# What if someone offered you a picture of yourself in 20 years? Would you take it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 19, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182 "2003-11-19T21:08:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/21 "2003-11-20T04:49:10Z")
Lately I’ve been feeling a lot of dread about the future so I’d be scared to look, but I would because if the picture showed me happy and content, like a snapshot of a a happy woman proud of who she is, it would surely make me feel confident that I am capable of being okay in this world and that would probably make me okay! If the picture showed me looking empty and lost, then maybe I could be like Scrooge and find a way to turn things around before it’s too late? Even if I couldn’t change the future for the better, not looking at the photo wouldn’t have changed that fact, so I might as well look. ---
**Author:** ![Flowerchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/858c86/32.png) [@Flowerchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flowerchild)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/22 "2003-11-20T04:53:46Z")
Only if there was a husband in the picture with me. I could not live with the knowledge that I’d be alone for the next 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/23 "2003-11-20T05:00:40Z")
Sure, why not? I’ll still be a fox in 20 years 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/24 "2003-11-20T05:03:36Z")
I went to my dad’s house last weekend. Seeing him shows me exactly what I’ll look like in 20 years. Well, in 28 years, when I’m 60. He looks great for his age, by the way. And we’re both still the same size; I can borrow his clothes when I need to. (Or I would if they weren’t so dorky.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/25 "2003-11-20T06:40:03Z")
I am convinced that in 20 years I will be the spitting image of Hugh Hefner, but with only my wife by my side. And as far as I am concerned, I will have gotten the better deal. ---
**Author:** ![einstein\_s\_lovechild\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e36b37/32.png) [@einstein\_s\_lovechild\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/einstein_s_lovechild_1)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/26 "2003-11-20T07:15:38Z")
Sure I’d take it. I need some motivation to get off the chocolate, and that could be just the motivation I need!!! ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/27 "2003-11-20T08:59:53Z")
I’d look. It would be nice to know for sure that I’ll still be here at 81. . . unless the picture is taken in a homeless shelter. ---
**Author:** ![Furry\_Mongoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Furry\_Mongoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furry_Mongoose)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/28 "2003-11-20T09:17:11Z")
If I was given the opportunity I’d want to see it. Especially if it included whoever I was with. I think if it was a bad pic it would make me more cautious about my life and the people I let in it. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/29 "2003-11-20T11:41:12Z")
Yeah. I need to know if I’m going to turn into my mother! ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/30 "2003-11-20T11:47:55Z")
Oh I would love to turn into my 7st 3 mother instead of my 9 st self! ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/31 "2003-11-20T11:51:41Z")
Yeah, well my mother’s a recovering alchoholic bottle blonde in leather trousers, plus she’s as crazy as a hatful of spoons. Not that any of that’s bad, of course - I’d just like a little warning! ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/32 "2003-11-20T11:57:17Z")
LOL point taken. I just always hated being the daughter of a skinny malinky mother. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/33 "2003-11-20T11:59:43Z")
Oh look I “LOLed” could be I am well on my way to being my mother…she’s embarrassing in public too. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/34 "2003-11-20T12:08:19Z")
Calm kiwi, I hear that! Both my mum and my grandma are tiny, petite, fragile-boned wee creatures. I’m not. I’m not fat, just built on a bigger scale than them. But that doesn’t stop them pinching and prodding me whenever they see me and telling me I need to lose some weight. Bitches. Is it any wonder I have issues??! Er, sorry for the hi-jack Phlospher. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/35 "2003-11-20T12:12:46Z")
Exactly! I’m not fat either, but having a teeny weeny skinny mother who eats like a horse and never gains a pound sure made those plump teenage years fun. My mother favourite line is “are those pants tighter then when I saw you last?” Oops. further apologies for the continued hijack. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/36 "2003-11-20T12:28:18Z")
I just look at my Dad. He’s actually 24 years older than me, but I’m a dead ringer for him. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/37 "2003-11-20T12:44:59Z")
Why so many 20-somethings afraid of looking 40-something? Eh, I suppose I was the same 20 years ago. I have a wedding pic of spouse and me, we were late 20’s then, pushing 50 now. We look firmer and smoother in the wedding pic, but not startlingly, gut-wrenchingly different. 20 years from now I’ll be 69. I’m less worried about how I will look than I am about the possibility of cancer or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/38 "2003-11-20T13:22:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by calm kiwi \* > \*\*Oh I would love to turn into my 7st 3 mother instead of my 9 st self! \*\* In _English_! We use _English_ here! Not @#$^ing Leetspeak! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/39 "2003-11-20T13:35:25Z")
I wouldn’t look for the same reason I didn’t want to know my baby’s sex when I was pregnant. I like surprises! I don’t want to know the end of the book before I get there. I don’t want to know how the hero gets the girl in the final reel. And I don’t want to know what my future holds. It has nothing to do with concerns about my looks or whether I’ll be alone or anything else. Life is about the journey, not the destination. So I’ll just make the journey into the unknown, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182/40 "2003-11-20T13:53:09Z")
I like your answer **Fairychatmom** - very nice. My wife and I do not have children, but when we do we are not going to find out the sex…it’ll be the biggest surprise of our life! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-someone-offered-you-a-picture-of-yourself-in-20-years-would-you-take-it/214182.md?page=3)