never ask a woman over 30 her age
By winterose
@winterose (39887)
Canada
February 13, 2008 12:40pm CST
there is a feeling here in my canadian culture that you never should ask a woman after the age of 30 her age, it is just plain rude.
Last year I was talking some french courses and the teacher asked the students out loud for their birthdays apparently they office had not collected this information and asked her to do it. Well few males or females in the class were over 30 so she had no problems asking them out loud.
When she got to me, she said Carol, I know you are about my age you can come up and whisper your age in my ear.
I said I have no problem saying my age and I said it out loud, turns out we were born the same years two months apart.
1- would you have said your age out loud in front of the class if you were over 30?
I am going on 53, I do not care that people know my age
2 -Some woman lie when they can, of course you couldn't lie for school but if a friend asks your age would you tell them the truth?
I still would, I have no hand ups over my age,
3- or would you tell them it was none of their business?
answer all three question with what YOU THE READER would do, for best response,
telling me what I should have done will get you a negative rating, I already said what I did and I am happy with it.
4 people like this
21 responses
@anonymili (3138)
•
14 Feb 08
I am 40 and have no issues with it. If it was me, I would have done just as you did. People often tell me I look 10 years younger than my age, I don't know if I believe them, but they do say 40 is the new 20 haha, I certainly don't believe that either! But it's only vanity that stops people from admiting their age and I say people because I know some guys who won't admit in public how old they are. A guy I have known since childhood asked me not to tag photos of him from family parties on facebook as he thought other people he knows would see them and work out he's nearly 40 when he's been telling people he's 32 or something LOL! How sad! It'll all come out somehow and then it will be even more embarrassing! Good for you for being honest. x
3 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
14 Feb 08
of course I had to be honest it was for the school, but the teacher gave me the option of telling her in private or in front of the class I don\t have a thing about my age so I said it in front of the class.
yes some people do have hangups about age, whatever we are we are and we can't fight it it is just life.
2 people like this
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
13 Feb 08
I am a 35 years old primary school teacher. Many children have asked me my age and I have told them that I am older than them but not yet as old as the Queen. I come from the UK in case you are wondering. I don't think a person should feel bad about saying their age. I have a sister 5 years ol35der than me and people that met us thought i was the older sister. When I was 16 I tried to look 18 and when I was 20 I liked to look 25. I am now over the age of 30 so I answer your questions.
1. Yes, I would have said my age in front of the class. That is 35 years old.
2. I would tell a friend the truth about my age. But one of my friends told me he was two years younger than he was. My friend's husband was 24 for 6 years.
3. I would tell other adults my age but I woudn't share my age with children that I teach. I tell them it is none of their business in a polite way.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
13 Feb 08
I agree, for young children it is none of their business, the question among adults is totally different depending upon the situation, sometimes for adults too it is none of their business, but in general I have no problems with my age, nor my mother who is 73. My finance has no clue how old his mom is she would never tell him, all we know is that she is over 80 years old
@MGjhaud (23240)
• Philippines
15 Feb 08
really? wow, that's amazing thing in your country. well here in Philippines, people somehow would joke their age even if their on their 30's, 40's or up and still single. though they worry a little but they don't take it as an insult at all if once asked of their age. Generally people are just cool with it.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160713)
• United States
17 Feb 08
I would tell my age in front of a college class. My friends know my age, unless they forget. I will tell a stranger that it is none of their business, because it is not, but a friend can know my age, because they are my friends.
2 people like this
@Jemina (5770)
•
18 Feb 08
I have never wanted to tell a lie regarding my age or anything because then if people finds out the truth it would be more embarrassing on my part if talk about my real age behind my back.
Also I wouldn't be able to get rid of the nagging guilt that I didn't tell the truth.
Anyway, people think and say that I look younger than my age so I even say it head up how old I am. And I always get a surprised look. The only thing that bothers me when they ask about my age is that they follow it up with, "why are you still single?" But that's another issue.
@WiteNgtOwl (304)
• United States
14 Feb 08
Hello I'm turning 30 in about 10 days. I will admit I have been alittle scared of doing it. I feel when your 30 your getting old. I cant act young any more. But for the last few days i'm trying to accept it.
1- I think I would hesitate alitle but I think I would tell.
2- My friends know me to well for me to lie about my age.
3- I'd just smile and talk about it if they wanted to.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
14 Feb 08
turning thirty can be a bit scarry but scary for me was turning 40 and by the time I turned 50 I didn't care anymore.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
23 Feb 08
My mother and I don't give a flying flip who knows our ages. I'm twenty six, and my husband's going to be sixty two in April! *grin* We both have a wicked sense of humour when it comes to our ages, and we are not afraid to use it.
My sister is older than I am by a bit, and isn't really crazy about telling people her age. No one in my family can understand why that is the case. What is age? Nothing to worry about.
1 person likes this
@magica (3707)
• Bulgaria
14 Feb 08
Most women are sensitive to this question, then more the stereotype is that if you are 30+ - you are too old and the only pleasure for you is to have husband and children. This is men`s fault, they usually prefer sexy babies at 18 or even schoolgirls. This is a typical men`s complex: they believe that if they have too young girlfriend-this makes them very great lovers:)
1 person likes this
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
14 Feb 08
Fine, but if we're dating I think I have a right to know. It's not that I would be turned off if I found out she was older than me. I just don't want her to lie to me.
1 person likes this
@mizrae (587)
• United States
13 Feb 08
I have never ever had a problem telling anyone my age at any time! So
1. I am 56 years old and would tell the class out loud.
2. All my friends know how old I am, and when I meet someone new, if we become friends, or seem to be in a friendly conversation, if asked how old I am, I tell the truth.
3. I would only tell someone that it was none of their business if I felt uncomfortable with that particular individual, say a total stranger on the street who was acting "strange"
I do know many women would like others to think they are younger because they "think" they look younger, but I've always said "I have earned every one of my gray hairs, lines and wrinkles and am proud to show them off."
1 person likes this
@CherylsPearls (1269)
• United States
13 Feb 08
1 - Yes, I would have said my age out loud. I'm glad I've lived this long (I'm 53), and I hope to live a lot longer!
2 - I wouldn't lie to friends about my age.
3 - No, I don't mind anyone knowing how old I am.
I'll tell you something funny, though. My Dad lived to be 85. When he was in his late 70's, I was talking to a friend and said something like, "I'm 40 now." My Dad's face looked like he just ate a lemon. I said, "What's wrong?" He said, "Please stop telling people how old you are. It makes me look old." lol He was sort of kidding, by the way. Now that I have a 35 year-old I know what he means, though! I don't feel old saying that I'm 53, but I feel old when I say I have a 35 year-old daughter! lol
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
13 Feb 08
wow you were young when you had your daughter, I am going to be 53 in march and my son is 31 and yes that feels funny to think my son is 31.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
13 Feb 08
I was always told to respect women generally, never ask their age (or look in their bags) and hold the door for them to pass through ahead of me. I guess that some people, like yourself, are quite happy to state their age (and I think that it becomes easier with age) and other not so happy. Your tutor would have been quite wrong to demand your age, and I think that she did the right thing giving you the option. For myself I would have been happy to say my age, I would tell the truth and if I felt that it was not their business I would have found some other way to provide the information needed. Probably by seeing the tutor afterwards or going to the office.
1 person likes this
@janicebrown (44)
• Canada
13 Feb 08
I for one would have definately said my age out loud, I am not ashamed or proud of how old I am (47). I only lie to friends of the family because there are so many of us one year apart, it is done in fun just to bug my 3 younger sisters. I would not tell them it was none of their business, I think I look okay for all of my 47 years, the greys are just starting to peak. Howaa (Thank-you) Carol - Winterrose
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
13 Feb 08
hey I am proud of my age, and prouder more as I grow older, this society has way too many hang ups about age
@grammycathy (4)
• United States
13 Feb 08
1 - I wouldn't have a problem saying my age out loud in front of the class
2 - I have never lied about my age, I am proud to be 56
3 - If I didn't think someone needed to know, I just tell them I am as old as Jack Benny (he was 39 forever) haha
I pretty much look younger than I am (in fact my baby sister looks older than I do) so I get a kick out of people when they don't believe my age. Most people who just meet me can't believe that I have 7 grandchildren.
"You aren't old enough to have 7 grandkids" is the usual response.
Those milestones that the kids or grandkids keep hitting are the only thing that really makes me feel my age (my kids hitting 30, the grandkids becoming teenagers, etc.)
1 person likes this
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
13 Feb 08
1. yes I would tell my age in front of the class. I am 68 years old.
2. No I would never lie to a friend or anyone else about my age.
3. It depends on the situation. In school I would not say that, if my friends asked I would not say that. If I was in a social situation like a party and a totoal stranger would ask me I would ask back "who wants to know?
1 person likes this
@raydene (9871)
• United States
14 Feb 08
I wear my every year with pride.
I guess that don't ask is common everywhere..I'm not sure why but it's almost like people are ashamed to get old but in reality they should be honored and respected becuase you have to have learned something in all they years you live,no?
oxooxoxxoxoxo
1 person likes this
@laurika (4532)
• United States
14 Feb 08
Very nice discussion, let me tell you at first. i never had really problem about saying my age, since i am 23, so what's the problem about that. But since I met my husband, who is much older than me, it annoy me, when i am with him and the people ask me, how old i am. i think it is none of their business to compare me to him with age, they should look at us, like a couple and maybe try to look how I am like a person, not how young I look. In your position if I would be in the class i would say it loud too.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
14 Feb 08
you need to answer the questions to get a good rating, you did not answer the questions
@chrysz (1602)
• Philippines
14 Feb 08
I won't lie about my age, whether in school or with my friends because it is how you age mentally, emotionally, spitually that people base their judgment of what you are and what you have become and not just based on your biological age.
