# Why do I look younger than I should? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 11, 2002, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001 "2002-12-11T14:30:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/1 "2002-12-11T14:30:11Z")
I have this stupid ‘Young face’ where most people think I look about 10 years younger than I should, today, I was sat down on a bench having a cig, when this girl sat next to me and said ‘you look six years old’ Damnit. I hate this stupid ‘young face’ which stops me from enjoying the fringe benefits of being 17. If anyone else has this problem how do you cope? Any advice would be helpful. Thanx Ryan ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/2 "2002-12-11T14:34:06Z")
Um…Don’t you have to be at least 18 to buy cigarettes? ---
**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/3 "2002-12-11T14:35:36Z")
Keep smoking…it’ll wrinkle up soon enough. Then you’ll look 10 years older than you are, so it all evens out. ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/4 "2002-12-11T14:35:37Z")
not in England it’s 16. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/5 "2002-12-11T14:35:52Z")
You know, in order to look older, you could drink a lot and do a lot of drugs. It really works, look at Keith Richards! Of course you might become slow in the head, kill yourself, make your willy limp, and or a host of other potential date-enders… My advice: Deal with it. In ten years, you’ll be GLAD that you look 17. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/6 "2002-12-11T14:39:31Z")
I agree with the advice to keep smoking. Nothing makes a person looks older then they should quite like smoking a pack or two of cigs a day. ---
**Author:** ![Grasshopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f19dbf/32.png) [@Grasshopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grasshopper)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/7 "2002-12-11T14:46:36Z")
Well I looked 14 for 7 years, from the time I was 12 (there was actually a time when I looked OLD for my age!) till I was 19. Now that I’m 20, people seem to think I’m 16. Yep, progress is slow but steady. How to cope? I have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/8 "2002-12-11T14:47:15Z")
In spite of all the other helpful suggestions you’ve already gotten, I’ll add some of my own. Deal with it. Being “fresh-faced” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and you’ll find you get carded for years and years and years. (BTW, I belive even in many states in the US you have to be 18 to purchase cigarettes, but can smoke them at 16) The secret is that once you actually are older, people will be able to see the worn-out wreckage of your soul and the miserable look in your eyes that only life in the real world can provide, so having a youthful face won’t matter as much. There, kid. Don’t you feel better now? ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/9 "2002-12-11T15:09:28Z")
Ryan — I feel your pain, man! Well, not really, as I’m not a man, but I digress… You think you got it bad now? Just you wait til you’re legal drinking age! Whooo-boy! I’m 22, but I look like I’m 12. Really. Seriously. Don’t believe me? Just check[this](http://members.aol.com/XJETGIRLX/images/Spoonnose.jpg) out! (Yes, that’s a wedding dress. Yes, it was my wedding) I’m so sick of being carded for cigarettes. I usually make my husband go buy them. Right after I got married last year, I went into my local Circle K to get a pack of Marlboro’s. The guy at the counter looked at me, looked at my license, looked at me, etc. This went on for about 5 mintues. Now, my husband had been waiting outside. The clerk finally said to me, “I’m not going to sell you any cigarettes because if I do,” he motioned to my husband, “your big brother out there will kick my ass” So I said, “That’s my HUSBAND.” He handed back my I.D. and mumbled under his breath, “…sick, man…just sick…” Needless to say I didn’t get my smokes. Bah. ---
**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:** [December 11, 2002, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/10 "2002-12-11T15:51:39Z")
Boo effing hoo. ---
**Author:** ![Tir\_Tinuviel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tir\_Tinuviel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tir_Tinuviel)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/11 "2002-12-11T15:52:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ryan\_Liam \* > \*\*…when this girl sat next to me and said ‘you look six years old’ > \*\* Are you also increadably short for your age, or was she just a bit thick? Hey! I just thought, maybe she likes 'em young… go gedder! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/12 "2002-12-11T16:26:05Z")
I chalk it up to not doing too many terrible things to one’s body. I’m sure that if I smoked and worshiped the sun I’d probably not be mistaken for 18-20 (I’m 25) more often than not. \ It sucks, and there’s not a lot you can do to cope other than get used to it. Ignore people who tell you you’ll “like it when you’re older” because these people aren’t very deep and are probably the people making stupid comments to the grieving at funerals as well. The brainless platitudes that result when you reveal your age are even worse than being carded for lottery tickets, IMO. ---
**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 11, 2002, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/13 "2002-12-11T16:30:36Z")
Sigh … wait 'til you’re twenty-two and the substitute teacher mistakes you for one of the twelve-year-olds you volunteer with. Or you’re twenty-six and waiters _still_ won’t believe you’re old enough to drink wine, but they’re perfectly willing to serve your brother, who is more than _four years_ younger. Aarghh. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/14 "2002-12-11T16:39:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by In Conceivable \* > \*\*I agree with the advice to keep smoking. Nothing makes a person looks older then they should quite like smoking a pack or two of cigs a day. \*\* True, but there’s no surer sign of a immaturity than self-conscious public smoking. News flash: it doesn’t make you look older, more mature or more sophisticated. It makes you look like an immature kid who’s **trying** to look older, more mature and more sophisticated. Maybe that’s why **Ryan\_Liam** looked six. But sure, keep it up. Another 10 years of addiction and you’ll have accelerated way past the point you’re were aiming for. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/15 "2002-12-11T16:49:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfkin477 \* > \*\*I chalk it up to not doing too many terrible things to one’s body. I’m sure that if I smoked and worshiped the sun I’d probably not be mistaken for 18-20 (I’m 25) more often than not. \ It sucks, and there’s not a lot you can do to cope other than get used to it. Ignore people who tell you you’ll “like it when you’re older” because these people aren’t very deep and are probably the people making stupid comments to the grieving at funerals as well. The brainless platitudes that result when you reveal your age are even worse than being carded for lottery tickets, IMO. \*\* I chalk it up to genetics. How can you say “these people aren’t very deep” and then go on to comment about brainless platitudes?:rolleyes: People say “you’ll like it when you are older” because the youth appearance generally stays with a person as they grow up (or at least the perception does). People who look older than they are, also realize their might be some value in looking young… ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/16 "2002-12-11T17:00:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by XJETGIRLX \* > \*\*I’m 22, but I look like I’m 12. Really. Seriously. Don’t believe me? Just check[this](http://members.aol.com/XJETGIRLX/images/Spoonnose.jpg) out! \*\* You weren’t kidding, were you? Then again, I think the spoon on the nose probably doesn’t help! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/17 "2002-12-11T17:29:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tir Tinuviel \* > \*\*Are you also increadably short for your age, or was she just a bit thick? > > Hey! I just thought, maybe she likes 'em young… go gedder! > > 😃 \*\* The strange thing is, though I look younger, i’m actually quite tall for my age. I was gonna say she looked like a French Jesus but…it passed. ---
**Author:** ![stofsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@stofsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stofsky)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/18 "2002-12-11T17:35:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by In Conceivable \* > \*\*I agree with the advice to keep smoking. Nothing makes a person looks older then they should quite like smoking a pack or two of cigs a day. \*\* Isn’t it wonderful that whenever smoking is mentioned in a thread, someone comes in to tell us how bad it is? I mean, really, without these constant reminders, we’d probably forget. :rolleyes: BTW, I’m 34, have been smoking since 14 (I should quit, it’s killing me, yadda yadda yadda), and still occasionally get IDed for beer or smokes. ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/19 "2002-12-11T17:42:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by XJETGIRLX \* > \*\*Ryan — I feel your pain, man! > > Well, not really, as I’m not a man, but I digress… > > You think you got it bad now? Just you wait til you’re legal drinking age! Whooo-boy! > > I’m 22, but I look like I’m 12. Really. Seriously. Don’t believe me? Just check[this](http://members.aol.com/XJETGIRLX/images/Spoonnose.jpg) out! (Yes, that’s a wedding dress. Yes, it was my wedding) > > I’m so sick of being carded for cigarettes. I usually make my husband go buy them. Right after I got married last year, I went into my local Circle K to get a pack of Marlboro’s. The guy at the counter looked at me, looked at my license, looked at me, etc. This went on for about 5 mintues. Now, my husband had been waiting outside. The clerk finally said to me, “I’m not going to sell you any cigarettes because if I do,” he motioned to my husband, “your big brother out there will kick my ass” > So I said, “That’s my HUSBAND.” > He handed back my I.D. and mumbled under his breath, “…sick, man…just sick…” > Needless to say I didn’t get my smokes. > Bah. \*\* I have to say, your quite attractive 😉 ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/20 "2002-12-11T17:56:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stofsky \* > \*\*Isn’t it wonderful that whenever smoking is mentioned in a thread, someone comes in to tell us how bad it is? I mean, really, without these constant reminders, we’d probably forget. :rolleyes: > > BTW, I’m 34, have been smoking since 14 (I should quit, it’s killing me, yadda yadda yadda), and still occasionally get IDed for beer or smokes. \*\* I wasn’t saying that it is bad. I was giving **Ryan** some hope. Most really heavy smokers I have known look much older then they are. I will concede that you may be an exception. But if you take away that hope from the kid when what does he have left? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001.md?page=2)