Is anyone else older than people think they are?

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belladaisy
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23 Nov 2012, 4:04 pm

I'm 27, and it's got to the point where people actually register shock when they find out how old I am. I think it's a combination of things. Firstly, I've been told I have a baby face which I suppose I can't really do anything about. But it's compounded by the fact that my voice and mannerisms are somewhat childish. Then, there's also the fact that I don't like to talk about things 'typical' for a 27 year old, eg. work, relationships, kids, age appropriate tv shows (whatever they are). If I talk at all, it's usually about the Simpsons, Anglo-Saxon history or the Bible. So, it happens quite frequently that I'll be talking to someone and when they find out how old I am, they make a huge deal about it, and say something like 'I can't believe you're 27, I thought you were so much younger!' To be honest, it's embarrassing, especially as it now happens every time I mention my age. I could put up with it when I was 22 and people thought I was 16. But some people still think I'm 16-18, approximately 10 years younger than I actually am. I don't particularly want to be 27, either, so it's a hard reminder of my real age (I forget a lot of the time!).

So, just wondering if that happens to anyone else - do people think you are younger than you really are?



dyingofpoetry
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23 Nov 2012, 4:20 pm

Looking younger than our age is a common ASD trait. I'm 49 and everyone seems to think I'm 39, which is great, so I guess I shouldn't complain.


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undercaffeinated
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23 Nov 2012, 4:34 pm

Sort of... for me it's been more of a "looks a lot closer to 20 than he is" thing.

When I was in my mid-teens, people usually thought I was older than I was. When I got older, though, people started thinking I was a lot younger than I really was. I'm nearing 40 now, and if I'm clean shaven people seem to think I'm in my mid 20's. If I don't shave, I they place me closer to 30.

I don't look, sound, or (usually) behave in a child-like way, I just appear to age slowly it seems. I have a lot of hair that shows no signs of receeding, though, so that might contribute to the younger look -- people seem to expect a certain amount of hair loss in men.

I used to get asked for ID for cigarettes fairly often even just a few years ago, though I was more than 15 years past the legal age (I don't smoke anymore, though). I used to think I'd just gotten lucky genetically (as far as aging goes), but I've found out since that this apparent slow aging is pretty common with AS..



thewhitrbbit
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23 Nov 2012, 4:53 pm

I was training a student employee on how to configure the BIOS settings on faculty computers and the screen came up and said "Phoenix Rom BIOS Copyright 1985-1988 Phoenix Technologies"

I looked at her and said "Hey that was copyrighted the same year I was born."

She looked at me and said "No way."

I said "Older or younger"

She said "Older, I thought you were 30"

I said "Nope, 25."



AProudHillbilly
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23 Nov 2012, 5:37 pm

I'm almost 30 and if I were to go and purchase alcohol, I would still get carded. The post-mistress couldn't believe I was any older than 17 when she first saw me. I don't see it.


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nebrets
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23 Nov 2012, 5:53 pm

I am frequently mistaken for being about 10 years younger than I am. At my new job I surprised my co-workers numerous times with my age. One thought I was 15 (even though it was a school day and that is too young to be hired), another person thought 17 or 18 (as I was not in school) and put me at having just graduated high school, as opposed to finished college and having pursued post-graduated studies.


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Stalk
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23 Nov 2012, 6:32 pm

Same here, everywhere I go, everybody think I'm a kid. They openly talk about it at work, like I'm not there. Commenting on kids working there. Annoying as hell, like nobody would take me seriously.



Watilla
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23 Nov 2012, 6:33 pm

In person, people mistake me as younger. Online (can't see me), they mistake me as being older, sometimes even 15-20+ years older than I am.

Oh well.



Salome
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23 Nov 2012, 6:33 pm

I'm 35 and still get carded when I buy alcohol.



muslimmetalhead
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23 Nov 2012, 7:40 pm

I think this is a common thing among Aspies, because (remember this is just what i believe) of the innocence of Aspies conpared to our age, and just our faces seem to look younger.

I do mistaken for a freshman by my fellow students who have only met me this year abd dont know how long ive been in high school


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rabidmonkey4262
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23 Nov 2012, 9:11 pm

Yes, it's due to the simple facts that I don't wear makeup like other females my age and I have a healthy lifestyle.


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Ewags
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23 Nov 2012, 9:14 pm

I am 38 and look 38.



rabidmonkey4262
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23 Nov 2012, 9:16 pm

muslimmetalhead wrote:
I do mistaken for a freshman by my fellow students who have only met me this year abd dont know how long ive been in high school


I used to pick up this kid from school when his parents were working and I was about 23. One time a teacher asked me if I was a student. It wouldn't be such a big deal if this was a high school kid, but I was at an elementary school when this happened. 8O


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guitarman2010
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24 Nov 2012, 9:32 am

Yeah.....I get that too. I'm 29 and many people will think I'm only 20 lol......now if only I didn't smoke cigarettes


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mds_02
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24 Nov 2012, 9:39 am

People are often surprised when they find out how old I really am.

But, to be fair, I'm often surprised when I remember how old I really am.



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24 Nov 2012, 9:53 am

Quote:
Is anyone else older than people think they are?

i am sure that there are millions of people who would answer "yes", and millions that would say "no" and billions of people who were undecided. i could not be bothered to verify their assertions individually, so i would just disengage and retreat to my simple world again where all is well.