I think that when we were kids, 40-somethings seemed to look way older than 40 somethings today... but shoot maybe that's my millennialism showing... They looked way older didn't they?! Like grandparents compared to now, no?!
I have a picture of my parents shortly after I was born. They were about 40. They overall looked pretty good! My dad looked a little older than he was, and mom looked a little younger, but that was mostly due to my dad's stressful job.
They're in their 70s now. My dad looks about 60, and still walks or jogs a couple miles 2-3 days a week, weather depending. My mom looks her age, mainly because she never bothered to take care of herself after 50. (Too much TV.)
Idk. It's made me prioritize basic cardio (brisk walks) and healthier eating. I despise running, but walking the dog is enjoyable.
Yeah I think so. I saw a photo of my grandma in her late 30s sometime in the 70s and she looked as old as she did when she was 80. Same saggy, wrinkly skin and the same perm fro she rocked for decades.
A lot of this is just fashion. 30 years ago, people who were 40 dressed like young people dressed in the late 70's/early 80's. Now, people who are 40 dress like young people dressed in the 00's. Because people don't really change how they dress much after they're adults. So the difference is, as a kid, a 40 yo was dressing in some old dumb clothes that no one in their right mind would be seen in. And now a 40 yo is dressing in totally normal timeless clothes that are the obvious default for everyone--exactly the same clothes that teenagers would be wearing if they weren't obsessed with dumb new trends that will definitely be over by next season.
I can explain it. Millennials were the first generation to still look young in their 30s. So they interantized the feedback that they "looked 20" well into their 30s.
But by the time you hit 40 you've got grey hairs, thinning hair and some lines in the face. There's simply no escaping it, you look older. I think the millennial experience with aging is closer to "hitting a wall" where within a short few years you go from "looking in your 20s" to "looking like a 40 something middle aged person."
And not everyone's self-perception has caught up with how quickly reality arrived.
I think that the issue is what kind of paragon we make, In general though it is true that on average our generation looks younger than the equivalent Gen X and Boomer did at at the same age, but if we compare with current 25-30 years old that impression disappears, since they do have the same advantages in nutrition and in general healthcare understanding that we did (if not a better one).
It was probably here and likely informal b.s.; but someone posted a study that gen Z participants were given stacks of photos and it averaged out that to them a 34 year old millennial appeared to be a 27 y.o to them. The photos got lumped together with the 27 year olds when they sorted them.
I’ve never heard this in real life. Certain people of all generations make it their entire personality looking young, but I don’t know anyone who is thinking they look 25 when 40, even if they think they look young
I'm getting up there and someone called my son who has long hair my wife...on multiple occasions, in multiple countries now, it's both funny, disturbing, and gross all at once.
This wasn't a joke either, it was immigration control people, and government offices they were deadass about it.
I think people who say this don’t interact much with people in other age brackets. I look normal to me, because I’ve always been my own age, but when I meet 25 year olds now they look very young. I can see maintaining the idea that you still look young if you don’t hang out with many young people.
I’ve found the opposite but I assume younger people think you end up like the bloke who drinks the wrong cup at the end of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade or look like the Cryptkeeper the second you turn 40
Indeed , that seems true.
At our daughters high school graduation her friends asked her if my husband is her older brother.
He’s 41.
He has darker skin though, no sun damage and is very fit.
I think that was maybe the reason because the teenagers think you should look a certain way past a certain age.
This. Im 38 almst 39 and work around a bunch of 25 to 29 year olds, most of them figured I was 30, maybe 29 and were genuinely surprised when I told them my true age. Also agree that to them 40s means wrinkled old folks so it really just depends
I did the AI that tells you how old you look like and it’s just like the people who have always said I look younger. It says I look 24 and that’s without my stylish Ray Ban glasses.
There are exceptions like you and me. I also still get carded half the time and get asked if I'm a grad student at work. But most people in our cohort I know in real life very much look like they are mid 30s to early 40s with baldness, notable grey hair, lots of wrinkles.
Yeah I knew I would likely look young for a while, my mom is 60 in March and aside from health issues that have recently aged her a bit (lupus, hashimotos, no teeth due to bone loss, hair loss etc) she always looked young. My dad looked like he was young too when he was a little older. I also know I am aging but so far I kinda dig the changes
See, I know I look my age, but because of a religion I escaped I didn’t get to wear cool clothes in my teens and 20s so I’m rocking them now. I just look like an old person in young person clothes, and I do not care. I am enjoying my tattered skinny jeans.
My beard and hair are still dark and thick compared to all my friends but that's about where it stops. I work with young 20-somethings and the differences become stark. Especially in the eyes, they still have hope
Even when it’s true it is a sickness. When you appear to be younger than your chronological age it can attract older creepers.
Also for me I think it complicated dating in general. Guys my age didn’t want to be with me when I got a little older because I was like a child. And then when I worked at the last store I was attracted to a younger guy but I think he didn’t like me because I was old yet young at the same time. Younger guys don’t want you because of your chronological age but the guys your age see you as immature like nobody your age wants a woman with a younger face unless they’re like models. There’s no winning.
It’s not just about my looks though it’s like my aura says young because I am neurodivergent. I’m just not like most women you know.
From what I've seen among my friend, the people who took care of themselves, ate healthy, exercise regularly, and kept themselves in good shape are definitely younger looking.
I'm still single digit body fat and ski and workout with adults young enough to be my kids. I do not under any circumstances at 45 look like I'm in my 20s just because I'm fit.
I'm 39. People I meet at work think I'm 27-28. I can careless about looking young nor do I want to be young. If anything, it's frustrating because they think I'm still early in my career and don't give me the respect.
I think it always used to get frustrating when I was younger for me because I got told I will like it later or any variation of it’s a good thing.
I would always be standing there like yeah I don’t want to look older than I am but at the same time saying I look younger makes me feel old. Then to top it all often those same women when they learn my chronological age they’ll ask me why I’m not married or be having kids.
I’m like an old maid with a baby face thanks people!
Maybe it will be good now. I just get depressed about my age no matter what because I have always been behind.
132
u/Wasatchian 8h ago
Yah the number of delusional people who think that they're 40 something and pass for 25 would be comical if it wasn't so dumb.