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Heightism:

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I am tall, I can't see you all dwarfs from up here so I don't know anything about privilege.

But seriously, I demand more privilege for my height.
 
Dice said:
This is a load of shit. Many scientific studies have been done and confirm the existence of favortism. Confidence can help to counter a bias, but it doesn't make the bias cease to exist. A confident shorter man going up against a timid taller man isn't a fair evaluation of the issue. Match up a confident shorter man against a confident taller man and see what sort of patterns play out.
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It's not only confidence, way to leave out the rest of my post. Take both those confident people and make the short one the better worker, or the more likable one, or give him better ideas or any of a million things. What I was trying to say is that height can be a factor, but there are other, stronger, factors that you can control in this particular situation. No two people are ever going to be exactly equal except for their height.
 
Kopyii said:
I think short people here should be forced to type in smaller font, so we know who's opinions to ignore.
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Mumei said:
I suspect that most of this is sort of subconscious, and by pointing it out you can be more aware of it. I mean, just speaking personally I did not think I acted differently around taller people, but after I was reading some journal articles about it or something tangentially related - I somehow found my way to a study from a Cracked article and I cannot for the life of me remember what it was - and I started noticing when I was doing it.

So maybe just telling people "There is an unconscious bias towards taller people; be aware of this" is really the only thing to be done.
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This is true in most places. In some places, such as China, it can even be institutionalized in blatant corporate discrimination. Obviously in those cases there needs to be effort made to make it illegal, but then you're just pushing it from a listed job requirement to a hiring bias.
 
B-Dubs said:
No because it is all you post about. It's always lookism, heightism, weightism or whatever the heck else is next. You need to get some confidence, seriously. Start running, or working out or just something, anything, to get some confidence. So you think you're ugly, you're short or whatever. You can't change that, so change what you can. There are real things people need to live with that affect people's perception of them: disabilities, chronic diseases, sexuality, race or gender for some. There are some real things that people discriminate against each other for, that people irrationally hate each other for, that people will kill each other for, but being ugly or short or overweight or whatever aren't some of them. So you're short, do something to offset it, get buff. So you're ugly, get a new haircut and outfit. We aren't defined by our looks or our height, it comes down to what you want to be defined by.
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I can not do much excercise with my bad back (yeah already have one). I am not diminishing those forms of discrimination but just because they exist should other lesser forms of discrimination be ignored?
I never said I was short but I am ugly by standards of beauty (symmetry, face shape, acne etc.). This topic is not about me but I want to clarify that I have never claimed to be shorter than average stature and personally I feel my level of confidence is adequate.
Timedog said:
Also, I don't understand the colon in the thread title.

Also, I'm 6'6".
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This colon was a lack of a subtitle I thought applied (brain was slow).

Fiction said:
Yes, it bothers him a little. I am actually taller than him in heels. We are very nearly the same height in shoes.

But, I honestly don't think it bothers him because of any form of heightism. I think it bothers him (and others) because of the notion that women should appear to be more frail than their SOs.

AEdit: Also, I am Native American and he is white.
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Ah okay,I was just asking because I have met a couple of men who do not like women being taller (I guess since you are married I should have implied that was not the case).
If you do not mind me digressing from the topic and asking this, what tribe or tribes are in you if you know? (personally I do not know my ancestry haha)


squidyj said:
I wonder how I knew who the OP was just by the thread title. I fucking wonder. I remember saying to you that I looked forward to your time ahead on GAF. I just want to say now that you have not disappointed me.

Personally I hate being tall and having to slouch around everywhere to not smack my head on door frames. It's not good for my back. And then there's the chairs and desks which are never an appropriate height either, I had to pull out the keyboard tray because I couldn't get my legs under my desk with it, even while sitting in this tiny ass chair that has me all hunched up while i've got all sorts of stuff stacked up to elevate my computer monitor so I'm not looking down on it.
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I am sorry that you have to deal with these problems. How tall are you if you do not mind me asking?
Kusagari said:
If LV ever posts a pic of himself watch him be the standard definition of male beauty.
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I can confirm that will not be the case as stated before I explained why I am not considered attractive. Also I have never stated I was of shorter stature and recognize I am around the average height, I complain about sexism but I am a male.
Secret_Riddle said:
...Tonnes of successful people are short. Even more are probably just average. I don't think a persons height beats out key qualities like confidence and credentials.
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B-Dubs said:
Seriously, Bloomberg is like a friggen midget and he's made how much money? Jon Stewart of Daily Show fame is short. There are loads of successful short people.




Yea I figured that out, it's just late is all.
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Yes but it was an obstacle to overcome. Would Mayor Bloomberg be better off taller?
I mean Verne Troyer is successful but does that mean that little people have the same opportunity as others to succeed?
 
6'5"

I don't mind at all. Anything that makes me more hireable is a plus in my book lol. Would suck to be short... How on earth do you peoplez navigate crowds?
 
If you're in areas where everyone is poor, you don't have to make much money to be more valuable. Being short in the Mid-West is pretty boss. Heightism is weird and unless you're actually short, which the OP is not (and others including myself actually are), it's really weird for you to take up the cause. Even short people will tell you (and they have, in this thread) that it isn't a big deal.

I've been picked for jobs where physical size actually matters (security at a juvenile detention center) over larger candidates. Most of the teenagers that came in were bigger than me and I was responsible for pat downs when they came in on charges and making sure no one got out of line while they were up in general population. It would make sense for a larger man to be picked for that job. But I was, and I never had an issue because being short isn't an issue.

I've never met another short guy who has ever used the word "discrimination" in regards to their treatment due to physical stature unless it was a clear joke. When people start trying to wipe out short guys or try to remove our voting rights, then there might be a problem. Poor choice to make a serious topic over. No one cares about this, including short people. Short dudes with little man syndrome are absolutely the worst.
 
Although not professionally, it has burned me personally. And then I come to this thread and see cocky comments about being tall and "looking down". Height is one of those things you have no direct control over.

Ironically, one of my good friends is 6'6" has never made fun of me despite the awkward difference in our height. Making fun of me for my height does hit a nerve even though I have grown comfortable with how tall I am over the last 4 years.
 
LostVoyager said:
Yes but it was an obstacle to overcome. Would Mayor Bloomberg be better off taller?
I mean Verne Troyer is successful but does that mean that little people have the same opportunity as others to succeed?
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There is a huge difference between being short and being a little person. Don't even try and equate the two, it's insulting.

Second there is no way to know what would happen in your hypothetical, he may be worse off. Maybe being shorter made Bloomberg work harder than anyone else, he's doesn't have a memoir or autobiography out that I know of so we don't know that. So that point is pointless. The point is it didn't define him.
 
Here is an interesting documentary on the topic: http://vimeo.com/6780321

Some of these guys have really bad attitudes, and I feel they are making it a way bigger issue than it genuinely is. However, it raises a lot of good points overall and may make you newly aware of some specific things. The fact that some people do go through life with these feelings should in itself be meaningful to the discussion.

As for me personally, it doesn't really get to me, but I will argue about it being a genuine issue if someone tries to deny it. I am a confident person, and I have intellect and culture and skills, but I have very often been perceived as weak because I'm "a little guy" or some such. When girls are consistently surprised that you can easily lift something they can't, yet think nothing of asking and expecting the same from taller guys, you catch on.

It is a bit odd, because you often want to perceive yourself as "normal" rather than being closer to one end of a spectrum. I guess for some people once they realize it, it becomes their main issue or something to blame for problems even beyond the scope of what is true. I could see the same happening with race or sexual orientation. Yet, like those, it also goes the other way. You always want to think you view and estimate others fairly, but there are many subconscious assumptions that take place, and many are unfair.
 
B-Dubs said:
There is a huge difference between being short and being a little person. Don't even try and equate the two, it's insulting.

Second there is no way to know what would happen in your hypothetical, he may be worse off. Maybe being shorter made Bloomberg work harder than anyone else, he's doesn't have a memoir or autobiography out that I know of so we don't know that. So that point is pointless. The point is it didn't define him.
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It was a comparison showing that just because there are individual who are successful does not mean that it was not an obstacle in their live. I was not equating them in scope or in the amount of discrimination faced and apologized if it came off that way.

I was going to use successful "black", "asian", "hispanic", "native american" people do not mean that race is not a major obstacle but thought that it would draw out the remark you gave that I was trying to equate the two when I am just saying that successful shorter or average height men/women does not mean that it was not an obstacle in their path to success.
 
Wafflecakes said:
6'5"

I don't mind at all. Anything that makes me more hireable is a plus in my book lol. Would suck to be short... How on earth do you peoplez navigate crowds?
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I arrived late to a packed concert once, and began at the very back of a 200 yard long sea of people. Within 20 minutes, I had crawled all the way to 3rd row so I could almost touch the stage. As far as navigating crowds go, I think being short is advantageous.
 
perfectchaos007 said:
I'm 5'7" and ironically, i didn't develop an inferiority complex due to my short stature until about 3 years ago when I read an article posted by a GAFer that showed a correlation between height and worth to a woman. It showed that if you are 5'7", you need to make something like $50k more a year to be just as attractive as a 5'9" guy, and statistics like that. It really got to me. Now here we are again..this article gives my confidence another blow since it's basically saying unless I drastically overcome the odds, I won't be making good money in the business world. I need to buy some lifts. I've seen those maxtall commercials, but when I went to their website, it seemed very sketchy and I did not feel comfortable sending them my credit card #. Any suggestions? ha
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Yea, I'm with you on this one. One of my friend's sister one day says, "Eww, I don't date guys shorter that I am". I get the preference with height, we really can't help what we truly desire, but the "Eww" hit a nerve. That expression of disgust made me feel like a lump of deformed flesh and bones. So now to satiate, one must now have greater bling/income. So even though I absolutely love women, I've pretty much given up on seeking dates.

And of course comparatively taller guys/girls are more confident when holding a conversation with a shorter individual. They can blot out the sun and cast a shadow on you and look down upon thee.
 
Wafflecakes said:
I don't mind at all. Anything that makes me more hireable is a plus in my book lol. Would suck to be short... How on earth do you peoplez navigate crowds?
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One time I was at a crowded party and I momentarily stepped onto a couch in order to spot someone. It brought me to your height, which was the same as a friend of mine, whom I saw across the way. I realized this and that it was his constant perspective of the world, and I was like "holy shit!" as I looked around.
 
Yes but it was an obstacle to overcome. Would Mayor Bloomberg be better off taller?
I mean Verne Troyer is successful but does that mean that little people have the same opportunity as others to succeed?
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So if Bloomberg was taller, would you be mad that he had more opportunities because of it? How do you know his height was an obstacle to overcome? Could it be that is had no influence on his money making ways in the least? Do you consider it an obstacle if he doesn't? He obviously is pretty well off not being taller, so I don't think it matters if he was a few inches taller.


Now a thread centered around the second part of that quote would make a little more sense. But to equate dwarfism and guys under 5'10 is ridiculous.


Go look at a list of the heights of world leaders. Some of the most powerful people in the world are well under the average height. I'm sure they don't see their height as part of their struggle.
 
i-Lo said:
Yea, I'm with you on this one. One of my friend's sister one day says, "Eww, I don't date guys shorter that I am". I get the preference with height, we really can't help what we truly desire, but the "Eww" hit a nerve. That expression of disgust made me feel like a lump of deformed flesh and bones. So now to satiate, one must now have greater bling/income. So even though I absolutely love women, I've pretty much given up on seeking dates.

And of course comparatively taller guys/girls are more confident when holding a conversation with a shorter individual. They can blot out the sun and cast a shadow on you and look down upon thee.
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That's some bullshit. That's just a person who lacks empathy and social awareness. Women wanting a guy that's taller than them is fine, it's probably biological, but saying "hey, you don't meet my criteria for dating" out of nowhere is rude and uncouth, unless there's more to the story.

What if she actually liked you and you failed the confidence test? /shyamalyanalaman twist

Mumei said:
I believe there are.
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AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
 
202 cm here. It always annoys me when people come ask me how tall I am, I would never ask people how short they are.
 
LegoArmo said:
Is it okay to admit to being a heightist? I think I'm one.
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I've never, ever been a heightist. Not even unconsciously, I think. Maybe it comes from people talking about my height all the time and internalizing the fact that height doesn't mean shit (since I'm insanely self-critical I've always hated getting any extra attention/accolades on account of being tall). Maybe it's from having a bunch of short friends. I dunno.
 
5'11", average height, don't really ever think much about it.

I'm attracted to people taller than me, but I've never really measured a person by their height.
 
i-Lo said:
Yea, I'm with you on this one. One of my friend's sister one day says, "Eww, I don't date guys shorter that I am". I get the preference with height, we really can't help what we truly desire, but the "Eww" hit a nerve. That expression of disgust made me feel like a lump of deformed flesh and bones. So now to satiate, one must now have greater bling/income. So even though I absolutely love women, I've pretty much given up on seeking dates.
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Come on, man. Don't worry like that, just look more. You see this girl in my avatar? Because Asia is so obsessed with height, I happen to know she is 160cm tall. She has also said in interviews that she doesn't like tall guys and finds that hugging them is very awkward. There are plenty of girls like her. There are even some tall girls who like shorter guys, if you can handle the difference yourself.
I don't mind tits in my face.

It's better to just flip that mindset around. Were you not good enough for someone like your friend's sister, or was she not good enough for you? Ultimately, you're going to want a woman who appreciates a man of your stature, so essentially, that is a standard you hold. She isn't up to the standard of woman you desire. There are probably at least 1 billion women out in the world in your general range. You can find one that you like who will also like who you are and how you are. Don't let a comment from some picky girl bring you down.
 
This is such a confusing topic. Consider two guys who are equal in every way - skill set, knowledge, charisma etc - except height. They meet a girl and the girl chooses to date the taller guy. In another scenario a second girl chooses to date the shorter guy.

Are these instances of discrimination? To me it seems like it can only be considered discrimination where objective decision making needs to be made. Like jobs.
 
It's hard finding a woman shorter than me(5'7") in a town where everyone is white. I feel like I'm in Denmark or the Netherlands.
 
Timedog said:
Yep! :)

I hope there's no one that's 6'7" on GAF :(
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I believe that Industrian is at least 6'7'' and could crush you.

Also, I'm at least 6'5.5'' but round down to avoid being dishonest and to avoid the absurdity of including the half inch when I'm already so tall. Are you rounding up?
 
I'm 6'1" and I wish I was taller. Doesn't help that I spent several years living in the Netherlands where almost everyone looks down on you.
 
Trurl said:
I believe that Industrian is at least 6'7'' and could crush you.

Also, I'm at least 6'5.5'' but round down to avoid being dishonest and to avoid the absurdity of including the half inch when I'm already so tall. Are you rounding up?
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There's no way he could crush me. MMA charity match, stat.

I am in fact rounding up by a half inch, or at least from last time I was measured in high school 10 years ago.
 
Mumei said:
I suspect that most of this is sort of subconscious, and by pointing it out you can be more aware of it. I mean, just speaking personally I did not think I acted differently around taller people, but after I was reading some journal articles about it or something tangentially related - I somehow found my way to a study from a Cracked article and I cannot for the life of me remember what it was - and I started noticing when I was doing it.

So maybe just telling people "There is an unconscious bias towards taller people; be aware of this" is really the only thing to be done.
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If you say so, hopefully i'm not laughed at for telling them about heightism. Yeah i'm most def not using that word if I ever explain this to someone.


Flynn said:
If I had a dollar for every time somebody said I should play basketball...
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Why aren't you playing basketball?

What! Come on you were asking for it
 
Dice said:
Come on, man. Don't worry like that, just look more. You see this girl in my avatar? Because Asia is so obsessed with height, I happen to know she is 160cm tall. She has also said in interviews that she doesn't like tall guys and finds that hugging them is very awkward. There are plenty of girls like her. There are even some tall girls who like shorter guys, if you can handle the difference yourself.
I don't mind tits in my face.

It's better to just flip that mindset around. Were you not good enough for someone like your friend's sister, or was she not good enough for you? Ultimately, you're going to want a woman who appreciates a man of your stature, so essentially, that is a standard you hold. She isn't up to the standard of woman you desire. There are probably at least 1 billion women out in the world in your general range. You can find one that you like who will also like who you are and how you are. Don't let a comment from some picky girl bring you down.
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I don't mind tits my face too
. Ah fuck it. I'd rather have a few beautiful fluffy cats who aren't going to judge me on my physical shortcomings. Before I moved to Canada, the parents of my cousins also raised concerns about my short stature with my parents.

I come to threads like these and always air on the side of equality and a life free from racism, prejudice and bigotry. And now OP reminds me that, statistically, the system is rigged against us. I guess some nights like this one with or without being inebriated I tell myself, "what's the fucking point of fighting for the very people who look down upon me?" I then wrap myself with the philosophy of nihilism as I doze off with last thoughts, "Ah, well in this fucked up world, things are the way they are and most people have come to accept it... so what's the fucking point of anything?"
 
5'5" . Have experienced a chick I was trying to checkout straight out said I wasn't tall enough. Out of a thousand men in my army base (Norway) I was the shortest. Working on my doomsday device, brb.
On the other hand, I did become the lead developer with my former employer (forty+ devs) 1.5 years after entering the industry and I've always been one of the 'tougher' guys in my friend circle growing up (thanks to having an older brother who loved to fight me).
 
You know, Obama is shorter than Romney. Maybe if he wins we'll finally get reparations for the struggles our people have had to endure.
 
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