I have a similar problem (although for me it's looks rather than behaviour - Although that can be a factor too). I am a 28 year old male but I easily pass for 18 (I still get regularly ID'd for cigarettes and alcohol). I suppose it's a combination of my looks with composture and so on (yeah, I listen to punk and metal as well).

Although I don't behave all loud and "childishly", I'd say I'm pretty short-sighted in the way I view life and long term goals, I still sometimes have difficulty seeing myself living beyond 30, I've never been in a proper relationship before (so I'm ridiculously inexperienced in the whole thing). The worst thing about it is that I'm not sure how many women really like young looking men (I'm usually described as a "boy" or "boyish") - I can't go for girls who look my age because... let's just not go there, right? I've had men coming on to me but I just don't swing that way.

This is why I feel very patronised when the, I'd say "default response", is "oh my god, you're 28?? You look so young! You're so lucky"

Indeed, the grass is always greener...

This doesn't just affect relationships. It affects the way the world treats you. It even effects bands I want to join (I can play drums) one band asked me "if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" when they saw me. Another, who had never seen me before said over the e-mail "Sorry, but 25 is the upper age limit for our band".

I wore a suit and tie for a job interview recently and had to change the tie from the stripey blue and red one because I looked like I was going to school or something, to a plain black one (and consquently looked like I was going to a funeral).

It's a lose-lose situation whether women, bands, friendships - And before anyone says (because I've heard it before countless times) "look on the bright side, when you're 38 you'll look 28" - Don't you get it? I don't care about being 38, I only care about now. I don't even know if I'm ever going to be 38. Remember what I said about the "short sighted" view of the future?

Somehow death by 30 has never looked so pretty.

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