# Why do some people look so weirdly older/younger? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 5, 2020, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133 "2020-04-05T15:31:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/21 "2020-04-06T07:06:25Z")
One of them really knows how to live life having a good time. ---
**Author:** ![Kovitlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kovitlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kovitlac)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/22 "2020-04-06T16:06:51Z")
I’m 31 and regularly have people guess that I’m 23/24. I love it. Truth is, it’s just genetics for me - my mom also looks younger than she is. I just have naturally very clear skin, no wrinkles and lost a lot of weight, which helps you to look younger as well. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/23 "2020-04-06T19:58:22Z")
Dick Clark was known for his youthful looks. When asked what was his secret, he said, “Choose your parents well.” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/24 "2020-04-06T20:59:46Z")
I was scanning some old family photos a few months back and some of them are of my mother with her sisters. By their 30s, she looked far younger than them, despite being the oldest. She basically took care of herself a lot better in terms of skin lotion and all that. Plus, she apparently won the local genetic roulette, living far longer than them. (Ditto longer than the brothers except for the youngest who is still cranking away but has a ways to go to break her record.) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/25 "2020-04-07T01:18:19Z")
It’s obvious iasn’t it? A popped collar makes you look younger! ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/26 "2020-04-07T01:23:52Z")
I had two uncles who were identical twins. One is living (he’s 86 now). He looks great for his age. He’s in good shape, and remains active, physically and mentally. There are no signs of dementia. The other died close to twenty years ago. He was a heavy smoker, and an extremely heavy drinker. An alcoholic, in fact, and his twin brother twice sent him to some drying-out place. Didn’t work. Even when they were in their forties and fifties, you could see the difference easily. By the time they were in their sixties, it was shocking. So – lifestyle. It matters a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/27 "2020-04-07T01:44:51Z")
I guessed the guy on the left at age 40, and the guy on the right at age 35, FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/28 "2020-04-07T04:07:34Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > It’s obvious iasn’t it? A popped collar makes you look younger! The popped collar just made it seem like the photo was from a while back. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/29 "2020-04-07T05:04:51Z")
Have them switch positions, facial expressions and postures, then they may look closer in age. The sun appears to be in the eyes of brother on the left causing him to squint and he is smiling. These actions accentuate the lines in his face. Plus, his teeth don’t look so good. Brother on the right may also have bad teeth, but he isn’t showing them. Brother on the right also has a more youthful, feathered haircut. Lastly, brother on the left is slouching a bit; brother on the right’s arms-behind pose is straightening his posture making him appear taller and more youthful. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/30 "2020-04-07T19:03:56Z")
This is what the brother[on the left looks like now](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://images.firstpost.com/fpimages/1200x800/fixed/jpg/2019/08/Steve-Waugh-380.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/ashes-2019-steve-waugh-rates-jofra-archer-as-real-asset-for-england-says-consistent-team-will-win-series-7192881.html&tbnid=EBKo_nOfBm7MHM&vet=1&docid=69tNYPUL7w69vM&w=1200&h=800&q=steve+waugh+2019&source=sh/x/im). And the[brother on the right](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/01/28/03/9065336-6638737-image-m-22_1548644982166.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6638737/Commentator-Mark-Waugh-lets-slip-casual-c-bomb-live-television-Big-Bash-League-match.html&tbnid=nHOYL__VVhmskM&vet=1&docid=NKRQzOttrvAg9M&w=634&h=372&q=mark+waugh+commentating&source=sh/x/im). ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/31 "2020-04-07T19:05:03Z")
NM, he fixed it. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/32 "2020-04-07T21:09:25Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > This is what the brother[on the left looks like now](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://images.firstpost.com/fpimages/1200x800/fixed/jpg/2019/08/Steve-Waugh-380.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/ashes-2019-steve-waugh-rates-jofra-archer-as-real-asset-for-england-says-consistent-team-will-win-series-7192881.html&tbnid=EBKo_nOfBm7MHM&vet=1&docid=69tNYPUL7w69vM&w=1200&h=800&q=steve+waugh+2019&source=sh/x/im). > > And the[brother on the right](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/01/28/03/9065336-6638737-image-m-22_1548644982166.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6638737/Commentator-Mark-Waugh-lets-slip-casual-c-bomb-live-television-Big-Bash-League-match.html&tbnid=nHOYL__VVhmskM&vet=1&docid=NKRQzOttrvAg9M&w=634&h=372&q=mark+waugh+commentating&source=sh/x/im). All I can say they both look better than in their twenties. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/33 "2020-04-08T00:32:11Z")
There’s a subreddit for everything! > **[r/13or30](https://www.reddit.com/r/13or30/)** > > r/13or30: When you can't tell the age of the person. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/34 "2020-04-08T03:01:06Z")
Some of it is the haircut. The spiky hair with a mullet combo makes him look younger. In addition, though it may be the lighting and the angle, the guy on the left also looks like he has bad teeth. ---
**Author:** ![cmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@cmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmore)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/35 "2020-04-11T17:32:11Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > ALL stereotypes are offensive, even “positive” ones. Are Asians good at math? Are Jews smart and rich? Are Blacks more athletic? I’d guess a lot of Asians are good at math. personal experience confirms a lot of Jewish people are smart and rich (a large number would probably prefer you didn’t refer to them as Jews also). And a disproportionately high number of blacks (comparing to population numbers) are professional athletes. like it or not, most sterotypes exist for a reason. and whether or not they apply to a given person within said group, a lot of them just aren’t really offensive. what I find funny is your blanket claim of all stereotypes are offensive. you’re basically saying that everyone that falls under the umbrella of a given stereotype would find said stereotype offensive, and collectively, all groups feel the same way. you’re not only wrong, but you’re painting with a much wider brush stroke than someone referring to just one group. that makes you more guilty than me of doing the same thing you’re accusing me of. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/36 "2020-04-11T18:36:52Z")
To expand on what others have said about the different haircuts, the one on the right is usually associated with being either stereotypically white trash (which this person obviously otherwise is not) or a 1980s teenage movie/tv character. It is nearly impossible for me to get past the hair and even be able to notice whether his other features make him look like he’s actually 26. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/37 "2020-04-11T20:14:32Z")
Hey, whadayatalkin’ ‘bout! He’s got the same hairstyle as me! :mad: Well, with what little hair I have left. ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/38 "2020-04-11T21:19:15Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > Hey, whadayatalkin’ ‘bout! He’s got the same hairstyle as me! :mad: > > Well, with what little hair I have left. Crap, I realized just after the edit window closed that I made an over generalization and probably came across as a complete asshat. I’m sorry.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/39 "2020-04-12T21:38:41Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Dick Clark was known for his youthful looks. When asked what was his secret, he said, “Choose your parents well.” As someone who has been in an elevator with him, he also chose his plastic surgeon well. Not enough work done to overtly look like he had any done but just enough to perk things up a bit. Being an attractive man who took care of himself also helped. ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133/40 "2020-04-12T21:55:17Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > This is a stereotype. You obviously haven’t seen some of the gay men I’ve known. Of course it’s a stereotype. He didn’t say it was a universal truth. BTW Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, now just plain Queer Eye just got renewed for a 6th season! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-look-so-weirdly-older-younger/851133.md?page=3)