Age and Sense of Delicacy I believe there are some questions not to be asked at all while two unknown people are chatting for the first time. Such questions can be taken as tactless and even insulting. So it isn’t considered polite to ask a woman about her age, at least in Russia. I don’t know about the rest of the world. The other day I faced the situation when I was asked about my age by supposing almost half as old again as my real age. I couldn’t find an appropriate answer. I’m still furious. I can’t stop thinking it over. There are two possible explanations. The first one is that I look much older than I am (and it makes me more upset). The other reason is that the person has bad eyesight. It’s good advice to reply to tactless questions by using your sense of humour. Here is a Russian anecdote on this topic. Please be aware of some Russian figures of speech: a monkey = an ugly, bad-looking woman, a crocodile = an ugly, bad-looking man. A monkey sat on the riverside and looked at the water. A crocodile swam by and thought: “I will ask her if she has got married. If she answers yes I’ll say – Who is that man who married you, such a fright? If she answers no I’ll say – No wonder, you are so ugly!” The crocodile swam up to the bank. - Hey, monkey! Have you got married? - Aha, how I can manage it?! Only such crocodiles like you swim in the river! ))))) Have a nice day!