# The ticket taker asked if I was old enough to see the movie... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 10, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288 "2004-04-10T05:56:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/21 "2004-04-10T20:13:56Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > I think a proper comment to the ticket-taker would have been “I bought the freakin’ ticket, didn’t I?” The best I got out was “fuck you too” as I passed by after he snickered “enjoy the movie.” I’m such a fucking pushover. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/22 "2004-04-10T20:21:02Z")
I once worked in a liquor store. One evening I carded a young looking woman and she was flattered. Whipped out her ID and showed me how she was 35. Told me I made her day. She was still smiling when she left. ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/23 "2004-04-10T21:44:03Z")
I will repeat. I’m not a 35 year old woman. I’m a 19 year old GUY. Having someone ask if you’re 12 is NOT a compliment, it’s a fucking slap in the face. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/24 "2004-04-10T21:47:21Z")
My sister and I went to see an R-rated movie once. I was staying at her place and didn’t think about bringing ID, and I think she had left hers in the car. Anyway, the guy in the ticket booth tries to ID both of us. I just kind of confessed to not having it and he shrugged it off and let me in anyway. Finally, my poor sister had to get indignant and really ask them if she looked 17, and after a big of annoyance they let her in. I think at the time, I was 19 and she was 31. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/25 "2004-04-10T22:00:43Z")
Don’t let that punk get to you. You probably don’t actually look 12. He probably does that to a lot of the guys your age just to mess with them. Face it, people in our age bracket are often jerks. Incidentally, I’m 21 and look a lot younger. I figure that it will be a good thing when I get older. 🙂 I think I inherited my youthful looks from my dad. My dad looked at least 20 years younger than he actually was. My mother was actually about a year younger than him, yet a lot of the hospital workers they dealt with during my dad’s final years mistook them for mother and son rather than husband and wife. Dad got a kick out of that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/26 "2004-04-10T22:35:41Z")
Story of my life, sort of. I’m 17, and still get routinely offered kids menus at restaurants - usually for 12-and-under. Interestingly enough, I’ve been going to R-rated movies at the theater probably since I was ten or so. The only single time I was ever asked for ID was - I kid you not - the night of my 17th birthday. It felt like, “Hey, you can ‘legally’ see this movie now, so we’re going to ask you for ID!” ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/27 "2004-04-10T22:53:43Z")
> [@Soapbox Monkey](#): > > I will repeat. I’m not a 35 year old woman. I’m a 19 year old GUY. Having someone ask if you’re 12 is NOT a compliment, it’s a fucking slap in the face. If it makes you feel any better, one time a woman cutting my hair asked if I had a girlfriend - I said no. After talking for most of the time, she actually said to me “I can see why you don’t have a girlfriend.” I wanted to say something back, but she was the one with the scissors. ---
**Author:** ![Ashkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ashkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashkicker)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/28 "2004-04-10T23:25:27Z")
I got carded for a lottery ticket the other day. I’m 33. Heh. It’s Tennessee hell were lucky we even got the lottery around here. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/29 "2004-04-10T23:29:49Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > If it makes you feel any better, one time a woman cutting my hair asked if I had a girlfriend - I said no. After talking for most of the time, she actually said to me “I can see why you don’t have a girlfriend.” I wanted to say something back, but she was the one with the scissors. I guess she kissed her tip goodbye. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JoeSki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b487fb/32.png) [@JoeSki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeSki)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/30 "2004-04-11T02:10:00Z")
**Soapboxmonkey** I request a picture of you. ---
**Author:** ![jesleigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@jesleigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesleigh)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/31 "2004-04-11T02:17:49Z")
You making this to be a bigger thing than what it really is. My boyfriend and I get carded almost everytime we go to a movie, and just laugh it off. There are far bigger problems in everyones life than looking a year or two younger than what you are. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/32 "2004-04-11T02:37:19Z")
Semi-related story about stupid ticket takers concerned with the age of their patrons: My friends and I were going to see _The Last Samurai_, which was rated R. We’re all clearly older than eighteen, and were not hassled. But there was a group of five highschool kids in line in front of us, and the manager decided not to let them in without the permission of an adult. Now, the two of us were _clearly_ not associated with these kids. But my friend over hears this, and say, right in front of the jerk manager who wasn’t letting them in, “Well, I’m over 18. I’ll give them permission.” _And it worked!_. The guy accepted the permission of a random adult stranger and let the kids into the theater. I cannot imagine what his thought process (if any) was in that situation. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/33 "2004-04-11T02:47:30Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I once worked in a liquor store. One evening I carded a young looking woman and she was flattered. Whipped out her ID and showed me how she was 35. Told me I made her day. She was still smiling when she left. Some cheeky young bloke at a liquor store tried that on me last year. After I stopped pissing myself laughing, I told him that he was exceedingly charming and very good for business, especially with old broads like myself. It made both our days. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AvariceAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/958977/32.png) [@AvariceAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AvariceAngel)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/34 "2004-04-11T04:55:27Z")
**NinjaChick** , I had the opposite problem. I was carded every…damn…time I went to see a movie, until the night of my 17th birthday. I finally was old enough to see these movies legally, and wouldn’t you know it - I wasn’t carded! And I haven’t been since! I ended up actually begging the ticket taker to ask me for my ID, just so I could do it and be “cool”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/35 "2004-04-11T05:52:02Z")
> [@JoeSki](#): > > **Soapboxmonkey** I request a picture of you. Well, since you asked… [Here](http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~dsocirk/Album/2003/kensington_110103/Pictures/12_John_and_Fred_showing_off_their_dug_up_rock.jpg) is a link to a picture taken during one of my club’s service projects last November. I’m the one on the right. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/36 "2004-04-11T05:58:46Z")
> [@Soapbox Monkey](#): > > [Here](http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~dsocirk/Album/2003/kensington_110103/Pictures/12_John_and_Fred_showing_off_their_dug_up_rock.jpg) is a link to a picture taken during one of my club’s service projects last November. > . Well, I’m really sorry to say this dude, but if you came into MY store, cinema or brothel I’d be wanting to check your ID too. IMHO, you DO have a very young looking face. Why then is the attendant at the flicks out of line in wanting to confirm your age? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Sangre\_Azul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@Sangre\_Azul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangre_Azul)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/37 "2004-04-11T06:31:11Z")
**Soapbox Monkey** , I feel for you. Last weekend, I was playing a gig with an area symphony. Before the concert, I went up to the ticket counter to get my mother a comp ticket. While I was waiting, I was chatting with a few members of my section (I’m the principle player). We were all dressed in our concert attire and had our gigs bags with us. I was giving some last minute instructions. It seemed pretty obvious we were in the orchestra. As I get to the booth (more a table, really), the first thing the woman says to me is, “What, are you twelve?” She didn’t seem to be joking and said it in a real nasty, demanding voice. Myself and the other players just blinked at her a moment. The woman had been watching us while we waited. “Double that and start adding years and you might be close,” I said. (I’m 27) “No, really, are you twelve?” I get mistaken for 16 all the time. It was great when I was 15, but the novelty has since worn off. It doesn’t really bother me, though. I can’t guess anyone else’s ages for beans, myself. This was a new one for me. I guess twelve year olds are grown big where this woman lives… and it seems those hooligans enjoy posing as orchestra personnel so they can sneak into Bach festivals for free! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![JoeSki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b487fb/32.png) [@JoeSki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeSki)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/38 "2004-04-11T07:37:30Z")
You look pretty young **Soapbox** , but not so young that the guy at the boxoffice should have asked for ID. He was just being a jackass. Next time someone makes a comment like that, don’t make a comment to show that you’re offended, you’d just be humouring him. After all, people don’t act like that so they can be ignored, they like reactions like that. ---
**Author:** ![Beauty\_Personified](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Beauty\_Personified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Personified)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/39 "2004-04-11T12:47:16Z")
A few years ago, a friend and I were going to see some horror film. My friend is a few years younger than me (I actually graduated high-school with his brother), but he’s very tall and can grow quite a beard in little time. Anyhoo, the ticket-taker asked my age, which doesn’t bother me at all. I was 25 at the time. But that’s actually the only time I remember being asked since I was a teenager. (Though I still tend to get carded at the liquor store.) About seven or eight years ago, I was hanging out at McDonald’s with a few younger friends. We were sitting with a few high-school students and one girl, talking to a friend, mentioned her brother Travis. I asked her her last name and, sure enough, it was what I suspected. This was the little sister of another guy I graduated with. She wasn’t a “little girl” anymore, though. 😉 If I don’t have any scruff growing on my face, a lot of younger folk (using that word makes me sound a lot older, doesn’t it) don’t suspect I’m so much older than them. Which makes me feel good, not just because it makes me feel more spritely, but because it allows me to hang out with people who might not treat me as just one of their own if they knew my real age. And I don’t feel too dirty flirting with the younger girls (I tend to flirt with just about anyone). Though I’d be wary about a much younger girl being interested in me. Of course, it all depends on one’s overall maturity, and I’m not the most mature guy in many ways. There are some very mature 16-year-olds out there. (I’d be more concerned with my own maturity in a relationship though.) Anyhoo… ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288/40 "2004-04-11T15:09:47Z")
Well I can’t even grow facial hair, just fuzz. No wonder I don’t get attention from girls my age. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ticket-taker-asked-if-i-was-old-enough-to-see-the-movie/239288.md?page=3)