How to deflect "how old are you" questions?

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simfish
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29 May 2010, 8:21 pm

Okay, so I'm not old for what I'm doing (but I fear that I may become that sometime), but it's something that I'm going to have to do more and more these days. Is an "I'm not comfortable disclosing it" okay?

when I was a little kid, I often asked adults about their age and they refused to disclose their ages (or they even lied). Is this acceptable practice around other people who aren't kids?

Or in other words, isn't it common for people not to disclose their age? Just like it's common for people not to disclose their weight?



Metal_Man
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29 May 2010, 8:34 pm

Since I look much younger than I am I get a kick out of telling people my real age because they usually have a hard time believing that I'm 42.


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jayroo79
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29 May 2010, 8:36 pm

Here the variables in how one may answer could be dependent on age, gender, and intention of the individual asking.

"Does it really matter?" along with an innocent smile may cause the person to back down... or it may not.



Ladarzak
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29 May 2010, 8:42 pm

> Is an "I'm not comfortable disclosing it" okay?

Sure, say what you like. You don't have to tell anyone.

I find a good deflecting answer is another question, "Oh, why do you ask?" Then they stammer or babble a bit, giving you lots of time to change the subject.



Eggman
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29 May 2010, 8:51 pm

yes it is, its no ones business, I usually say it doesn't matter(when its not about things that do reqiure an age of course)also good is older then my teeth, old enough to know better than answer those questions. If its not an age critical matter like buying alcohol then it dosnt matter in the end


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kip
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29 May 2010, 8:58 pm

I just tell them I'm 907 like the Doctor. There's one to throw people off.

It's perfectly acceptable to let someone know you're not comfortable with that question. It's actually rather a personal one, yet people are so insistent on asking. I'll never get why.


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29 May 2010, 9:01 pm

If someone asks me, and I don't want to give the true answer, I just say "Old enough to drink." or "Old enough to know better, young enough to do it anyways."


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