Are people judging our age ranges based on how old we 'sound'?

I was admonished recently by someone on the Internet who claimed I was "almost certainly" younger than them. I can pinpoint that person's age range based on what they've posted, and the funny thing is, I'm almost certainly older than them.

Why would people be trying to determine people's ages based on their posts? Isn't it still good to be young at heart?

A poster here asked me if I was someone in a YouTube video who was obviously around their mid-twenties. My reply was that I was flattered that someone thought I sounded that young.

Anyway, I've found another shocking thing about the Internet...

People are judging how old people are based on their posts. I only judge such a thing when someone posts, "I am X years old" or when their age is apparent by posting something like, "I was X years old when this thing happened."

Otherwise, why are people trying to determine people's ages based on their posts?

a reply to: Profusion

I have had people guess all sorts of things about me from posts. Some even claimed I was "male" based on some site that supposedly can always tell. Told them it was broken, and they flat out couldn't accept it. Rather funny, in a way.

Age? I tend to guess, but can be very off. Even things like music don't help. Heck, my teens listen to a lot of older stuff. The clubs around here, frequented by college kids, play a lot of the stuff that was new in my clubbing days. Not sure we can always tell from just what people post. Possible, maybe, but I'd bet systems that guess are as often wrong as they are right. Age, sex, ethnicity, where we're from - maybe it shows, and maybe not.

a reply to: Profusion

I was talking to another member in real life the other day about our perceptions of other members and the way we think of those annonymous people on the other end of an avatar.

For some reason in my mind all conspiracy theorists are white males aged between 30-50 years old until I discover otherwise, I have no idea why this is but maybe because the vast majority of the ones I know in the real world fit that demographic and I follow that on when online.

Sometimes I am astonished that members are not in this demographic and my mind has a hard time adapting.

a reply to: Profusion

People are judging how old people are based on their posts. I only judge such a thing when someone posts, "I am X years old" or when their age is apparent by posting something like, "I was X years old when this thing happened."

Is this supposed to be meritorious behaviour, or something?

Obviously one gets an impression of the character and personality of one’s online interlocutors from their style of writing. The impression includes an idea of their age. The clues are in the sentence structure, the use of particular words and phrases peculiar to the era they grew up in, their political concerns (rather than their political attitudes) and a good deal more.

Professional writers, like professional actors, can pretend to be someone else quite convincingly. Amateurs rarely can.

I would doubt that anyone under the age of fifty uses the word ‘admonish’ much.

originally posted by: LadyGreenEyes
a reply to: Profusion

I have had people guess all sorts of things about me from posts. Some even claimed I was "male" based on some site that supposedly can always tell. Told them it was broken, and they flat out couldn't accept it. Rather funny, in a way.

This is one of the things that's led me not to try to guess age ranges. If I can't even guess the gender, how can I guess anything else?

originally posted by: nonspecific
a reply to: Profusion
For some reason in my mind all conspiracy theorists are white males aged between 30-50 years old until I discover otherwise

For forums like this, the demographic I assume is 18+ with a massive ego. I'm rarely wrong.

originally posted by: Astyanax
a reply to: Profusion

I would doubt that anyone under the age of fifty uses the word ‘admonish’ much.

In the last month or so, people on this forum have asked me if I was a YouTuber who was obviously around his mid-twenties (wrong), if I was a YouTuber who was obviously around his mid-thirties (wrong), and your suggestion above is wrong.

originally posted by: Astyanax
a reply to: Profusion

Obviously one gets an impression of the character and personality of one’s online interlocutors from their style of writing. The impression includes an idea of their age. The clues are in the sentence structure, the use of particular words and phrases peculiar to the era they grew up in, their political concerns (rather than their political attitudes) and a good deal more.

I would feel like a stalker if I was taking all of that into account. Plus, there are always outliers. And, a forum like this is very informal. Who comes here to write formally? I haven't seen anyone.

I am roughly 13 billion years old. Give or take a few billion.
So are you.
Science bitch.

Honestly who cares what anyone cares on the internet. I was accused of being a Liberal Leftist because I argued with someone on the issue of gun control which I'm pro gun moderate Republican. It doesn't matter what people think especially anonymously.

a reply to: Profusion

I was admonished recently by someone on the Internet who claimed I was "almost certainly" younger than them. I can pinpoint that person's age range based on what they've posted, and the funny thing is, I'm almost certainly older than them.

Read that a few times. It will click. So you did the same thing they were doing?

People think I'm a chick and actually put makeup on my cat. I'm not generally fond of cats, the avatar is CLEARLY photoshopped, I didn't do it, don't take credit for it, I just think it's funny. I remember me and Slayer69 joking around about this. We had a little fun.

It's the internet, don't take it seriously. One of the most common insults is someone's age, it doesn't mean anything, it's just a quick and easy cheap shot to get under someone's skin. If it works, they double down. Just don't react, if you're having a conversation ignore cheap shots and focus on the conversation. You must be twelve if you think (political figure) meant x! Ignore the age thing. Argue like an adult.

Are you scared of the internet/forums? First step, reply to this and just say "Domo, I cook better (whatever you cook well)". I'll disagree, and then we can have a fight about how many carrots you put in the pancakes.

a reply to: Profusion

People are judging how old people are based on their posts.

Internet forensics replaced TV, newspaper and radio a long time ago.

Or church.

Just believe…

originally posted by: Profusion
I was admonished recently by someone on the Internet who claimed I was "almost certainly" younger than them.

I've had that from somebody on this site. I'm not a youngster, so it's implausible that they could be very much older.

Why would people be trying to determine people's ages based on their posts? Isn't it still good to be young at heart?

Even without positively setting out to guess someone's age, it's natural to gain an impression.
If someone is very casual about their spelling, I will think of them as young, especially if they fall into examples of "pronounce a word badly and spell it as you say it". Have you see that thread "I am voting out are EU"? I think "are" means "of the".
If someone has a number, like "86", in their username, I will be tempted to assume that this was their birth-year.

a reply to: Profusion

I find it amusing that people would attempt such a thing, given that a persons age is often difficult to determine, even when given the opportunity to study their face and bearing in person.

Upon meeting new people in life, I have often been surprised when someone in their mid forties has assumed a certain familiarity with me (not that I mind too terribly much) based on their perception of my age, and their assumption that it closely matches their own. This surprise is often dwarfed by the shock expressed by such persons, upon being told that I am, in fact thirty one years old.

Given this factor, it makes little sense to try and assume age based purely on communications over the web!

a reply to: Profusion

I think this is normal. I think humans pick up clues as to the value of the message from more than just the words themselves and the thoughts behind them. In real life one would not sit down and listen to outlandish ideas from a six year old while they might give more of an ear to someone who is obviously by sight, much older. The wisdom of ancient tribes and countries I have been lead to believe was passed down from the tribal elders and elders were treated with respect if for nothing more THAN their age.

I think that for most of our time on earth, we have been trained to observe and learn from those who are older than us. These are eons long habits. I don't think that it is unusual for a person to evaluate where they are in the pecking order.

a reply to: TrueBrit

I am, in fact thirty one years old.

I KNEW IT, I knew it!!!!

a reply to: TerryMcGuire

I would have picked twenty eight, so I suppose my guess is not that far off.

I can often tell if someone is a young person by the way they post. That only usually works for those under about sixteen or so though. I do not use this as evidence though, I know a few people in their thirties with the same attitudes, and I try to steer my conversation appropriately to adjust for this. But it is important to note that just because they act young in one subject doesn't mean they act that way about other subjects. We all tend to have subjects we prefer to act young at. Other subjects we might act like our grandfather would address the subject.

a reply to: TrueBrit

I guessed at thirty-seven.😃

You do write with a certain gravitas that suggests a sighing world-weariness.

I occasionally come face-to-face with condescending types that assume I am either stupid or younger than they. I've been called "young man" by men younger than I.
I suspect they are intimidated by my appearance for I really do look younger than my forty-five years. It comes from a lifetime of sport, a colossal cranium and a lack of seriousness.

(to clarify: I have an enormous noggin and very wide shoulders, from a distance I look quite normal. Up close, perspective gives up and gallops off, leaving the sylph-like subject of my steely scrutiny quailing in my vast shadow.)

I am very gentle, polite and helpful but I really do look like an axe-murderer.

Based on my picture people think I'm in my early twenties when in fact I'm 39.

i never cease to be amazed by the assumptions made about me - based on my internet presence [ actually the assumptions are made based on the persons own delusions ] but - hey many are fun to reead

edit to add - the " age game " is often quite easy to play - if you read enough of a persons posts - they actually tell you - indirectly

How old would You be if You didn't know how old You were?

I still have the old school intraweb where I have to read what people have written, plus I have My sound down in case I stumble across some porn and only turn it up for Neil Young and Bob Marley.

Are Y'all using Dragon™ or something similar?

You might put the t.v. show "Catfish" out of business, there won't be any mystery when the deep voice says "No, My real name is Monica, I just have a husky voice..." No mystery, no romance...

I'll take My answer over the air..

originally posted by: Profusion

originally posted by: LadyGreenEyes
a reply to: Profusion

I have had people guess all sorts of things about me from posts. Some even claimed I was "male" based on some site that supposedly can always tell. Told them it was broken, and they flat out couldn't accept it. Rather funny, in a way.

This is one of the things that's led me not to try to guess age ranges. If I can't even guess the gender, how can I guess anything else?

I try sometimes, but have been wrong as often as not. Cases I am sure, mostly, are those where someone says. I can understand people trying, though, because we want to know who it is on the other side of the conversation.