Why do people ever say, "You look great for your age?"

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Why can't they just say, "You look great." Why can't they leave off the qualifier "for your age." What's the point of adding that?
I received a message on another web site that says, "I just looked at your pictures and you are a really hot older guy." If they had just left out the word "older" it would have made my day. But it makes me think that the person who sent it is really thinking, "I'm sitting here imagining you 20 years ago and I like what I'm seeing." Another person said, "You're a handsom daddy." Thanks a lot, Junior! What's wrong with saying to someone, "You look fantastic!" or "You are smokin' hot" or "You're very sexy" no matter what their age is. My Mom is 88 and one of my friends always greets her with "What's up, sexy mama?" and she always smiles huge at that.

[Radio_Lady]

1. The comment I always get is, "You don't look sixty-seven!"

To which I usually respond, "How old DO I look? Seventy-seven?" (Laughter all around...)

[anarch]

2. yeah, actually that is kind of like saying, "geez, you're old."

now that I think about it. Not that I would ever say that to anybody, anyway.

[jobycom]

3. Well, maybe you do...

:rofl:

[reyd reid reed]

4. Beats me...

the qualifier kinda kills the compliment.

Oh, well.

[idgiehkt]

5. that's how I knew I was old

when people quit just telling me I looked good...as soon as they started tacking that on I was like, hmmm.

It's stupid, and when I was younger, I did it.

[billyskank]

6. Actually I don't think there's anything wrong with it

I think there's something wrong with us for finding something wrong with it. It's because WE don't want to be reminded about age, because WE think that "not young" means "nearly dead".

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

19. Insightful.

However, I'm young, so I don't have to worry about that :P

[NewWaveChick1981]

7. I don't know. It's really tacky.

:eyes: But on the flip side, Hubby and I were at a restaurant on Saturday, and one of the wait staff (female, about 20 years old) said something about the high school she went to. It was the same one my husband attended, and he told her. When she said she'd graduated two years ago, he laughed a little and said, "Well, it's been longer than two years ago for me." She turned and looked at him and said, "It's not that long." And he said, "Well, I graduated in 1979." She nearly dropped the tray she was carrying, because she thought he was 29. :D She simply could not believe he was 45 because he really doesn't look it. And she nearly fell out when I said I was 43. :P Whether she believed it or not, she made our day! :) We're eating there again next weekend.... :rofl:

[BarenakedLady]

8. I get carded all the time

One cashier looked at the date on my i.d. and said "Oh God. I didn't realize you were that old. Sorry."

:rofl:

[reyd reid reed]

10. LOLOL!!!

YIKES!!!

I haven't been carded in ages.

:cry:

[The2ndWheel]

9. Because people age

When we figure out a cure for entropy and death, you can worry about it.

Some people aren't even given the time of day, so how about you just quit with the complaining :evilgrin:

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11. Thanks, Grandpa

[The2ndWheel]

18. I'm 28

:hi:

I'll still take your luck though.

[begin_within]

22. Well, you look great for such a young kid.

[The2ndWheel]

23. Are you coming on to me?

[begin_within]

24. So you didn't get all those e-mails.

[The2ndWheel]

26. Oh, I did

you prevert. I'm just not that into old dudes.

[hfojvt]

12. Nobody says that to me.

And if they did, I would know they were lying.

[TheBaldyMan]

13. IMO better than, "I'd slow down if I were you"

I always looked young for my age up until my thirties, now I hope I look like a grown up ( being bald helps ). There are guys that look forty when they're twenty-five but then they seem to stop aging for decades. They are the ones that get the cracks about stop burning the candle at both ends. They get the last laugh when they hit sixty and still look forty.

[texanwitch]

14. I look much younger then my age.

I get that a lot.

[pitohui]

15. they're trying not to insult your intelligence

it's a balance, you know?

they can tell you're older, be honest, you're not fooling anybody, but they are trying to be complimentary also so it's a line they're walking

to pretend they can't tell you're older -- as some kids do -- is equally if not more insulting, it's a kind way of saying they think you're a fool easily taken in by flattery

[AmyDeLune]

16. My last birthday

I was at work and I mentioned to a few of the customers that it was my birthday and they responded as if I had just told them I had cancer. I had been feeling just fine about turning 37, after that I started wondering just how bad do I look that I'm getting sympathy instead of congratulations?!?

My uncle made me feel better, mentioning that he had just turned 40-- twice over. (He's 81).

[Skittles]

17. I absolutely DESPISE that

it is a total cut and they don't even f***ing realize it

[Heidi]

20. "Thanks! And just imagine how good I'll look when I'm _your_ age!"

:D

[Haole Girl]

21. It really is a thoughtless comment, isn't it?

Or, how about this one: "Wow, I would have never guess you were that old! "

What the hell is the matter with some people?

[skygazer]

25. I really don't mind it

I'm 45 years old, not 25. People age. It's a fact of life. Truth is, I'd rather not be 25 and I have no wish to look like I am.

We're so afraid of age. Why? What's wrong with being a really hot older guy? You ARE an older guy. So what? What's wrong with looking good "for your age?" A lot of people look like crap for their age and sometimes their age isn't anywhere close to mine. It's just age. We age.

Lighten up, Grampa! You're lookin' good for an old fart! :hi:

[Left Is Write]

27. I agree with you.

When I hear "You look good for 40!" I always imagine that unspoken qualifier - "But damn lousy for 30!"