# When do you realize you're old? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 21, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943 "2009-09-21T13:51:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/21 "2009-09-21T18:50:15Z")
I can remember the first time I felt old: I was 15, buying a railway ticket in England, and the person selling me the ticket addressed me as “Sir”. I’m now more than four times as old as that, and I don’t feel as old as i did then. ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8797f3/32.png) [@Brainiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/22 "2009-09-21T19:16:56Z")
You realize you are old when you can hurt yourself yawning. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/23 "2009-09-21T19:58:45Z")
I have said this here before I think. I realized I was no longer a kid when I dropped the soap in the shower, and realized that rather then just instinctively picking it up, I was forming a strategy to retrieve it, ie where to put my hands and feet so I wouldn’t slip. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/24 "2009-09-21T20:06:16Z")
I’m only 30 and I’m terrified of slipping in the shower if I’m at someone else’s house or a hotel. At home I have a chrome shower thingy where the taps would be in the bath, so I sit down while I shower. For the standing up bit I don’t have to lift any legs off the ground, hence no fear of slipping. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/25 "2009-09-21T20:20:17Z")
I realized I was old when I saw a kid get cut at a house party in Kendall once (south of Miami). My friend and I left the party and on our way to her car, we spotted a couple of cops driving by. I stopped them and reported the bleeding, cut kid to the cops. - sigh \* I cannot tell you how much I loathe myself for ratting out such a great party. But I was quite sure the kid would lose his ear without medical attention and that’s how I knew I was old. I cared more about the kid losing his ear than I cared about the party being busted up by the cops. :: hangs head in shame :: ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/26 "2009-09-21T20:39:12Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > I realized I was no longer a kid when I dropped the soap in the shower, and realized that rather then just instinctively picking it up, I was forming a strategy to retrieve it, ie where to put my hands and feet so I wouldn’t slip. With me, it’s where to put my hands and feet so my back doesn’t “go” again. > [@Colophon](#): > > Actually, I tell a lie. I won’t feel properly old until the first day I wake up without morning wood. > > Any oldster want to tell me when I can expect that dismal milestone? Late 30s it started to go down to about 50% of mornings, where it remains. Another: I’ve recently stopped dating 20-somethings, and moving into the next decade. This, however, turns out to be a good thing. A very good thing. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/27 "2009-09-21T21:14:50Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > With me, it’s where to put my hands and feet so my back doesn’t “go” again. 🙂 Hehe pretty such the same thing. I have thrown my back out a couple times when my foot slips a nanometer or two, and my body over reacts and wrenches every muscle in my body at full torque to recover :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/28 "2009-09-22T00:40:52Z")
My first age spot. I’m telling myself it’s probably from the sun, after carrying mail without sunscreen for 10 years. It’s surely not about being 50. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/29 "2009-09-22T01:10:37Z")
I’m 28 and don’t usually feel old, so I probably don’t belong here, but the other day I discovered an inch-long wiry white hair growing out of my cheek. I just about died. I’m growing a fucking beard. I plucked the bastard and it hasn’t come back, but really, WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/30 "2009-09-22T01:44:38Z")
When I saw the possibilities less than I was seeing the probabilities. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/31 "2009-09-22T01:50:53Z")
When we elected a president who is approximately my age. True, he’s unusually young for a U.S. president, but still made me realize I’m no kid anymore. ETA: I once had to have surgery after injuring my knee by _standing_. How did I forget that? Oh, yeah, I’m old. That’s how. ---
**Author:** ![emcee2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emcee2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emcee2k)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/32 "2009-09-22T01:53:09Z")
I went to my Sister’s for the 4th of July. Early in the night there was a lot of early to mid teens there (who now just fall into the group of “kids” to me). They somehow got control of the radio and were playing a song call “Stanky Leg”, and doing a related dance. The dance involved shaking each leg, presumably to air it out. Anyway, I recall making a comment about kids these days and their music. ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/33 "2009-09-22T02:37:46Z")
I’m 52 and teach at a university, so I’m reminded daily of how old (although I’m not! I don’t feel old and work out more than I did when I was in my 20s) and unhip I am. But the one thing that makes me feel really old is when someone I work with–often someone in their 20s–talks about a book or movie that came out years ago, something they’ve just seen and are excited about, and asks me if I’ve seen it. I have to think and then realize that it’s been–what, 20 or 30 years since I’ve seen the movie or read the book? And that it’s probably time to re-watch that movie or re-read that book to remind myself of what it’s all about? And when I reference the JFK assassination in my class and realize that not only am I the only one in the class who was actually alive at the time, but in some cases, the parents of my 20-year-old students weren’t even alive back then–boy, that makes me feel old. But at the same time–I don’t feel old. My mind is still so much the same as it always was, and my body still works fine. Weird, huh? ---
**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:** [September 22, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/34 "2009-09-22T04:18:23Z")
> [@maladroit](#): > > When I see old people and find out they’re younger than me. This happens to me all the time. I’ll be 64 next week, yet the hair on my head is still mostly dark brown. I can easily pass for 10 years younger. But I’ve seen people with totally white hair, who are still in their 40s. And now, for the third time, I’m older than the President. I was already in high school when Obama was born. And another thing: The cousins who I used to babysit for . . . are all over 50 now. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/35 "2009-09-22T04:24:34Z")
You know you’re getting old when masturbation doesn’t seem worth the effort. Then one day you discover that everything either dries up or leaks. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/36 "2009-09-22T04:29:46Z")
My hands. The age spots are unattractive but the gnarled knuckles look like the hands my grandmother used to have. And she was really old. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/37 "2009-09-22T04:40:04Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > This happens to me all the time. I’ll be 64 next week, yet the hair on my head is still mostly dark brown. I can easily pass for 10 years younger. But I’ve seen people with totally white hair, who are still in their 40s. Heh, my hair is already going very grey. I made a pity post about it earlier this year. I’m 28. I suspect I’ll be full white by 35. Unless I start dyeing it, of course. For me, I started feeling old when I started to see soldiers and police officers where I did a double take - “My God, they’re still kids…oh shit, I’m getting old.” ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/38 "2009-09-22T05:27:48Z")
There were a bunch of signs that I noticed: Finding gray hair Barber suggests trimming my eyebrows 20 year olds calling me sir, or ma’am when my hair is getting too long Getting AARP membership offers Not being able to keep up with new media technology Finding older women hotter Finding younger women who actually seem too young to me, even though they are “legal” In that same vein – more MILF porn Getting cataracts, having cataract surgery Caring less about what other people think of me Oh yeah, I turned 51 last week. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/39 "2009-09-22T05:44:59Z")
You know how when you’re in high school or college and you go to see a band and there’s this guy in the back who’s at least 10 years, if not 20 years older than everyone else, and he’s dressed kinda wrong but he’s obviously having a good time but it’s just so _weird_ 'cause he looks like some guy who went to high school with your parents but never got a real job, just sorta hung out a lot and maybe smoked too much weed and now he’s there at this show not really dancing or anything just kinda sipping his drink and banging his head and grinning at everything? Well, when I was at a show once and I realized I was THAT GUY, I realized I was getting older. Surprised the hell out of me, made me laugh out loud and then I jumped straight into the mosh pit and commenced to fuck some shit up proper. 'Twas both a great and terrible night for me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943/40 "2009-09-22T07:06:05Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > You know how when you’re in high school or college and you go to see a band and there’s this guy in the back who’s at least 10 years, if not 20 years older than everyone else, and he’s dressed kinda wrong but he’s obviously having a good time but it’s just so _weird_ 'cause he looks like some guy who went to high school with your parents but never got a real job, just sorta hung out a lot and maybe smoked too much weed and now he’s there at this show not really dancing or anything just kinda sipping his drink and banging his head and grinning at everything? I always thought That Guy was a narc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-you-realize-youre-old/510943.md?page=3)