AIBU?
To think adults ageing themselves up is odd
Beatinghearts · 07/05/2021 11:14
I have a friend who’s 24 but as she’s 25 in July. She’s now saying she’s 25. Aibu to think it’s odd to age yourself up two months before your birthday. I understand it when children do it but can’t understand why an adult would want to.
Titterofwit · 07/05/2021 11:22
Michael Palin was quoted in a newspaper recently as saying that he was currently 77 but was going to skip being 78 &79 and go straight to 80. He was looking forward to people saying he looked very good for his age.
Maybe your friend is insecure about her looks?
Fizbosshoes · 07/05/2021 11:38
I was musing the other day that children (say under 10) often like to feel older, saying I'm 6 and 3/4 for example. Then teens might pretend to be older to go to certain films, into clubs, pubs etc.
But after that the majority of adults are either quite coy about their age, or would only mention it and say it as it is, when questioned.(although some celebs seem to be a bit creative with age!)
...until you get to say 80, when people seem to be quite proud of it. "I'll be 85 this year you know!" When I speak to an elderly relative and ask how he is, he often says "not bad for 90"
user1471554720 · 07/05/2021 11:43
Sometimes people feel they get a bit more respect as they age. Less can be expected of them. Eg if you always finf IT hard, you may say, I am 59 and find it hard. If you say you are 57, they may expect you to just get on with it.
With the people of 80, others can say, they are very active and alert for 80. 78 doesn't have the same ring.
A work colleague was 30 but was fit to tell people she was 32. She had a round, young face and people always thought she looked in her early to mid 20s. She was treated a bit more junior and was not treated like a 30 year old.
My life is a liot more busy than others my age as I work nearly fulltime and a lot of them do 3 days a week. I get very tired and don't have energy for socialising. Even though I am 48, 49 in 3 months, I am fit to tell people I am nearly 50 and work fulltime with 2 tweens, especially if they badger ne to go on a night out.
JeremyIronsBenFolds · 07/05/2021 11:49
I had a work colleague who did this - she was the same age as me, but actively encouraged people to believe she was several years older, ie claiming to remember events that she would have been too young for, no reference to her age on her birthday, etc. I had suspected for a while but I only confirmed her true age when I heard her calling her bank. She used to patronise the hell out of me so it was really galling, but she turned out to be a fantasist in other areas as well - like her actual work experience! She got fired in the end - total loon 
BestZebbie · 07/05/2021 12:08
I agree, it is rounding/simplification. I'm 39 but I would happily refer to myself as 40 because it is a round number that is easy to understand, whereas 39 seems more...picky and precise.
It is exactly the same as when someone who lives in a village gets asked where the come from on holiday and says "near ".
SwedishK · 07/05/2021 12:08
Yes, it's weird. I had an acquaintance who told everyone she was 43. She had a 15 year old DD and it all made sense. She got tons of compliments, that she looked so incredible for her age, etc. Turned out, she was actually just 30, and had her DD at 15. She still looks incredibly good, and she's a yoga teacher so really fit, but it wasn't that remarkable for a 30 year old. However, the lying made her less attractive.
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