Random question

[Roland98]

For those of you who've seen pics of me, just going by those, how old would you guess I am? (Don't answer if you actually know). Just curious; I'll post more later on why I'm asking after I get a few guesses. Thanks!

(For those of you who don't "know" me from other boards or haven't seen a pic, I put 2 in the gallery).

[wei yau]

As long as this isn't one of those "Any answer will get me in trouble" questions (like "Does this make my ass look fat?")...I'll give it a shot.

Based on your pics alone and not based on any other knowledge about you (such as profession, family, etc.), I'd say that you look to be about mid- to late-twenties. If I had to pick a specific number, I'd say "27".

[viscousmemories]

You're the spitting image of my 78 yr. old Grandmother.

[wei yau]

You're the spitting image of my 78 yr. old Grandmother.

Dude, your grandma's hot! :drool:

[pescifish]

There are several women on these boards I wouldn't touch a question like this with a ten foot pole in a HazMat suit, but knowing you as a confident person who is not hyper absorbed with your appearance, I am assuming you have some interesting reason to ask.

It's hard to tell a person's age in any situation, even harder from still photos. Your larger photo is low resolution and the sharper one is very small, so that makes it harder.

I'd go with what eldar says: mid to late 20s, 27 came to mind for me, as well. In your photos your hair and style of dress are in a young-ish range, so that skews things, too. I wouldn't be surprised to find out you are simply a gorgeous early to mid 30s in good shape with beautiful skin and hair.

[Roland98]

Thanks for the replies so far (except you, vm. :glare: ). And no, just to reassure everyone, it's not some trick question, and I won't be offended by any responses (except you, vm. :glare: :) ) And yeah, I know the pics make it kinda hard to tell--I'm always behind the lens so I have hardly any pics of myself.

[Ensign Steve]

I think your pics in the gallery, look like Lauri, especially the second one.

My money's on 30, but that's only because I want so desparately for you to be older than me.

Edit: Upon further inspection, I have to change my answer to 25. Just because I want something to be so, don't make it so. *sigh*

[Ex-zombie]

I have been married for twenty two years. I know better than to answer that question. No matter how many times the female reassures you she won't be offended by your answer, the answer is going to get you into trouble.

[Roland98]

:) Honestly, I don't get offended, and you can imagine how much shit I've had thrown at me via PM as an II mod/admin. It's just a question I can't ask people I know because, well, they know how old I am and it influences their answer--so I thought I'd try y'all instead. But don't feel you have to throw a number out there. I won't be offended if you don't answer, either. ;)

[Ensign Steve]

I hope you plan on telling us the number eventually. We have a pool going at work.

[Roland98]

I hope you plan on telling us the number eventually. We have a pool going at work.

Ha! :) Yeah, I'll post it sometime tomorrow after a few more people can weigh in--as long as you pass along how old they think I am. ;)

[Skep]

If I were a bartender, I wouldn't card you. In which case you're probably 19 and I lose my license for serving you. :( Seriously though, you don't appear to be younger than 24 nor older than 30, so I'll go with the average and say you're 27. :cool:

[Crumb]

You look about 25 to me too, although I could see how you could be a bit older. You look great though, whatever your age.

(I should totally start a guess my age thread...)

[LadyShea]

Appearance only? I would have guessed 25-26ish. That I know you're a PhD? I would have been shocked and assumed you must just be a really young looking 38 (because I think of PhDs as older).

Since i know your age this is all moot of course.

[kensloft]

Appearance only? I would have guessed 25-26ish. That I know you're a PhD? I would have been shocked and assumed you must just be a really young looking 38 (because I think of PhDs as older).

Since i know your age this is all moot of course.
Is that "38" a calibre of gun or bra size? I looked at your picture and somehow got thirties out of it. It is in the smile and facial features. You are really pretty! I will go with the mid thirties. No specific number because I ain't that stoopid. :popcorn:

[Ymir's blood]

26?

[xorbie]

28.

[slimshady2357]

28.

Sou thinks you're mid-thirties in the grainy one, 30 in the summer 2004 one.

Adam

[godfry n. glad]

I think you're older than you look. I'd say 33.

[Roland98]

Interesting.

Most of you were in the ballpark; I'm 28. I'm just annoyed because I've been asked almost on a daily basis if I'm a grad student (or even an undergrad a few times! Geez!) and it's getting damn annoying. Even twice I've been introduced to someone as "Professor ---," and then they ask a half-hour later about when I'm going to graduate. Yesterday we had a faculty meeting--and someone asked if I was the student group's representative. When I told her "No, I'm on the faculty," she actually laughed until she realized I was serious.

It's just annoying right now. I'm sure I'll appreciate it down the road. Or something.

[Beth]

I am sure it must suck considerring the work you put in to get to where you are.

I get mistaken for being younger sometimes. If I walk to the bus stop to get my son, sometimes I get mistaken for being part of a group of high schoolers, if I am carrying my son's backpack. But that is just a hoot to me. Teen girls are trying to look so much older that it is hard for some kids to distinguish age differences. I still get carded, that annoys me sometimes, I should be old enough not to have to deal with that hassle. When I answer the phone, I get asked for my mommy at least two or three times a week. Dammit, my voice is not that young sounding. I am lucky, though, I just have petty annoyances; I don't have to face the annoyances you do. I'm sure you must feel that you've worked hard enough not to have to bother trying to prove you are capable.

[viscousmemories]

It's just annoying right now. I'm sure I'll appreciate it down the road. Or something.
I'm sure you'll get used to it, Doogie. :P

Seriously I've met a lot more 28 yr. old grad students than PhD's, so I'm not surprised by the reactions you're getting. Maybe you will be happy about it some day. But either way, rest assured you'll look old eventually. :giggle:

[Beth]

But either way, rest assured you'll look old eventuallyYup, so take care of your skin and use plenty of sunblock!;)

[Roland98]

I am sure it must suck considerring the work you put in to get to where you are.

I get mistaken for being younger sometimes. If I walk to the bus stop to get my son, sometimes I get mistaken for being part of a group of high schoolers, if I am carrying my son's backpack. But that is just a hoot to me. Teen girls are trying to look so much older that it is hard for some kids to distinguish age differences. I still get carded, that annoys me sometimes, I should be old enough not to have to deal with that hassle. When I answer the phone, I get asked for my mommy at least two or three times a week. Dammit, my voice is not that young sounding. I am lucky, though, I just have petty annoyances; I don't have to face the annoyances you do. I'm sure you must feel that you've worked hard enough not to have to bother trying to prove you are capable.

Yeah, I generally get carded unless I'm with the kids. And I get that on the phone too. I can deal with that. It just ticks me off at work because I'm already tired of explaining it.

I'm sure you'll get used to it, Doogie. :P

Fuck off. :)

Seriously I've met a lot more 28 yr. old grad students than PhD's, so I'm not surprised by the reactions you're getting.

Yeah, I know...thing is, in some fields of epidemiology (and especially in biostatistics, which is another department within my college), you don't have to do any post-doctoral work. So it's not completely unheard of to go straight from grad school to a professorship--and hence, be around my age as a new prof. This shouldn't be all that unusual. I'd expect it more if my appointment was in the biology or microbiology department, where you often have to do at least 3-4 years (or more!) of postdoc research before getting a faculty position. Grr.

Maybe you will be happy about it some day. But either way, rest assured you'll look old eventually.

Gee, thanks. :doh: :P

[Beth]

Gee, talk about agism. How long have you been a prof., Roland? I think that is quite an accomplishment to achieve that status by 28!

[Roland98]

Only for about 3 months now. I finished my PhD at 26 and then did 2 years of post-doctoral research.

[Brimshack]

You need to wear all black, then they'll at least think you're a grad student, especially if you carry around a copy of something by Foucault.

[viscousmemories]

Yeah, I know...thing is, in some fields of epidemiology (and especially in biostatistics, which is another department within my college), you don't have to do any post-doctoral work. So it's not completely unheard of to go straight from grad school to a professorship--and hence, be around my age as a new prof. This shouldn't be all that unusual. I'd expect it more if my appointment was in the biology or microbiology department, where you often have to do at least 3-4 years (or more!) of postdoc research before getting a faculty position. Grr.
Interesting. And a little confusing. I thought your field was epidemiology, and that epidemiology was a subset of microbiology, which is a subset of biology. Clearly I'm wrong...

[Roland98]

You need to wear all black, then they'll at least think you're a grad student, especially if you carry around a copy of something by Foucault.

I'll take that under advisement. :)

[Roland98]

Interesting. And a little confusing. I thought your field was epidemiology, and that epidemiology was a subset of microbiology, which is a subset of biology. Clearly I'm wrong...

Clearly you are. :) Technically my field is infectious disease epidemiology (imagine how crowded my business card is!). So it's not really a "subset" of micro, since not all microbes cause disease; it's kind of a cousin. Epidemiology, though, encompasses the development of all disease, or even more broadly, absence of health. So there's injury epidemiology, nutrition epidemiology, birth defects epi, cancer epi, reproductive epi, cardiovascular epi, etc. etc. There's also epidemiological methods, which is closer to biostats...studying how to measure disease, and outcomes, stuff like that. It's a huge, huge field, and of course, lots of areas overlap (for instance, there can be infectious causes of cancer, or someone studying how reproductive health plays a role in birth defects, etc. etc.) Clear as mud now? :)

[viscousmemories]

Clear as mud now? :)
Much clearer, actually. And fascinating. I thought epidemiology was the study of infectious diseases. Goes to show you how much I don't know. Thanks for the lesson. :)

I think it's time I re-read your introduction to microbiology article, actually. My short-term memory isn't so hot.

[Sweetie]

I'd have said 23 even though it's obvious that is wrong.

When I'm with my kids sometimes I get told I'm such a good babysitter. :D

[Dingfod]

I would've guessed 25 even though I knew better. My grandpa always told me to guess a young woman's age to be 25. If she's younger than that she'll be complimented. If she's old than that she'll be complimented and if she's exactly 25, bingo, you've got it right.

That said, I've got socks that are 28 years old, PhD too, Pretty Holey, Dammit.

Oh, yeah, did I mention that you suck? You and all other overachievers suck. You're making all us slackers and procrastinators look bad. Sheesh.

A graduate student? I'd say you do look about that age. Hell, at some state colleges in Oklahoma the average age of the undergrads is around 28.

[godfry n. glad]

Oh, yeah, did I mention that you suck? You and all other overachievers suck. You're making all us slackers and procrastinators look bad. Sheesh.

Hey, I earn a fraction of what you do. Doesn't that count for anything?

A graduate student? I'd say you do look about that age. Hell, at some state colleges in Oklahoma the average age of the undergrads is around 28.

That sounds like my alma mater. A city center university where practically everybody holds down a job and goes to school. Many of my classmates had families and could do only evening classes. A university built on the GI Bill.

And Roland... You need to get some fuddy-duddy clothing. Y'know, Peter Pan collars and knee-socks. Clunky orthopaedic shoes. And some bad glasses, too. Wear your lab jacket on dates and when you go shopping and the like. The one that has "Dr. Roland88, PhD - Inf Dis Epidemiol" stitched over the left breast. Cite the latest articles in leading journals as conversational gambits.

How do you expect people to take you seriously when your a natural babe?

godfry

[JoeP]

And Roland... You need to get some fuddy-duddy clothing. Y'know, Peter Pan collars and knee-socks. Clunky orthopaedic shoes. And some bad glasses, too. Wear your lab jacket on dates and when you go shopping and the like. The one that has "Dr. Roland88, PhD - Inf Dis Epidemiol" stitched over the left breast. Cite the latest articles in leading journals as conversational gambits.

How do you expect people to take you seriously when your a natural babe?

godfry
godfry, you're clearly hot under the collar (I know I am Professor Roland) - your typing is slipping - "Roland88"? "your"?

btw, surely you remember that lab coat from long ago at HH?

Roland, we spend half our lives trying to look older than we are and the rest trying to look younger than we are. Guys too. Trust me, one day you'll be saying "you know, when I was 28 and a prof, people use to mistake me for a student".