Acting one's age...

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As you can see from my profile to the right, I'm am solidly in the middle-aged category.

Still, I find it almost impossible for me to form a concept in my mind of what a man of my age is "supposed" to act/dress like.

I tend to dress a little on the "alternative" side, in a way that expresses my individuality and personal style. I certainly tone it down in professional settings, but I still tend to be a little off-beat even in that environment.

Fortunately, I look about 10 years younger than I am, so I can (sort of) pull it off even atnmy age.

How important is it to conform to social conventions in this regard?
What is your own philosophy regarding your personal style?
Should I try harder to act my age? If so, how?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7l5ZeVVoCA[/youtube]

I'm experiencing similar problems. I'm not 30 just yet, but since it's coming up next year I'm already starting to ask myself how I ought to be behaving and what I ought to be doing. My problem is that I don't look my age either - even when I ditch the 'alternative' jeans and T-shirt combo, I still get asked for proof of age when buying beer and I'm constantly worried about whether I'm not being taken seriously enough, simply because I look younger than I actually am.

Whether it's the 'younger than I look' thing or whether it's something else, I consciously try to act and think as 'grown up' as possible. The difficulty there is, I honestly believe that most people act immature! The minority of people around me who are of a similar age and 'time of life' as me spend their time talking about football and video games, while I stress myself out over long term career goals and wanting things like a 'career' job, mortgage or a long-term relationship. They don't seem to be acting responsibly enough!

The short answer is, it's hard to discern whether you're acting your age when relatively few people are presenting an accurate definition of what 'acting your age' actually is. Now I AM starting to sound like a grumpy old man...

I've been thinking about that a little recently, having just turned 30. But really, it feels like the older I get, the less my peers seem to care what age I act. I dress the same, drive just as sh***y of a car, listen to the same music and just generally act the same as I did when I was a teenager. I'm sure it depends more on the people around you, but my experience is that the older you get, the less important "acting you're age" is.

Burt Munroe didnt go to Bonnyville to speed run his Indian Motorcycle till he was in his 60's

I reckon he was an aspie

If it helps at all, I'm more attracted to guys who show their individuality and look like they're comfortable and not trying to "dress to impress" in everyday casual situations. It doesn't matter what their age is, but I especially like seeing it with guys who are over 30 because it seems like so many people in general feel that they have to give in to that conformist, cookie-cutter look just because they're "adults". It's important to know how to dress, appropriately, obviously some situtations call for more conventional, formal dress. But I think that people who get too wrapped up in "dressing their age" just end up looking old and uptight. My husband is very much a concert tee and jeans kind of guy. But he cleans up well when the situation calls for it! He's 43.

People usually think I'm in my mid-twenties; they freak out when they find out I'm 42. I have a young neck (something you can't fake) and young-looking hands. I don't dress any differently from the other parents but people always assume I'm young.

When I was pregnant with my twins my doctor actually put down on a form that my children were "at risk" because I was younger than eighteen. I was thirty at the time! I've had people think I was a teenage mother for the longest time even though I had a master's degree.

Oh, and I have a story about being in grad school. I hadn't been there very long before some girl started trying to intimidate me by telling me she was a senior. I was 25 at the time. It was one of the funniest things that ever happened to me.

Gaining weight has helped change people's perception of my age; so has being a mother.

I know I'm a bit younger but I've recently thought about the same things, my dress is rather, average? I like boot-cut jeans, white sneakers, and nice coats. I used to have a huge thing for logo T-shirts though, then recently thought, starting to feel a little weird walking around in one of my 4 Batman shirts. So, I just started buying regular black and grey t-shirts, felt I was looking a bit more my age.

I think it's about both doing what feels natural to you, but also taking into consideration it is a professional world and when you look professional and well-kept even in t-shirt in jeans, people notice that. They also notice if you're trying to hard, you could look damn good in a well-cut suit but if it's not a natural dress for you, people will somehow just home in on that.

I don't care about social conventions. I just turned 29 & I'm a lot younger in lots of ways. I have some teenaged interest, I'm at a lesser stage in life than most people my age partly due to disabilities & I usually wear shorts & a plain white T-shirt but I'm losing my hair so I probably look like I'm in my upper 20s. Age is just a number that doesn't mean anything to me

It's important for me to find a profession where I can express myself and not feel like people are going to be judging me. If I had decided to be a teacher, I would not feel free to do this. I would constantly be worrying about bumping into students or parents. Some people will conform to whatever their career is, but I refuse to because I really don't see what the big deal is if someone wants to "dress like a teenager". That's another thing, I dislike it when people say that they act like a teenager, listen to music that teens listen to, etc. Since when has alternative music been JUST for teenagers?! As if adults have to become bitter and boring people just because they're getting older. Acting your age doesn't matter either, as long as you're not hurting anyone. If you're young at heart and you're happy, why is there a need to change that? I've lost a couple of friends because they thought I would grow out of my "phase". I don't understand what growing up means, but what it means to me is that basically you have to know how to stand on your own two feet and be responsible. The exterior shouldn't even be an issue if you are able to prove that you are a responsible adult.

Well I am 22 and I doubt I act like a typical 22 year old.

I am obsessed with staying young. Some people have told me that's unhealthy, but... at least I know i'm not the only one who feels this way, given the amount of money society spends on plastic surgery, fad diets, and the like.

*NObody* I know thinks of me as a thirty-year-old man. I see people I went to high school with and it's like we're from different generations. They're already sliding into middle age, while I've got the Peter Pan thing going on. As for members of the opposite sex I'm attracted to, I am unapologetic in stating that I am generally only attracted to younger women (the 18-24 age range) and very rarely, if ever, to those who are my age. No, I'm gonna milk my youth as long as I can...

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Check out "Problem Child," my memoir of life with autism.