Why do some people look so much younger than they really are?
By JJ
@JolietJake (50190)
February 1, 2016 6:35am CST
I hate trying to guess people's age, I am lousy at it.
I especially hate trying to do it with women, because THERE is something that could get you in deep trouble REAL quick. 
I knock off 5 or 10 years on my estimate just to be safe, and that doesn't always work...
She: "How old do you think I look?"
Me: "I really couldn't say..."
She: "Come on, just guess."
Me: "I really don't like playing this game."
She: "Just guess dammit!"
Me: "Um...37?" 
She: "You filthy (expletive deleted) little (expletive deleted)! I'm only 35!"
*quickly walks away*
Now, if I had followed my instincts and said "27" (which would've been a lie) she would have been all sweet and happy and thinking "Maybe he's single"..
But nope...ol' Mykie went with the truth and now has another enemy. 
Now wIth a guy, it would have been different...you add a couple years (but not TOO many) to the estimate, if they are young, and subtract one or two if they look old:
Guy: "How old do I look?"
Me: "um...29."
Guy: "I'm only 22, but I've always looked mature for my age." 
And here, it can be even worse...someone could look like they've only been here 7 months or so...maybe only 4 weeks...when they have really been around for years.
The moral of the story?
It's either 'appearances can be deceiving' or 'keep your mouth shut', I'm not sure which some days. 
I knock off 5 or 10 years on my estimate just to be safe, and that doesn't always work...
She: "How old do you think I look?"
Me: "I really couldn't say..."
She: "Come on, just guess."
Me: "I really don't like playing this game."
She: "Just guess dammit!"
Me: "Um...37?"
She: "You filthy (expletive deleted) little (expletive deleted)! I'm only 35!"
*quickly walks away*
Now, if I had followed my instincts and said "27" (which would've been a lie) she would have been all sweet and happy and thinking "Maybe he's single"..
But nope...ol' Mykie went with the truth and now has another enemy.
Now wIth a guy, it would have been different...you add a couple years (but not TOO many) to the estimate, if they are young, and subtract one or two if they look old:
Guy: "How old do I look?"
Me: "um...29."
Guy: "I'm only 22, but I've always looked mature for my age."
And here, it can be even worse...someone could look like they've only been here 7 months or so...maybe only 4 weeks...when they have really been around for years.
The moral of the story?
It's either 'appearances can be deceiving' or 'keep your mouth shut', I'm not sure which some days. 27 people like this
25 responses
@JolietJake (50190)
•
1 Feb 16
Um...telling a woman "No" is tantamount to telling her she looks 95...it's a no-win situation
5 people like this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
1 Feb 16
@JolietJake Here's a possible response: "To me, age is not relevant. The question is. How old do you feel? IF you feel young, then you are young and if you feel old, then you are old. I'd say YOU probably feel very young. AM I right?"
5 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
1 Feb 16
@IreneVincent Nope. I feel every day of my 50-odd years...lots of days even older
4 people like this
Not sure I am stupid 
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
1 Feb 16
Age is a touchy subject for sure.
I dont care how old anyone says I am or anything. I know i look good regardless.
6 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
1 Feb 16
I feel 100 some days, and I know even on my worst day I don't look a day over 70, so I'm good
4 people like this
@vandana7 (101776)
• India
2 Feb 16
@JolietJake ..bro simple recipe ...compliment the skin. Your skin looks like that of a teenager. Next day go to the church confess your sin.
3 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
1 Feb 16
@JolietJake Yep Peter Pan. And Wendy lolz
4 people like this
@yukimori (10179)
• United States
1 Feb 16
Some of the independent audits I've done have required me to record employee details. That's definitely my least favorite part.
We had a mystery shopper last month that pegged one of our associates as 10-15 years older than he actually is. There were a lot of colorful words that followed that revelation...
4 people like this
@yukimori (10179)
• United States
1 Feb 16
@JolietJake And here I've never posted a picture of myself here on myLot... 
I think I must be somewhat defective. I'm going to turn 30 this year, and although I'm a bit apprehensive about it, I don't have an issue with telling people my actual age. Really, it's more mind-boggling that our oldest is going to be 6 this year. I don't feel old enough to have a 6-year-old! (Which is hilarious, because some of our friends our ages have 10- and 11-year-olds now... )
I think I must be somewhat defective. I'm going to turn 30 this year, and although I'm a bit apprehensive about it, I don't have an issue with telling people my actual age. Really, it's more mind-boggling that our oldest is going to be 6 this year. I don't feel old enough to have a 6-year-old! (Which is hilarious, because some of our friends our ages have 10- and 11-year-olds now... )3 people like this
I know that I should never guess.
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
2 Feb 16
I only have had trouble with guessing people's age online.... Face to face I don't have much trouble.....
I am also one of those people whose age is always guessed wrong. They always assume me a teenager and ask about my studies in school while in real I am in late twenties.
4 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
2 Feb 16
Late twenties...I can almost remember being that young.
3 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
2 Feb 16
@Daljinder A little of everything...had some bad ones back then as well, I wasn't quite the 'model citizen'
3 people like this
@patgalca (18424)
• Orangeville, Ontario
2 Feb 16
There is another discussion on here where a grandmother was "mistaken" for the child's mother. Nothing against the poster but I think when people are doing that they are just trying to be nice. That it's a way of giving a compliment because I believe I look a lot younger than my age and have been "mistaken" for my daughter's sister or friend, but can't help but wonder whether they are actually just being nice. Because in the past I have forced someone to guess my age and they were actually pretty bang on. That actually depressed me! LOL! He said he knew how old my daughter was so he was taking that into account.
Regardless, I do believe people look younger today than they did in previous eras. I think healthy living has a lot to do with it. Show me a person who doesn't live a healthy life (drinking, smoking, tanning/burning, etc.) and we'll see a person who looks their age if not older.
2 people like this
@patgalca (18424)
• Orangeville, Ontario
2 Feb 16
@JolietJake I didn't say that! Actually, I can't tell from your photo how old you may look.
Actually, I can't tell from your photo how old you may look.2 people like this
@patgalca (18424)
• Orangeville, Ontario
2 Feb 16
@JolietJake Not sure whether to "like" that comment.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (174595)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Feb 16
I would just answer it honestly and hope for the best. If they are looking for a disjointed compliment they will know not to come to you next time.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (174595)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Feb 16
@JolietJake ...Older than the hills.
2 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
2 Feb 16
I'm at the point I don't let myself get in that position much anymore, this idea came to me actually after seeing these facebook quiz things popping up saying 'How old do you look?'
2 people like this
@vandana7 (101776)
• India
2 Feb 16
@JolietJake ..Oh the zero on the right does not count?
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (148501)
• United States
3 Feb 16
You didn't direct your question to me, @vandana7 , but you should know my answer. If you don't or are not sure how I would respond, you can direct it at me and find out!
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
2 Feb 16
myLot says you are 7 years old...you'll have to leave, you need to be 14 to join.
2 people like this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32756)
• Calgary, Alberta
2 Feb 16
I love it when I am mistaken for a tall teenager when I am 30 years old. A strip club didnt let me in because I don't have an ID. 
they think I am 16 or something.
they think I am 16 or something.3 people like this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32756)
• Calgary, Alberta
2 Feb 16
@JolietJake I dont know if we should be mad when we got carded. Its like a compliment that blocks us from doing grown up stuff. I look underage whenever I shave my face.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148501)
• United States
3 Feb 16
@CaptAlbertWhisker @JolietJake My son could look either older or younger than his real age depending on whether he shaved and the way he spoke. I had to take him out of bars several times when he was 16 because he convinced people he was 25!
There is a funny story posted on @VivaLaDani13 's thread (one of them, can't remember which, though.) about what happened the second time I retrieved him from one bar because the bartender thought we were lovers!
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32756)
• Calgary, Alberta
4 Feb 16
@DaddyEvil That bartender 
have a very dirty mind.
have a very dirty mind.1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (148501)
• United States
4 Feb 16
Uhm.... @amadeo ... the people who ask?
Personally, no matter what an avatar looks like, even the person's real picture, I always figure people are around my age, until they tell me their age or make a comment that tells me they are either older or younger than I thought...
Age makes very little difference to me... I'm going to talk to everyone and those that don't like it won't answer back!
@DaddyEvil (148501)
• United States
3 Feb 16
Yeah, perceptions on myLot (and I assume, in real life) can often be far off the mark.
I try to ascertain the truth behind the perception before voicing anything, but can make the mistake of accepting the appearance and only later checking the facts of the matter.
How have you handled that situation? Or, did you do a better job of it than I did? (No, JJ, I would like to know your real thoughts, but am not honestly asking you to voice them here in the open forum. I will always accept a pm from you, should you choose to tell me your experience(s). Thank you.)
2 people like this
@vandana7 (101776)
• India
3 Feb 16
@JolietJake ..Me too...we do have a common ancestor bro...if we can find the missing link..
2 people like this
@vandana7 (101776)
• India
4 Feb 16
@DaddyEvil ..for some reason, when JJ gives an opinion it strikes as an extremely balanced one, right? Same with Dawny. I wish I can reach that level of perfection. And they use so few words to say so much..:(
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (101776)
• India
4 Feb 16
@DaddyEvil ..You forget one thing DE...I have interacted with JJ for longer than you have interacted with me...and he has not resorted to that sort of stuff with me...never needed to. I think he is extremely witty...love his discussions and views. I will have to confirm from Dawny whether she wants an evil one anywhere near her..lol
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15960)
• United States
1 Feb 16
No one EVER has "guessed" my real age, which I tell without hesitation. I've always looked younger than I am, since I became an adult. But, I don't think too many people are good at "guessing" someone's age either. I know I'm not. And I think, like you , they don't WANT to try to guess someone's age, especially women, BECAUSE of the very things you mentioned.
Just yesterday, someone asked me: "What's your secret?" I said: "About what?" She said Betty just told me how old you are and I want to know what your secret is to looking so young?"
She was especially impressed with my hands. They usually give a person's age away. But, I do have young looking hands and very few wrinkles on my face.
3 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
2 Feb 16
My age (appearance wise) appears to be catching up and even perhaps passing me these days, but it should...I lived a pretty hard life and it's bound to pay its toll.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Feb 16
I never understood why women don't want to tell their age. It's just a number. I'm 57 I have never once in my life lied about it.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (148501)
• United States
3 Feb 16
@JolietJake @fishtiger58 I will ask a woman's age if there is a reason I feel I need to know it.... Such as when I first started playing here on myLot. Two of the beautiful young women here and I were skirting very close to a line myLot considers important in keeping this site PG-13. I ask them their ages and once assured they were both over 18, I ask if we could skirt that line a bit more widely as I didn't want any of us to lose our accounts if one of us should stumble a bit over that line... They thought my concern funny, but have skirted the line more widely since that time!
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
2 Feb 16
@JolietJake Ok my weight is my own business lol.
3 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
2 Feb 16
I thought you and I were pretty much the same age, you've got a year on me. I go by the old saying 'Never ask a woman about her age or her weight'.
3 people like this
@alchemistrx (2547)
• Philippines
2 Feb 16
I guess its about lifestyle and the genes that make us look younger as we really are. And also the way we feel good about ourselves makes us look younger that we dont mind our age.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
1 Feb 16
I hate it when people want to play the guess my age game. When they ask I tell them. Often times they are surprised at my response. I have been gifted with good genes.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
4 Feb 16
@JolietJake I look at people my age and say the same JJ. I do see some wrinkles and signs that I am aging. I accept that too. My 40th class reunion is coming up and when I looked at my yearbook and compared it to photos of my classmates today I was so surprised to see how much they have aged. Well, me too, LOL. My point is that so many are not recognizable.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
2 Feb 16
It's weird...seems like when I was young, people that were 50 looked so old...I guess it was relative to my age at the time...now I see some people older than me and think 'There's no way they are that old'...
1 person likes this
@allknowing (145934)
• India
29 Feb 16
The guessing game can be hazardous at times. One never knows which side the wind blows. Moral of the story - just to do not guess. On a serious note we have a false base that makes us guess. If someone who is in their 80 looks younger than the other one then we feel she looks young and so on. Actually there is no base as such to determine the looks agewise.
1 person likes this
@mammots (3209)
• Philippines
1 Feb 16
I'm also not very good at guessing other peoples age especially here in my country wherein there are women who look only in their thirties when in reality they're fifty something years of age even without make-up on. I'll just say "wow you havent aged at all ... you still look as cute and as sexy the last time i saw you three years ago".
2 people like this
@everybodylovespizza (84)
• United States
2 Feb 16
this always makes me laugh. i've always had a baby face so much so that i know i need to bring more than one form of ID with me when I go out. i'm also pretty short so that doesn't help me look any older but i have been hearing the joke "you're gonna love looking so young when you're 50" for as long as i can remember haha. i don't mind looking younger than my age at all but i have noticed i get spoken to differently or looked at differently than many of my friends. not a complaint, just an observation
2 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
2 Feb 16
I've noticed the older I get, the younger everyone else seems to look...I'd probably be carding everyone under 30 if I worked somewhere that required an ID
1 person likes this
