What is an appropriate response to someone asking your age?

Question

Whenever I am out with my beautiful 14 year old daughter, complete strangers ask my age. I know some people may take that as a compliment, but I find it rude, and would never dream of asking a person's age.
Can someone offer a witty, however, diplomatic response.

Honestly, it is not that I have a problem with my age, i just feel people are being nosy by asking. If I do tell people my age, the next question is always how old is your daughter, followed by the pained look of the person trying to do the math in their head to figure out my age when she was born.......

Answer 1

I'll forgive you for asking if you will forgive me for not answering.

Answer 2

In my opinion asking another person's age (unless they are known to be very young like 12, 18, etc.) is too personal in the same way as asking about a person's weight, salary, boxers or briefs, etc. People should wait until the info is volunteered before even referring to it.

The best thing to do is to simply laugh that you're just "over the age or 21" or even come up with your own lighthearted versions like "old enough to have a teenage daughter but too young to give up the weekend martinis" or some such. You're telling these people all they really need to know and showing your wit at the same time.

Answer 3

I never have an issue when people ask my age, I just tell them . Are they both sexes that ask you or just men?
I would in turn ask them how long the survey is going to take cause you have to get home early to finish your homework...lol. so then you can help your daughter with her's...Shock them it will make you laugh at their reaction.
By the way if they are female , you can ask them how much their weight is and then tell them to subtract 100 and divide by 4 ..lol... If it's a guy just ask them how often they go and work out....you can decide how your looking at them while your asking...lol

Answer 4

LOL

I experience this all the time as I was a young mother. I know of what you speak.

They are yenning for more information to sort their heads around. You are not obligated to give it.

I would ask why they need to know. Then say nothing. That really confuses them for example: oh its not important; or, on a need to know basis. If they are rude enough to ask again, tell them it really isn't germaine to whatever is going on.

Really it is rude and some people need to learn manners.

The above is for people who are not close friends.

Answer 5

There have been people who have asked me in the past aswell. I have just told them "It is impolite to ask a lady her age." They usually feel very small in insignificant after that.

If it is somebody whom I want to get to know better and I don't want to give them my age just yet I usually say "Let's just say I finished High School in 2003". Then they know that I'm about 18 or 19 plus 4 years :)

Answer 6

I'd just tell but I don't feel inhibited about my age, I'd probably say '38, why?' But if I wouldn't want to tell, I'd just say something like 'why do you want to know?' or 'a year older than last year' or something the like... I don't think it's rude to ask people *anything* as long as it's only asked once; if they keep pushing when you avoid answering, then yes it is rude... this may not be totally according to the etiquette rules, I believe it's not proper etiquette to ask about a woman's age ever, but I feel that's not very practical... after all people are curious, and many people (like me) don't care, so I think people should be allowed to ask.... but never, ever, ever push! If they do that, they're the ones who are rude and you can be more forceful in telling them 'I don't want to say' or 'None of your business' too, without feeling bad about it!

Answer 7

it rather is by no ability proper until you get to nicely known the guy first. you won't have the ability to easily meet somebody and say "hi, i'm Julia, how previous are you?" using fact it rather is rude. If, inspite of the incontrovertible fact that, you artwork as a cinema fee ticket-er you will possibly be able to might desire to ask =P

Answer 8

say "old enough to know better then to ask a question like that" then smile and laugh it off. People dont mean to be rude in asking that.

Answer 9

i believe it is a matter of attitude...what is wrong with your age, you should be quite pleased to be your age...i am 37 years old and cant wait til i am 97. i am happy to tell people my age...i have lots of silver hairs (lol, to some they are gray, to some they are white, but to me they are silver) but as far as i am concerned i dont have nearly enough...it isnt that i am in perfect health, i am certainly not that......i suffer from a muscle disease that slowly sees my muscles leaving me as time goes on. i have epilepsy and essential tremors and a few other unimportant things.....the point is, GOD has given me inner peace and joy and no matter how my body may protest, I am happy and i love the thought of growing older.
the reason i tell you all this is that perhaps if you changed your thoughts concerning growing older, you wouldnt be concerned with other peoples questions especially as they arent meant to be rude. it would be far easier to change your thoughts than trying to control humanity.

Answer 10

i'm male we usually just state our age but for a female the most often heard response is old enough to know better!
or I just thought of one how about;
higher than your IQ, obviously...! or wouldn't like to know but that's classified information.

Answer 11

It's really a very common question. Any person of authority normally asks your age at some point in time. Try buying a pack of cigs are alcohol...theymay ask your age. You're being a bit anal about it.