May 15 2008: QOTW: I Actually Am Only A Young’un
I seem to give off an aura online of being more mature, or more adult, than I actually am.
Rachael was bemused to find out tonight that I’m actually twenty-one years of age, rather than the twenty-three years of age that she had thought of me as. I may or may not have sent her off into an existential crisis about her maturity level considering how different we are as people despite being only a few months apart in age, but well, that’s a story for her to tell.
All throughout my life, I’ve always been physically mistaken for someone at least five years older than I am in actuality. When I was thirteen, I could get into R-rated films at the cinema. When I was fourteen, I could buy alcohol. When I was fifteen, I was approached by thirty-something-year-olds who thought I was of legal age to fornicate. I’m now asked by people what my career is, like I look as though I’m already working on long-term career goals.
Part of this may be mammary-related, but I think it’s largely to do with a certain ‘look’ that I always have in my eyes. Apparently I have a way of looking at people which, while I technically give no emotions away on my face, manages to make them think that I’m either undressing them with my eyes, or am reliving some past couplings in my mind. It’s a supremely adult look, full of smoldering seduction. Some have called it cheeky.
Mentally however, I still think of myself as somewhat immature. I find toilet humour hilarious and I could probably quite easily slot right back into the hallway politics of high school. Writing this blog makes me appear more mature than I actually am, as I’m able to discuss fiscal responsibility, political affairs, and bodily hygiene in a coherent and eloquent manner without resorting to the giggling that would normally characterise my discussion of such topics in person. Considering the question of moi through the perspective of this blog, and this blog only (e.g. disregard any IM chats we may have shared, any text messaging, and the like):
Question of the Week: Based only on what you read in this blog, and without knowing my actual age, how old would you have said I am?
Rachael said:
Answer of the week: 23!
I have no idea what “existential” means, but I’m definitely having a crisis right now! You’re nine months older than me, but have the life experience of someone way older (perhaps someone of 23? :P)
I’m the complete opposite to you. I’ve never been ID’d for something I’m too young for; in fact, it’s quite the opposite. Just the other day I was ID’d for a 15 certificate DVD, and at the weekend a salesman asked me if I was over 18 and then didn’t believe me when I told him I was 20.
I still can’t believe you’re younger than Jem… And are in fact only 9 months older than me. I’m in shock! :o
on May 15 2008 #
Maggie said:
First thought… 14? (Maybe a bit too young…). 18?
Then again, this is pretty much based on reading your blog… but the age is based on this entry only, coz I haven’t really talked to you much and such.
Soo yeah. :) I think this would be a compliment to you (?) ^^
on May 15 2008 #
Tanya said:
I would have guessed my age (23) or a year or two older. I think you come across as being older than your years not so much because of your maturity, but because of your confidence. You seem very comfortable in your own skin, which I don’t think a lot of very young people (i.e, under 25s) are.
on May 15 2008 #
Mari said:
Hmm… I remember being surprised to learn that you were in fact only a year older than me. I think it was in connection to you writing about your latest birthday or something. Before that, I think I had you pegged as ca 23-24. I think it has a lot to do with the confidence and general maturity that shines through in your entries. :)
on May 16 2008 #
Jem said:
Same age as me, but only because some of the ways you deal with things reminds me of me (too many “me”s in that sentence)
on May 16 2008 #
Vera said:
I’d definitely give you 25-27… but that’s because I’m a terribly immature 23 year-old. XP I wish I had half of your maturity…
on May 16 2008 #
Jack said:
I would have guessed 24.
on May 16 2008 #
Noemi said:
Probably my age, but then again people seem to think that I act very mature for my actual age even though they think I look like I’m 15.
on May 16 2008 #
Ramsha said:
Personally, I’m not very surprised at your age. I mean, you’re clearly knowledgeable and mature enough, and confident to boot to make you seem older than you really are! But you’ve also got the whole “experience the world before I get old” thing going on, which places you right back in your age bracket.
on May 16 2008 #
TWD said:
I think I agree with Ramsha. I knew that you had to be 21 or so since you’re in university, and might have pegged you at my brother’s age (22).
Approached by 30 year olds… that’s just disturbing! o_O
on May 16 2008 #
Clem said:
25 or 26. You just seem… really mature, especially compared to my friends’ older siblings who are your age. But that’s a compliment, because it means that you’re good at expressing yourself, and very eloquent.
on May 16 2008 #
marilyn said:
Probably…your age. I don’t know, you seem 21, albeit a mature and very intelligent 21-year old. Maybe slightly older, but not younger. I get the opposite reaction where everyone thinks I’m younger, well, based on looks. No way in hell is that suppose to be a “compliment” before the age of 30.
on May 16 2008 #
Nellie said:
Because of my experience with some really mature 16 year olds, I simply just do not bother with trying to guess anyone’s age any more.
I’d say you’re in your early twenties and leave it at that.
I don’t think it has to do with your mammaries, because we’re around the same size, yet I still get asked for ID and very few creepy men asking me if I want to sleep with them (I get about one a year…). So I’m willing to bet it’s the look. She’s got the look! ;)
on May 16 2008 #
ekobird said:
I hadn’t really thought about it before, but now that you ask, about 25…
on May 16 2008 #
Aisling said:
I’d peg you at 23-24.
I’m like Rachael, in that I get ID’d for EVERYTHING. (Except my drink at the pub this afternoon. HIP HIP!)
on May 16 2008 #
Noellium said:
Half of me would say around 24-25 (somewhere definitely older than me). Then again, I’ve come across a lot of people who are 10x more mature than me and are in fact, three or four years younger. :P
For me, it’s the opposite. When I was 14, I looked like I was eleven. When I was 15, people thought I was 12. When I was 18, people thought I was 12/13. And at 19: 12. Just recently, a classmate of mine last semester thought at first I was 18 (when I was 23), and while at a Japanese American museum a little while ago, the employees thought I was around 17. Not that I mind. :P
on May 17 2008 #