# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/b2d939/32.png) [@\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/21 "2002-12-11T17:57:30Z")
There is not much you can do, unless you dress older, wear glasses, etc. I have always had a “baby” face. I had my son at the young age of 19 (2 weeks from being 19) and people allways assumed I was holding my little brother. I am 35 now, and I still am asked if he is my brother. It used to bother me (alot) but I got used to it. It is not THAT horrible of a thing to be told. I was more botherd by the whole “cute” thing. But I agree, if you continue to smoke you will age rapidly and not in a good way. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/22 "2002-12-11T17:59:59Z")
Maybe Dick Clark is your _real_ pappy. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/23 "2002-12-11T18:01:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*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! (Yes, that’s a wedding dress. Yes, it was my wedding)** Suggested photo caption: “The dish ran away with the spoon”. 😉 ---
**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, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/24 "2002-12-11T18:02:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Giraffe \* > \*\*Suggested photo caption: “The dish ran away with the spoon”. 😉 \*\* Hah! I like! Can I “borrow” that? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/25 "2002-12-11T18:16:25Z")
Of course. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/26 "2002-12-11T18:48:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Tir Tinuviel: \*\*Are you also increadably short for your age, or was she just a bit thick? Unlikely. She said “looks”. > [@](#): > > \*\*Meatros: \*\*My advice: Deal with it. In ten years, you’ll be GLAD that you look 17. Unless he ages rapidly between now and then and ends up looking 46 with CAP. My advice, shave your pubes and stick them to your face with (moderate strength) glue. Say words like “confutesmal” a lot. OR, Just ride with it and go for younger women. You could act like the “older” man (you know, rich, suave, sophisticated - just don’t do anything illegal with thier privates and you’ll be fine. All I’m gonna say). ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/27 "2002-12-11T19:25:33Z")
**XjetgirlX** I don’t think you look twelve. But your face is slightly obscured by the spoon. From what I could see, you are fresh faced, seemingly healthy (lay off the ciggies), major cutie. By the time you’re 35, you’ll be glad you look youngish. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/28 "2002-12-11T19:37:46Z")
btw, fwiw, I’m told all the time that I look much younger than I am. When I was 16 - 23 or so, it bothered me. Now (some few years later), I love it! ---
**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, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/29 "2002-12-11T19:41:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xavier \* > \*\*Unlikely. She said “looks”. > > Unless he ages rapidly between now and then and ends up looking 46 with CAP. > > My advice, shave your pubes and stick them to your face with (moderate strength) glue. Say words like “confutesmal” a lot. > > OR, > > Just ride with it and go for younger women. You could act like the “older” man (you know, rich, suave, sophisticated - just don’t do anything illegal with thier privates and you’ll be fine. All I’m gonna say). \*\* True, true…He could end up like my uncle. My uncle looked a lot younger than he really was, up until he turned 41ish. Then he hit a wall and aged about a hundred years. ---
**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, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/30 "2002-12-11T19:49:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Meatros \* > \*\* How can you say “these people aren’t very deep” and then go on to comment about brainless platitudes?:rolleyes: > \*\* I’ve read your comment several times, but I’m unsure what you’re getting at. I take you think it’s somehow hypocritical to think that brainless platitudes show a lack of depth, but…😕 ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/31 "2002-12-11T21:22:42Z")
As someone who also looked younger than my age I have this advice. Do weights! bulking out will ensure no-one thinks you are under your true age, but that you have a youthful face. If you can grow a beard, this was a necessity for me to be taken seriously when are started research physics looking still 15 or 16 ish. When you get to be an old bastard like me (33) it is great when people think you are early-mid twenties in age. And I don’t think your posts suck at all, just keep your bro off your computer, OK. Cheers, Keithy ---
**Author:** ![loomisfoil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/47e85d/32.png) [@loomisfoil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loomisfoil)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/32 "2002-12-11T21:41:35Z")
I second what **keithmac** said about the beard. When I graduated from law school at 25 I had several experiences that convinced me I needed to look older. Probem was resolved with a well kept goatee. As a side note, I shaved it off 10 years later, and was asked for ID at a bar the next night. ---
**Author:** ![JerseyDiamond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@JerseyDiamond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyDiamond)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/33 "2002-12-11T22:51:51Z")
Hijack… I know soooo many people that smoke. None of them look older than there age. As a matter of fact, many of them look very young. These people have been smoking for so many years. I figured that the “cigarettes make you look old” thing was just an anti smoking ad to get people to stop smoking. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/34 "2002-12-11T23:51:02Z")
Heavy smoking definitely makes you look older. It shows first around the eyes and mouth. I take care of patients who are 50 and look 65. All of the ones who look older than their ages are smokers and/or drinkers. [I am 45](http://fff.fathom.org/pages/TheMermaid/Pc110081.jpg) I think I look it but I think 45 year old smokers look older. [sub]that pic was taking earlier today showing off my new “raspberry beret” I bought to match some gloves and scarf I have. I’m not sure if I can wear it without looking dorky though[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Shera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Shera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shera)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/35 "2002-12-11T23:51:25Z")
Hey, at least you are tall. I am only 5’1 _and_ I look 12. When I go to restuarants I still get handed kids menus. I am 21. I don’t even want to talk about the time I tried to buy some beer and the guy laughed in my face and told me I was lucky he was in a good mood and wasn’t going to confiscate my ID. Jerk. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/36 "2002-12-12T00:43:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfkin477 \* > \*\*I’ve read your comment several times, but I’m unsure what you’re getting at. I take you think it’s somehow hypocritical to think that brainless platitudes show a lack of depth, but…😕 \*\* I have to retract my statement elfkin477. It’s been a while since I wrote it and _I don’t know what I meant._ . 😕 So goodness knows how it looks to other people:eek: . In any event, I think my comment stemmed from looking way to deeply into your comments and finding something I disagreed with. In any event…Whups! :o ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/37 "2002-12-12T01:01:49Z")
Don’t feel bad. My boyfriend is 28, but gets carded for alcohol all the time. In fact, one time when we went out to eat, the waiter felt a bit embarrassed about carding him, and said he was 35 and had been recently carded for cigarettes. Youthful appearance runs in my boyfriend’s family–his brother is 22, and was once carded because some mall security cop thought he was under 16 (you had to be 16 or over to be at the mall w/o a parent). I look older for my age. My freshman year of college, someone told me they thought I was a grad student. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/38 "2002-12-12T05:42:15Z")
Okay, picture this _swirly effects and back in time music_ Im sitting in a coffee shop. Im wearing blue middle age type dress slacks and a red and blue striped uniform blouse and a red cardigan sweater. Hip I am not. I am a home health practical nurse…and Im 25. Enter burly type man is some kind of navy blue uniform Him–would mr (inset name here since it meant nothing to me I forgot it) say if he knew you were here?- Me–Who’s Mr-----? Him Dont be smart with me missy. You know you arent supposed to be here during school hours. Me??? Him—I’m going to have to ask you to return to the school. Me What? Him Back to school (he is saying this through clenched teeth) Me–well I graduated… in 1987! I throw my id badge and my drivers license at him Thats one example. I got carded for booze on the day before I turned 30 in a place where drinking age is 18. (Havent been carded since though, pity) Ive been carded for cigarttes (which werent for me, since I dont smoke, but because I said they’re not for me I stood no chance of getting any) and lottery tickets. So yes its a nuisance but you know my mom has the same problem, looking younger. When I was 29 and in college someone said to her "you dont look old enough to have a daughter in college! Funny thing is, I was 30 when she was born, so she’s plenty old enough! ---
**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 12, 2002, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/39 "2002-12-12T15:21:41Z")
A friend of mine was 35 when she was having dinner with her parents… Waitress: Can I see some ID, please? Friend: Gee, thanks! (digs for ID) Waitress: We try to card everybody who looks like they’re under 30. Friend: Thanks again! ---
**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 12, 2002, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001/40 "2002-12-12T15:37:25Z")
ID sucks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-look-younger-than-i-should/142001.md?page=3)