# Things that make you look old **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2016, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889 "2016-03-04T02:20:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/1 "2016-03-04T02:20:26Z")
Inspired by a conversation with a friend yesterday. We were calling to wish her a happy birthday. My hubby and I have similar voices, so it took her a while to understand that we were both on the line. She said: “Oh! you’re using two handsets, like senior citizens!” That was a bit of a shock. Then there was [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=773946), a few months ago, where I learned that cell phone belt clips (like mine) were for the over-40 crowd. What other things or behaviours make it obvious that you’re over 40? ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/2 "2016-03-04T02:26:03Z")
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows II taught me how to make teenage/20-something people look older: 1. men - mustachios, longer hair, thicker clothing 2. women - loose clothes, make-up, hairdo ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/3 "2016-03-04T02:30:00Z")
Gray hair. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/4 "2016-03-04T02:31:03Z")
using cash – young people mostly use plastic, or cell phones to buy stuff. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/5 "2016-03-04T02:31:46Z")
Two spaces after a period. I cannot stop doing this. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/6 "2016-03-04T02:38:26Z")
Using the handrails. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/7 "2016-03-04T02:48:08Z")
White sneakers, especially Easy Spirits. I’m taking notes of all the stuff NOT to do. \* Phall0106, pushing 50.\* ---
**Author:** ![wilberbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@wilberbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wilberbear)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/8 "2016-03-04T03:16:50Z")
Nothing wrong with looking old. I don’t mind “looking” old although I do mind getting old. (30) ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/9 "2016-03-04T03:17:58Z")
You’re looking up and around everywhere you’re going. Not looking down at a device! Could you look any older? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/10 "2016-03-04T03:18:08Z")
I mind the FEELing old. Everything hurts all the time. Injuring myself while SLEEPING. wtf? ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/11 "2016-03-04T03:20:43Z")
My son. I was 38, but looked about 32 right before I got pregnant. Now I’m 49 and I look about 52. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/12 "2016-03-04T03:22:43Z")
What made me feel old was realizing that the movie \*Star Wars \*is older now that _The Wizard of Oz_ was when I was born. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/13 "2016-03-04T03:56:09Z")
I started feeling old when I saw the American Girl historical fiction series introduced a new character from 1974, the year I graduated from high school. ---
**Author:** ![appleaday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@appleaday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleaday)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/14 "2016-03-04T04:01:01Z")
wearing relaxed fit jeans ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/15 "2016-03-04T04:41:05Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > What other things or behaviours make it obvious that you’re over 40? Over 40 is old? \*That \*makes me feel old. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/16 "2016-03-04T04:50:50Z")
> [@appleaday](#): > > wearing relaxed fit jeans Yeah, Target pants will definitely get the job done. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/17 "2016-03-04T05:18:09Z")
Making social phone calls. I’m 35 and I can’t friggin’ stand to talk on the phone. I’ll sever business relationships because companies force me to do business over the phone–I sure as hell don’t want to talk for _fun_. Email, text, Tweet, post on Facebook, hell, meet me face-to-face. Do NOT effing call me. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/18 "2016-03-04T05:18:11Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > using cash – young people mostly use plastic, or cell phones to buy stuff. That depends on where you live. Here in NYC, lots of places take cash only. People of all ages buy stuff in cash all the time. ---
**Author:** ![wilberbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@wilberbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wilberbear)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/19 "2016-03-04T05:40:29Z")
I hate social media as well… but it makes me look unusual, not look old. A lot of people my age (30) like social media although I find them desperate for attention & approval. (Using social media tools for socialization is unimaginable for me.) ---
**Author:** ![tuesdayweld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@tuesdayweld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tuesdayweld)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2016, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889/20 "2016-03-04T10:03:25Z")
Wearing a wrist watch. Younger people (than me) check their devices for the time. I would find it difficult to give up wearing a watch as it is such an ingrained habit after all these years of wearing one to check my wrist for the time. “Set in my ways”, apparently. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-make-you-look-old/747889.md?page=2)