is always male? I could make a thread about my boyfriend and people will just assume I’m a gay dude. Sexist af. Some people use the term “dude” genderlessly. I call my daughter dude. I call the asshole who cut me off dude. I call my husband dude. I use it as an exclamation of surprise when my coworker tells me we’re ahead of schedule on a project… and it doesn’t matter the gender of the coworker who tells me that. I use it as a more casual version of “person.” ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/46 "2018-04-26T06:47:04Z")
At least the “dude” thing is interesting to talk about. The only people I know who think of “dude” as male are trans women, and I don’t blame them for being more sensitive to that sort of stuff. To everyone else, dude, guy, guys, etc. should all be understood to be gender neutral outside of specific contexts. ---
**Author:** ![Sveltington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@Sveltington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sveltington)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/47 "2018-04-26T15:26:17Z")
When someone, other than a medical professional, asks my age I ask them why they are asking. I do not think it is rude, just weird. How does my age figure into our conversation? Why do they need to know? I say 65 and they freak out because I look about 40\*. Then they get weird about it and start pestering me for “my secret” to looking so youthful. I say I have a painting in the attic and they have no idea to what I am referring. \*not a painting in the attic ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/48 "2018-04-26T15:41:32Z")
> [@nexopia](#): > > Yikes, a lot of rude babyboomer style responses. Adults understand that if you ask a rude question, you will likely get a few rude answers. I’m sure that will make more sense to you once you grow up a bit more. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/49 "2018-04-26T16:24:34Z")
> [@Sveltington](#): > > When someone, other than a medical professional, asks my age I ask them why they are asking. > > I do not think it is rude, just weird. How does my age figure into our conversation? Why do they need to know? > > I say 65 and they freak out because I look about 40\*. Then they get weird about it and start pestering me for “my secret” to looking so youthful. I say I have a painting in the attic and they have no idea to what I am referring. > > \*not a painting in the attic Dude ‘word’.^^^ I look younger than I am. I have used the ‘Dorian Gray’ reference myself. Once in a blue moon someone gets it. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/50 "2018-04-26T19:50:10Z")
I consider being asked my age to be like being asked when I had my last BM. A few people have a reasonable right to ask such a question. Other people asking such a question doesn’t seem right. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/51 "2018-04-26T20:26:48Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > I consider being asked my age to be like being asked when I had my last BM. > > … I’ve never had one, how are they? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/52 "2018-04-26T20:32:08Z")
The TL;DR version of this thread: OP: “Is it rude to ask your age?” SDMB: “Yes.” OP: “Wow, how rude!” ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/53 "2018-04-26T20:41:13Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I’ve never had one, how are they? Confucius say: A person who claims they never had a BM (bowel movement) is probably full of shit. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/54 "2018-04-27T16:53:28Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Dude ‘word’.^^^ > I look younger than I am. I have used the ‘Dorian Gray’ reference myself. Once in a blue moon someone gets it. 3rd one who looks - by all objective accounts - younger than my age. (So far approx. zero who get the “oil painting in my attic” explanation, which just adds an extra layer of confusion onto a awkward conversation.) I realized I use “dude” as a slight chide or expression of mild contempt, in a similar vein to “bless your heart.” It’s the verbal equivalent of an eyeroll. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/55 "2018-04-27T23:46:38Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Most people think it’s rude to ask, but it doesn’t bother me telling random strangers my age. I’m 29. > [@Velocity](#): > > I had always thought you were in your 50s or a retiree, maybe it is your posting style 😛 One of us is whooshed. I won’t rule out the fact possibility that it’s me, but I think it could be you. ---
**Author:** ![nexopia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/278dde/32.png) [@nexopia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nexopia)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2018, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/56 "2018-04-29T06:43:00Z")
This is why old people shouldn’t be allowed on the internet ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2018, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/57 "2018-04-29T07:05:34Z")
Whether a given person considers it rude depends on the person, but I think most people should know it’s a question that may make the questionee uncomfortable. So to be considerate it’s better to avoid the question unless it’s essential or you know the person well. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2018, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/58 "2018-04-29T14:42:03Z")
> [@nexopia](#): > > This is why old people shouldn’t be allowed on the internet You mean the people who were on the Internet before you were born, _dude_? ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/59 "2018-04-30T05:22:53Z")
> [@nexopia](#): > > This is why old people shouldn’t be allowed on the internet That’s it? That’s your whole point? You signed up and started a thread to let us know that you consider most of us old and out of touch? Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935/60 "2018-04-30T09:44:12Z")
> [@BeeGee](#): > > That’s it? That’s your whole point? You signed up and started a thread to let us know that you consider most of us old and out of touch? Weird. Hey, you’re so old that you know what a BeeGee is! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-rude-to-ask-your-age/812935.md?page=4)