Why Lie?

[NightAngel]

This happened at work but ultimately isn't really work related. This guy was adding a woman to his account as a secondary renter. She looked to be late 40's to early 50's (as did he). The computer has spots for the secondary's name and age. All we really need is the name but I am OCD and I hate blank fields on accounts.

Me: "Date of birth?"
Her: "day/mo/1975."
Me: *stares*
Me: *blinks*
Me: "Oookay."

That would make her 32- I'm 35. So either she's a big fat liar OR she needs to quit doing whatever it is that's making her look 50.

Anyhoo~ why lie about your age? I don't get it.

:confused:

[Ducky Dew]

People are funny critters, and we’re so age-obsessed in our society that I’m sure it happens a lot. Personally, I can remember clearly a time in my life when I truly believed I wouldn’t live to see 35. And, to be honest, if I’d kept living my life the way I was at the time I quite likely wouldn’t have. However, having learned from my mistakes and chosen a different path, I’m now quite proud to be my age.

Even if some people do find the notion of a 44 yr. old head-banging gamer Mom disturbing.

[NightAngel]

... Even if some people do find the notion of a 44 yr. old head-banging gamer Mom disturbing.

You and me both! Headbanging Gamer Mom's Unite!

We need a mascot... :D

[Misanthropical]

I don't see the point of lying about my age, even if people do think I'm lying. Why would I lie to make myself older? :confused:

I'm actually proud of the fact that I don't look or act my age. :p

I also do the headbanger thing too. OZZY! OZZY! :o

[RecoveringKinkoid]

"I don't see the point of lying about my age, even if people do think I'm lying. Why would I lie to make myself older? "

I've said that same thing many, many times. People think I'm lying, and I just say, "honey, women do not lie about being older than they are. Not when they are my age." ;)

[Greenday]

I've lied about my age plenty of times. Like a few years ago when I wasn't old enough to get into rated R movies. Or because the drinking age is 21 and I'm only 19 and the cops busting the party ask me how old I am...

But seriously, I don't see the point in giving an age which you definately aren't.

[PuckishOne]

Why do people lie about their age? Because it works. Greenday got into his R-rated movies and got his booze, and that woman will get SOMEone to buy into her story as well, for some benefit.

We seem to be terrified of the concept of age, despite the fact that nowhere in recorded history does the phrase "a very wise and learned adolescent" exist." (This isn't a knock against adolescents, just a reminder that the longer we live, the more we see the opportunities around us for enjoying and absorbing life.)

And now, I'm going to go enjoy being a 36-year-old woman in all my glory. :D

[ArenaBoy]

From a Chinese proverb that should explain it all: Man fools himself, he prays for a long life but fears an old age.

[Jester]

Not counting when I was under 21, I have lied about my age once. I was 28, dancing with a hot 18 year old in a club, and she asked me how old I was. I balked and said 22 (I looked it, too), and she was cool with that. I figured 28 would have scared her off. As it turned out, it was a moot point, as nothing happened between me and her.

That being said, not everyone who appears to be lying about their age is. Some people just don't look their age at all. At one extreme we have my girlfriend, the infamous Reformed Waitress, who is 25....and looks about 18 or 19. Sometimes younger, depending on how she is wearing her hair. Yes, kids, I have gotten a few dirty looks from people around town when I am out with her. :lol: Cause even though I don't look my 37 years, I still look like I am in my low 30's (or at best high 20's). Of course, if I shaved my goatee off, I would look even younger, but that is another story.

On the other extreme, of course, there are people who look much older than they are. My friend Frank, while actually three years my junior, looks much older than me, and many people were guessing him to be in his forties before he even turned 30! A girl I knew from the bar when I was about 22 was 28, but looked about 40. Some people age badly, some are born with less-kind genes than myself or RW.

So it is altogether possible that this woman who looked to be in her forties was in fact only 32. Having dealt with carding people of all ages for years, I can tell you that people are quite often far from their apparent age to their actual age.

[blas]

I can easily get out of things I don't want to do if I lie and say I'm 16. Aka, getting rid of unwanted suitors, getting rid of those survey people at the mall (they won't let people under 18 do the surveys), getting rid of certain salespeople especially the door to door ones.

I just gotta watch myself and make sure I'm not purchasing anything that you have to be 18 to buy if I've already lied about my age to someone.

[myswtghst]

See, I find it all hilarious, as I'm proud of my age. Granted, I'm only 24 (as of today!) but still. I get asked for ID constantly, and am often told I look 17, which is a pain. I've never lied about my age, but because so many people do, people often think I'm lying.

Granted, as I keep telling my mom (who is 56 and looks about 45 at most, IMO), I'll be grateful I look younger than my age once I get old enough to feel old. ;)

[NotSoInnocent]

You and me both! Headbanging Gamer Mom's Unite!

We need a mascot... :D

YES!!!! :D We rock out loud! hmm... maybe something in a nice black with a flame pattern to it?....

[rdp78]

You know I think Jester might be right I mean she is probably one of those unlucky souls who age faster then most people. I mean genes have something to do with how we age but your lifestyle can also effect how fast you age. I mean if you have an unhealthy diet, aren't very active and party too hard then you might age faster then say someone who eats very healthy, workouts almost everyday and doesn't party to much.

About being younger then you look, I tell you having acne still doesn't do justice for me and yes makes me much younger (I've gotten carded for lotto tickets last year). Then again I've had problems with my hair thining, found out later I was really going bald (oh, that was fun to hear when you are female) but I've used Rogaine (generic, the real stuff is too expensive) and now my hair is a bit fuller. I do have a couple wrinkles under my both of my eyes but they are small and with glasses almost invisible. Heck, I've ordered a glass of wine (I would note the places were dimly litted) and didn't get but I was good girl showed my ID. I think it's what people look at or notice as well.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I think the last time I lied about my age I was 15 and still getting into the movies for the kids' price (and really, I didn't lie, they just assumed and I didn't correct them). My best friend and I both, and she's 6 months older than me (we look more alike than either of us looks like our siblings). Her sister, on the other hand, was assumed to be older and got charged the adult price at 11!

I have a friend who is 20 and is probably less likely to get carded for drinks than I am...(I have seen her order a beer and the server didn't blink an eye).

[Misanthropical]

When I was a teenager, people always assumed I was older than I was, but now people assume I'm younger than I really am.

Jester, my husband gets those same dirty looks when we go out together, but he just gives those people a big smile, since he is the one going home with me. ;)

[FuzzyKitten99]

I stopped counting when I hit 25... I fear the big 3-0 for some reason.

[katie kaboom]

I stopped counting when I hit 25... I fear the big 3-0 for some reason.

you and me both....and mine isn't even until next year. i dread it already.:cry:

[NightAngel]

you and me both....and mine isn't even until next year. i dread it already.:cry:

30 is nothing to fear really. I kind of thought, "Geez! I'm gonna be 30..." and then it came and went and I discovered that it really was just like any other b-day. I've said it before and I'll say it again- I've found my 30's to be quite enjoyable. :)

[Jester]

Jester, my husband gets those same dirty looks when we go out together, but he just gives those people a big smile, since he is the one going home with me. ;)

Yes, but you see, they are not always giving me dirty looks because they envy being out with the rockin' hot chick that is RW. Sometimes they are the dirty looks of "What is that dude doing out with an underage high schooler? That is disgusting!" I am amused by it, frankly, but it can be a bit offputting.

Amusing sidenote: we have a new hostess at The Bar where RW and I work, a girl who is 17 who used to be one of my regulars when I did magic a few years ago at The Corporate Chain Restaurant. She briefly met RW the other day, then turned to me and the following conversation ensued...

NEW HOSTESS: "Um, how OLD is your girlfriend?"
JESTER: (playing innocent)"Why? How old do you think she is?"
NEW HOSTESS: "She looks young. What is she, about 17?"
JESTER: "No. Hehehehe....she is actually 25."
NEW HOSTESS: "REALLY?!?"


I stopped counting when I hit 25... I fear the big 3-0 for some reason.

Many do. I always said to my friends that if my thirties were half as good as my twenties had been, they'd rock. So far, they've been TWICE as good. (Of course, the fact that I have live all of my thirties in Key West may have something to do with that.....)

:wave:

[Broomjockey]

I do not fear my aging, as I've yet to mature in any appriciable way. My only issue is I have trouble remembering my actual age. I somehow manage to lag about three years behind sometimes. When I was 21, I would say "I'm eigh...twentyone." Now I'm 24, and I've said 21 more than once, and 23 a couple of times. I miss when my age was the same as my shoe size. Hard to get it mixed up then.

[Shabo]

When my mom and dad were dating, my dad would tell friends that he was going to bring his two daughters and his girlfriend over. (My parents are 10 years apart, and my mom's 9 years older then my half-sisters). They would show up, and the friends would look at my parents and go, "I thought you had 2 daughters? Where's your girlfriend?" :roll:


I bet that woman in the OP smokes. Heavily. And does drugs.

I seem to have a very ambiguous age myself. I like to ask people I meet how old they think I am, and I very rarely get the same answer. Although now people tend to guess closer to my actual age since I got my hair cut shorter. One Christmas, when I was 20, I had a lady come up to me at a church that we used to go to and be like, "OMG, you've gotten so big! How old are you now, 12? 13?" I think I was a little short with her when I told her how old I really was. Yeah. Thanks lady.

[katie kaboom]

How old are you now, 12? 13?" I think I was a little short with her when I told her how old I really was. Yeah. Thanks lady.

See, now that's just insulting. I'd have been pissed off if someone implied i was 12 or 13 when i was actually 20. Some people need to learn to just keep their big mouths shut.:mad:

[Misanthropical]

Yes, but you see, they are not always giving me dirty looks because they envy being out with the rockin' hot chick that is RW. Sometimes they are the dirty looks of "What is that dude doing out with an underage high schooler? That is disgusting!" I am amused by it, frankly, but it can be a bit offputting.

He gets those looks too. It doesn't bother us anymore. He use to get upset when people assumed I was his daughter, but now it doesn't bother him anymore.

Funny story: I had him take a pair of my pants to the dry cleaner for some alterations. When I went into to get them, the lady told me my father had dropped them off. I informed her it was my husband who dropped them off and not my father. She gave me a :eek: look. :lol:

[Greenday]

When I was younger, I used to look younger than I was because I was short, so I always managed to snag child discounts. Then I hit puberty and shot up. Since then, I've apparently seemed older than I was.

One time, at work, I was training a new girl in the back registers. (Why they had me do that, I don't know...) So the driver, my boss's son who teched, and I asked her how old she thought we all were. She guessed the driver was 25/26, my boss's son was 21, and I was 18/19. The driver just turned 21, the boss's son was 25, and I was 16. Good times.

My junior year of high school, I had people already asking me when I was going BACK to college. One of my co-workers, poor girl, would have people ask her how many years before she was done with high school. That was last year when she was 20.

I honestly don't think I look a lot older than I am, but my mom says it has to do with how I act and talk to people. I guess not causing mischief and mayhem makes you older by a couple years.

[Cia]

I quit counting when I hit 38 plus it's the only number I remember. I don't know if I look my age or younger/older and don't care either.

[blas]

People assuming is stupid altogether in itself.

Men my father's age have approached him and asked my dad in the bathroom at restaurants before if that "hot little thing" is his girlfriend or wife.

How anyone has the courage to even approach that angry looking grizzly bear and ask such stupid questions is beyond me.

Dad always says, "Too bad decapitiation and disemboweling is illegal"

Oh, I talked to a wonderful guy the other weekend at a party. He looked at me and said, "What are you, 12?" and I replied, "What are you, drunk?"

[rdp78]

This reminds me I saw on Oprah on a eposide in February. Anyway show about woman and aging as well as showing the new Dove ads on the subject. On one segment they had regular women who well, looked and feel much younger then what their calendar age.

Anyway they had one woman who blew me away and probably everyone else. Anyway she was an African-American lady (not that was important but Oprah did say something that is hard to tell how old a darker skin person is sometimes) and well, she looked like she was probably about 40 years old or even younger. She wore a nice sleeveless dress, her shoulder length hair was black/dark brown and her brown skin was very smooth. Well, she was 70 years old and I think I was like wow she doesn't look like 70 (I mean she didn't have one wrinkle or gray hair on her) of course, she doesn't feel 70 either :lol:. She also has a 50 year old son who well, from what I remember looked much younger then 50 too (it's got a be the genes) and they are often mistaken as a couple when together. Well, her secert was that from what I remember is that she meditates quite often, exercises a lot including Rollerblading and well, moisturizes everyday. I'm thinking she is going to live past hundred too and look like she is under fifty years old by that time.

[TNT]

I was only ever tempted to lie about my age once... it was about ten years ago, and I worked with a 19 year old who I thought was so cool she was red hot... We got along great and we talked a lot. Then...

Co-worker: My mother says I'm too mature to go out with guys my own age and that I should date a guy who's 30.
Me: Wow... by an odd coincidence, I'm thirty...
Co-worker: <smiles at me>
Me: <smiles back>
Co-worker: <smiles some more>
Me: ... eight.
Co-worker: Noooooooooo.
Me: For real.
Co-worker: Well, I guess I'll talk to you later.

Alas, she never did.

And then there was Emmy, my most bizarre, yet best relationship ever. Strangers would look at us, then look away like they hadn't seen what they just saw. It wasn't just the considerable age difference... it was more that we looked like the two most unlikely people to ever get together. But there was this one woman in her fifties... 3AM in an all-night restaurant... she looked at us, smiled, and nodded approvingly. To this day, I still wonder what she was thinking.

[Jester]

She also has a 50 year old son who well, from what I remember looked much younger then 50 too (it's got a be the genes)...

I would say genetics has a lot to do with it. I know in my own family that seems to be the case. My older sister is 41, and doesn't look it at all. I would not be surprised if she still gets carded occasionally. My younger sister is 35 and still looks like a teenager. (The fact that she's 4'11" has something to do with that as well, I am sure.) My mom is closing on 72 and looks better than many people in their fifties. And of course I don't like my 37 years. Heck, if I shaved my goatee, I would REALLY not look my age.

Which, much to RW's worry, I am considering doing. I have a haircut appointment in 30 minutes, and my haircutter also trims my goatee. I am thinking about having her shaved it off completely. Of course, this probably won't happen.....in the last nine years, I have shaved off the goat three times, and spent a total combined time of four weeks clean shaven. But who knows? The good thing is both of the bars I work at right now won't really have a problem if I decided to grow it back and have some stubble for a few days. (It takes me five days to grow the damn thing back.)

[Tanasi]

Wait till you're given the senior citizen discount and you're not old enough to qualify and didn't ask for it. Wait until people refer to your kids as your grandkids. Wait until you're asked to come to school as a Korean War vet and you were barely old enough for the tail end of Viet Nam. Wait until you realize there's probably less days in front of you than there is behind. On those days live them to the fullest and have no regrets because you can't do damned thing about it. I've often thought youth is wasted on the young because they don't appreiate what they have.