# What is your "mental age"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 6, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708 "2013-12-06T21:41:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/61 "2013-12-07T12:47:27Z")
Real age 45, mental age 39. Since people are always shaving 6-10 years off their guesses, maybe I should start doing it! Some of the questions are, as it so often happens, missing the real option: Baseball caps look best… not on anybody’s head. Seriously. And wearing them backwards is copied from a TV cop 😛 (TJ, the sniper in SWAT) **Hilarity** , an ice lolly is one of those ice creams which are colored-ice-on-a-stick. A Magnum is a brand of ice cream on a stick (they usually involve chocolate and I understand they’re supposed to be geared towards women). And an ice cream cone is, well, an ice cream cone. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/62 "2013-12-07T13:12:53Z")
56/43. Odd questions, some are impossible to answer. Yeah, lolly or magnum? Whu? And after dinner, I go home and go to sleep, not drink coffee or go get blotto. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/63 "2013-12-07T13:16:25Z")
I got 38, but I always thought I was mentally an extraordinarily boring and un-hip 10 year old. > [@pulykamell](#): > > I got stuck at question one. What is a magnum. What is a chocolate flake. And what is an ice lolly? Yeah, I’m too un-hip to know what any of those are. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/64 "2013-12-07T15:15:02Z")
Cronologically: 56 Mentally: 37 Physically, according to my Wii Fit: anywhere from 26 to 44, though one time it said 61 The fact that I have a Wii Fit proves I’m indeed over 50. Jessica Simpson is definitely “so over”. I’m sure that took 10 years off my score. Some questions I couldn’t answer correctly. When planning a party, the first thing to decide is whether musicians will be bringing instruments or not. But I had to pick “Consider inviting neighbors.” I wonder what that did to my score. In fact, I don’t usually have to “consider”, I just invite them. They’re mostly older, but mentally young enough to enjoy being invited to a crazy party with ad-hoc live music and great food. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/65 "2013-12-07T15:30:44Z")
I answered choosing what I thought were the “old” answers and got 58. Get off my lawn! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/66 "2013-12-07T16:15:16Z")
Chronological age, 59 on 7 January. Mental age, 42, which is basically how I still think of myself. I think I hit my peak right around then, in just about every field. _“I still think of myself as I was 25 years ago. Then I look in a mirror and see an old bastard and realise it’s me.”_—The late Dave Allen, may he rest in peace! ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/67 "2013-12-07T17:35:24Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Magnum is a Dove bar product I’ve seem advertised here. I only eat them on vacation. Because calories. They’re the ultimate ice cream, chocolate, caramel-y bar. And when I partake in the tropical sun I get chocolate all around my mouth and dripping on my swim-suited chest. I’m three! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/68 "2013-12-07T18:39:48Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > My mental age is 37. I’m 23. I always knew I was mature beyond my years > > I have some doubts about the scientific accuracy of the test though Add 20 yrs to your score for that comment! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/69 "2013-12-07T18:47:43Z")
I just tried taking it twice, to see how reproducible the results were. The good news is, its two mental age estimates for me were within a year of each other. The bad news was, it asked 19 of the same 20 questions both times. Oh, and the worse news is, it never actually asks users for their real age, so it can recalibrate as needed. They’ve got a perfect opportunity for data collection, here, and they’re passing it up. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/70 "2013-12-07T19:59:12Z")
> [@MissTake](#): > > Much older than I figured, considering I’ve been told to act my age twice already today. Ain’t that the truth? I kind of expected my mental age would be about 12, but it’s 42. Of course, I also expect I would have gotten the same results when I actually was 12. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/71 "2013-12-07T23:24:48Z")
I’m not quite 59, it said I was 50. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/72 "2013-12-08T01:22:37Z")
Physically I’m in my mid-40’s. Pre-transition, IMO my mental age was about 65. Post-transition, IMO my mental age is about 17. I like 17 better. 🙂 But the results from the test are 33. ---
**Author:** ![JacksMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/839c29/32.png) [@JacksMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacksMom)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/73 "2013-12-08T05:06:01Z")
Actual age 46 Mental age 44 ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/74 "2013-12-08T16:24:11Z")
I turn 65 on the 19th. The My Mental Age Test Your mental age is 44 Woo-Hoo! I always knew I was young at heart! ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/75 "2013-12-08T21:06:18Z")
I got 35, which is about right. I had to Google “magnum,” but they sounded nice, so I picked it. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/76 "2013-12-08T22:43:56Z")
> [@Nisslbody](#): > > None of the answers for “baseball caps look best…” was “on fire”. I was looking for “on someone else”, but yours works too. Real 57, mental 45. Late middle aged either way. I’m OK with that, but I wonder if more answers corresponding to “who cares” would make me older. My motto remains unchanged - > [@](#): > > You’re only young once, but you can be immature forever. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/77 "2013-12-09T03:40:28Z")
^ or to say it a different way, growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional. I’m 48, mental age of 38. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/78 "2013-12-09T05:25:47Z")
Actual age 70, test age 35. Retirement means having fun! And I don’t have any grass to keep kids off of, although the javelina do make a mess of the landscaping gravel. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/79 "2013-12-09T16:04:21Z")
I’m 59 this month. Mental age 43 ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708/80 "2013-12-09T17:20:33Z")
Real age 42, “mental age” 44. I guess I really DO act my age. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-mental-age/675708.md?page=5)