Is it rude to ask someone's age

[masked_brown_guy]

ok then how old are you?

[natashaspy]

I think it is rude.  I would never ask somebody their age or what they weigh.  Some things are personal.  It seems the very young or the old are not as age sensitive.  

Don't you think age and weight are two very different things?  I would NEVER ask someone how much they weigh, that's a weird thing to ask about...

exactly, weight and age are totally different things.  i never had a problem telling anyone my age. personally i'm happy to have lived as long as i have! lol

[jwallbank]

I don't think it is rude to ask age, If the other person that you are asking thinks it is - they don't have to answer. I guess it is situational also, If a girl asks another girl age - It's not that bad. If a guy asks a girl - that could be a issue. I guess just to be safe, get to know the person a little better first - then ask!!

[Stealth3si]

We have a new girl at work and I was going to ask her just to make conversation and then it came to me that I have heard asking such a thing is rude...but I don't get it...it's just a number.  It's not like I'm going to go home and say, "OH.MY.GOD. HONEY you will never guess what happened to me today.  I met a 34 year old, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!???"

As long as it's someone who is not obviously really really really old looking.

[masked_brown_guy]

It is ironic that old people ask young people this question all the time and yet it is commonly thought of a younger person asking older people (women in particular) what their age is.

[girlswin2]

For some people telling there age isn't in there vocabulary.  They want people to think they are younger than they are.  They have problems.  No its not rude to ask someones age in my opinion.   

[Annella]

I have no problem people asking me my age. Of course I'm at the age where it doesn't bother me what people think or not how old or young I am.  lol  I'm 61 and have a son 43 and 3 grandsons 22, 20, and 16.  I wouldn't turn the clock back for nothing. I'm happy that I've lived and still living a full fruitful life with my maker, friends, and family. I hope to live many more happy productive years until the good Lord calls me home, or calls me to the sky.

[sgluckadoo]

Well good manners dictates that you not ask age, especially a womans. I really dont care though!

[ninajay]

I don't have a problem with it

[davidf938]

The age question should be on a need to know basis. Would you also ask them their bra size unless you were selling them a bra? I think not. MYOB.

[dreamyxo]

The age question should be on a need to know basis. Would you also ask them their bra size unless you were selling them a bra? I think not. MYOB.

   lol.

[bretay]

I don't see the big deal.I don't mind telling my age.It is just a number.

[lorettahknox]

Unless you hired the person directly, I think it is generally rude to ask probing and invasive questions of someone with whom you have no connection. You may think nothing of it but that person does not know the reason a stranger would ask their age. If a conversation is what you want ask something non-threatening like what is your favorite casual restaurant? No one would feel on the spot.

[gaylasue]

ok then how old are you?

Life's clock says I'm 50.  However, inside I feel a lot younger than that.  Outside, I do look younger than that!

[lvstephanie]

I agree that just asking outright may be a little blunt or rude, but if it is in context of the rest of the conversation, then it isn't that bad. It also depends on how well you know the person. There are some questions that are safe to ask a total stranger and others that are a little more personal. Asking a complete stranger walking down the street what time it is is a safe question, but asking that same person their age is rude. Since the person is a co-worker, I think it's safe to start asking more personal questions... What is their all-time favorite movie, etc. If they say something like "Star Wars", you may say something like, "In the theaters?! I wouldn't have thought you were old enough to see that when it first hit the big screens" and the age thing may come up through that. I think socially knowing a person's age starts to become relevant. A person of the same age will remember and have similar experiences growing up, whereas someone even a few years different than you may have different experiences. Knowing a person's age helps to identify where these inconsistencies may come from.