i think that the concept of "alter age" is often too vague/oversimplified to be helpful, and that it can be more productive to view "estimated age based on innerworld appearance", "estimated age based on abilities/maturity" and "self-identified age" as largely separate concepts
"alter age" is supposed to represent all three of those, but for some alters/systems, you could get wildly different age numbers depending on which of those three you're actually asking for. we have an alter who presents as around 17-19, has approximately the mindset of a 15 year old, and self-identifies as 5000+.
it's also important to recognise that all three of those concepts are very separate to your body age or actual age, possibly different enough to justify being called something other than age. all aspects of "alter age" are socially constructed in a way that age isn't.
very good point
