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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask if you lie about your age

68 replies

ShakyMilk · 13/02/2017 12:52

AIBU to ask if you lie about your age ... and if so why? I always wonder how many people actually do.

OP posts:
Trills · 13/02/2017 13:22

People saying "You don't look your age" is not really much of a compliment.

They are saying "your age is an age that I consider to be old and haggard and decrepit, and you are not those things".

If you are 50 then how you look is within the range of "how people of 50 look". They just imagine that 50 year olds should look "worse" than that. That's not a compliment to you, the 50 year old.

EveOnline2016 · 13/02/2017 13:22

Lie when under 18 to buy alcohol, but now I see no reason to lie.

Original poster
ShakyMilk · 13/02/2017 13:25

MrsJayy it's weird isn't it. It just draws more attention to the fact they've got an issue with it. Sure fire way to get people scrutinising your face!!

OP posts:
KylieJo · 13/02/2017 13:26

What is the point stating a false age anyway? I understand why teens would want to and try to do it, but the rest .... ?

TheWeeBabySeamus1 · 13/02/2017 13:28

I did when I was younger - made myself older to buy cigs and beer and younger to get cheap fares on buses.

At the minute I'm truthful but I'm turning 30 this year so that may change Grin

MaidOfStars · 13/02/2017 13:28

Not since I was less than 18. No need anyway - I'm so used to people expressing delight/disbelief when they find out my real age that I'm often tempted to add a few years on. I'm 40, and proud of it.

MaisyPops · 13/02/2017 13:30

| Iamastonis
I don't tell my teenage students my age. Nothing to do with being pathetic or insecure, I just don't share that information with students. If they ask again, they get told I'm 21. But then it's fairly obvious that I'm not, but there's always a couple who'll believe it.

MrsJayy · 13/02/2017 13:30

Was weird and a silly conversation got awkward im not sure where she was steering the conversation.

Deadsouls · 13/02/2017 13:31

No,

littlepeas · 13/02/2017 13:32

I usually fudge it and say 30 something, which is true, but not exact Grin. This is actually more because I had my dc in my mid-late 20's in an area where most people do it 10 years older…….I got sick of the gasps when people heard my age. Obviously I haven't lied to anyone I am very friendly with, as would get caught out very quickly!

TheMaddHugger · 13/02/2017 13:33

a few years back I was adding age to my real age by a maths mistake [severe dyslexic]. I was always told Wow, you look young for * haha

😂 🤣

MrsJayy · 13/02/2017 13:34

Maisy that is understandable you don't want to share information with a bunch of teenagers but other adults is odd. I saw a singer on tv say she was 36 i thought ooo showbiz age

BigBangTheory789 · 13/02/2017 13:34

No, I know many ppl who are extremely sensitive about their age and will not say it but I don't feel the need to lie at all. Mainly because I actually do look younger than I am so maybe that's why it doesn't bother me. You are the age you are, I honestly don't understand why ppl would lie about it or why it is such a sensitive issue to some...

TheMaddHugger · 13/02/2017 13:34

^^ Age , young for your age.

Okite · 13/02/2017 13:35

No, never have (as an adult...I claimed to be 15 for a few years to get cheap bus fares and 18 to get served in bars). Can't imagine why you would, being old(er)/aging isn't anything to be ashamed of, it's just life.

MrsJayy · 13/02/2017 13:35

Im 45 and have a 24yr old i get you dont look old enough well i guess not but it is what it is.

TheMaddHugger · 13/02/2017 13:36

I am a Proud 52 yrs old. short fat pillow of a woman. Yessssssssssss
😂 🤣

Katedotness1963 · 13/02/2017 13:36

no, but it seems I forget my age at times. Last month, when I was tormenting my husband about just how ancient he is, I suddenly realised I'm a year older than I was giving myself credit for...Blush

Iamastonished · 13/02/2017 13:37

I totally get why you wouldn't want to share that information with your students. Why would they even ask anyway? Being cagey about it with other adults is a bit odd though.

Kr1stina · 13/02/2017 13:38

People saying "You don't look your age" is not really much of a compliment.They are saying "your age is an age that I consider to be old and haggard and decrepit, and you are not those things". If you are 50 then how you look is within the range of "how people of 50 look". They just imagine that 50 year olds should look "worse" than that. That's not a compliment to you, the 50 year old

I really wish this wasn't true but I fear that it is .

Like the threads on MN where young women say " oh I want to have all my kids before I'm 30. Because otherwise I'll be 40 when my kids are in high school and I'm be too tired and old to do thing with them and perhaps even disabled and lying on my bed all day or have heart disease or diabetes and die before they are 20 " .

It's like they have never met anyone over 40 and imagine it's the same as over 90.

So I'd imagine that when they say " you don't look 50" they mean " gosh you can still drive and hold down a job and have your own teeth, how amazing " .

citybushisland · 13/02/2017 13:40

Not since I was a teenager going to pubs. My mother on the other hand has lied about her age all my life. Her 'best' friend of 50+ years believes her to be 10 years younger than she is! It's because my dad was 7 years younger than her, in turn she looked/looks MUCH younger. At 85 she looks to be in her early to mid 60s so still gets told how fab she looks for her (not real) age. To be fair she looks after herself.

TheNaze73 · 13/02/2017 13:41

I don't see the point. Surely what you act like is more important. I know younger people that act middle age & vice versa.

MrsJayy · 13/02/2017 13:43

I saw somebody on a thread say elderly lady when asked how elderly oh 63 63 is hardly elderly imo

K425 · 13/02/2017 13:44

Only lied about my age when I was a teen, to get into the local nightclub. Since then, there have been inadvertent errors - my brain seemed to like 28 and 36, for some reason, but that was more an "I'm 36. Er. No, I'm 35/37". Right now I'm 50, and loving it!

LaurieMarlow · 13/02/2017 13:45

Yes, I have done.

I work in a very youth focused industry and I dress and look (well, I think I do) younger than I am, so I knock a year or two off.

Partly vanity, partly insecurity in an industry that values youth.