Friday, 06 July 2012

  • Dear World, I'm 21. Get Over It.


    I turned 21 on July 4th. But if you saw me on the street, you wouldn't know it. At least in the US, the oldest anyone has ever thought I am is 16.  Mostly, this isn't a problem. But sometimes, people can be really rude.

    Like when I tell random people my age, and they say, "Wow. Are you sure?" This happened multiple times when I was 20, and they were all serious. Of course I'm sure! Why would I lie about being 20? 21, OK. But nothing good happens when you're 20.

    Or take the time I was 16 and getting on a plane to Tokyo. To put this in perspective, I took my first flight when I was 6 months old and have been flying ever since. I've flown 9 times in 2011 alone, so at 16 I was already a veteran. So when the lady took my boarding pass and passport (which by the way HAS MY AGE on it), smiled at me, and then said "Follow your mom, sweetie" in that annoying sugary voice reserved for 9-year-olds, I was pretty freaking annoyed.

    The worst, though, is when I'm out with guys. My last boyfriend was 2 years older than me, and looked older. Sometimes, we would get weird looks and comments when we were out. And I've had this happen even with my guy friends, who look their age.

    Looks, I get. If I look that young, I can't really help that you think I am that young, although I'm still going to be a bit annoyed about it. See second example, above. But comments? Are you serious?

    Let me break this down for you: I am 21 years old. I have every right to go out with whoever I damn well please, so long as he's legal. Your comments about how I should go out with people closer to my age are unwarranted and unappreciated, especially when the guy actually IS quite close to my age. I already have a mother, two if you count my sometimes-motherly older sister, and that's way more than enough. Fuck off.

    Everybody older than me tells me that I will appreciate looking young in a few years, and I'm sure I will. Right now, though, it tends to get on my nerves.

    Have you ever had this problem? Any good stories from it?

    Image Source 1

Comments (77)

  • TheNotoriousGOD@xanga

    i like my women like i like my whiskey:  16 years old and mixed up with coke.

    so yeah, you're waaaaaay too old for me.  sorry, chica.  get over it.  (also, this post is related to dating only by a reeeeeeally big stretch.)

  • thegunslingergirl@xanga

    I'm 23 and I still get carded for R rated movies. It doesn't bother me so much because I know I will like looking younger than I am 10-20 years from now.

  • Stephnalamx@xanga

    I look younger than I really am and often people are surprised to know my real age. Right now I envy those people who look their age. Later on, I'll love that I look younger.

  • Jennifuk@xanga

    I've had this problem before. When I was in high school, around 14, people thought i was 22. But now, i'm turning 22 in a few weeks and people think I look like i'm 17. I think it depends on your look and the way you dress. In high school I didn't have bangs and used a lot of eyeliner, now I have bangs and when i do my make up, i try to go for the natural look. They do say that if you have bangs you do look younger. It bothered me when people thought I was young but depending on who the person is and how they brought it up. But now it's just whatever, I laugh it off and just try to make them look stupid, like how you say you know your real age. 

  • kestrylshade@xanga

    Ha, I love that everyone commenting is like "Oh, I'm 22, zomg I'm 21, GUYS I'M 19 I SWEAR". I'm 26 and on a daily basis people look at my wedding ring and tell me I shouldn't have gotten married at seventeen.

  • DraigStudio@xanga

    You sound like you have a lot of issues with this. It will pass. I promise. Snap at them if you need to, but understand that when you tell someone you are 40 and they tell you you look like you are 28, you will fucking appreciate the shit out of it. So bitch and moan about being told you loo too young now. Enjoy it. It wont last. 

  • babybug329@xanga

    Happy Birthday!  Yes, I have been mistaken for being younger, and when I was your age, it bothered me a lot.  Especially when you go somewhere that requires you to be at least 21.  The bouncer is looking at your ID, then you, your ID again, then asks, "Is this you?"  (Among other questions, of course.)  Never was I not allowed in, but it's so annoying and people are staring because you're holding up the line.  Now, I am okay when they ask, I just laugh it off.  I've made some friends who are a little younger and when I tell them how old I really am, some of them are actually shocked.  "I thought you were my age!"  (3 to 7 years younger than I really am.)  I can understand why you dislike when people talk down to you, like you're a little baby.  Condescending tones bother me so much!  I do believe you will appreciate looking younger than you are later.

  • EccentricSiren@xanga

    I looked younger than I was until I hit 25. Then I started looking my age. But the only time it usually came up was when I'd go to places and I'd get charged the under-18 rate when I was 22 or 23. So I'd tell them how old I really was, and they'd say, "It's ok. You've already paid." I loved it.

  • heart_leigh@xanga

    I wish I were 21 again. Good times. Anyway, there's nothing wrong with looking young and being older than you actually are. Before you know it, you'll be 30. This is something you shouldn't get bent out of shape over. Life goes by very quickly. Take it easy and relax. Have fun!

  • anonymous

    Today at the casino the secuirty lady said I look 16/17 and i'm 26.  I get it all the damn time.  It's annoying for now but I'll get the last laugh when I'm 60 looking like I"m 30 without even having to use all that anti aging cream. i still get carded every time i go to bars and casinos it's like when the fuck are they gonna stop carding me? when i have gray hairs?

  • lovelikerockets422@xanga

    I'm 17 but I've had so many guys think I'm older. I got asked to go to a drinking party at Darien Lake once, and even then when I told the group of guys I was 17, they STILL hit on me. They must've been 26 or something. I always get called older, and it's kind of embarrassing at times, like when people think my brother is my son. 

  • Erika_Steele@xanga

    It bothered me slightly more when I was younger, but even then it didn't bother me that much. You could have bigger problems.

  • EpistemicDuty@xanga

    No way you are 21 otters only live to be about 16 :)

  • forgetting_you_not@xanga

    I'm 25 and look like im about 17. last weekend, me and my boyfriend went to the bar with some friends. they carded me at the door, and i got a wristband showing im old enough to drink. my boyfriend went up to the bar to buy everyone a round of shots, and the bartender asked him if i was old enough to drink.....

    about 2 months ago, a customer at work told me he can't believe im only in high school and am an assistant manager, i must be doing good!

    it happens all the time. in a management position, i get comments all the time. comments about how young i am, and how much younger i look. i also hear comments about how ill appreciate it when im older. looking young doesnt bother me usually. when ppl dont take me seriously at work b/c i look like im a kid is the frustrating part. but, id rather look younger than older.

  • P0RCELA1N_D0LL@xanga

    you look youthful because you're half asian. be glad that you aren't prematurely aged like the olsen twins and look like grannies when they are in their 20's. don't get me started on pippa middleton, who looks like she's in her 40's. I'm asian and I like looking younger than I am. we naturally hold the fountain of youth and we can, or I can, usually get away with things, because I look youthful and innocent and my voice is like a 5 year old and I'm in my 20's. go figure forever young I'd rather not be mistaken as middle aged or older.

  • xx_ng_xx@xanga

    I look like I'm 16, but when people can't see me, or when I speak to someone over the phone, they think that I'm like 25 because of how I speak

  • petersss02@xanga

    when u get older u wil wish people would think ur younger

  • VampireOfSeduction@xanga

    I never minded the comments because I'd rather look younger than older. Then again, I only look a little bit younger than I am, I think. Hell, I don't know how old I look right now... I rarely meet new people, so nobody has reason to comment.
    When I was a junior in high school, a friend informed me that I looked like a 12 year old.
    When I was a senior, a cop asked my boyfriend (who was also a senior) what he was doing with someone so young.
    A few years ago, I was out with my middle sister, and the cashier asked which one of us drove. I laughed and said, "she's only 14". He asked how old I was, and I told him "18". He said, "I'm sorry sweetie but you don't look a day older than 16."

    In contrast, people who see how I act and who I am have sometimes had a hard time believing I'm not older than I am.

  • SweetNGuilty@xanga

    Most of the times, I don't mind being mistaken for being younger. It's only disgusting when older guys hit on me assuming I am that young. Pedos!!

  • the_rocking_of_socks@xanga

    So you're annoyed that people are showing concern for your well being?  I think you're the one who needs to fuck off.  Let them say their piece and move on with your life.  It's obviously not killing you.

  • lttlegel@lovelyish

    @forever_musing@xanga - I'm
    23 too and my fiance and I get carded when we see movies. We asked why
    and they said it wasn't because it was rated R it was because it would
    end after curfew. My fiance is 27!!

    @SweetNGuilty@xanga - That is THE WORST! Seriously disgusting. A lot of them like girls just because they look young. Nasty.

    My mom is 44 and still gets carded for cigarettes, so I guess that's where I get it. It's just funny because every time they card her she laughs and says man my daughter is old enough to buy these.

    Another thing that sucks if when you're working with kids. Especially if they're around 13 or older - they think you're their age! hahaa

  • southernthoughts@xanga

    YES. all the time. Ex boy's friends always used to tease him about how I looked 15 when I was only TWO YEARS younger than he was. fuck the haters.
    xo

  • anonymous

    I have the same problem. I think it's because I don't like to wear make-up. When people only judge my looks, I often get "16, maybe 17". When people know me for a bit, they often think I'm 26, maybe 27. Actually, I'm 24. I guess it's because I don't fit the stereotypes. Which makes me happy. :)

  • Statuess

    I love looking younger than I am. :) It's funny to hear people say 'Wow, I never would've known!' Think of it as a game- you're winning because no-one can guess your age right. :P Plus, if you look young it doesn't matter so much if you haven't achieved everything you wanted to yet!


    However, I do think it'll be a bit embarrassing when I have a teenage son and his mates are all taller than me. Lacking height and looking youthful does also mean I lack authority somewhat. ^^;;
  • Youcantsavemenow13@xanga

    Don't worry, I have this problem too. I'm 22, with a KID, and still look like a 13 year old. You can imagine the looks I get in public when I'm with my daughter.... lol.

    Matter of fact, it kind of amuses me, rather than irritates me though. Especially when I go into the ABC store, lol. The cashiers ALWAYS look at me like I'm not supposed to be in there. But then, I get to the counter, ID already in hand, cause I know it's coming, they study it for 5 minutes, and then Finally ring up my liquor, lol. Luckily though, no one baby talks me. If they did, I'd probably just punch them in the face...

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