height vs weight

[Crescent Cat]

Man, I wish I was 5 foot! I'm 4'11 and it suck, suck sucks! Getting stools and climbing on counters to reach things on the top shelf is a pain in the ass but it's not as much the teasing that bothers me as it is the treatment I get for my height.

People treat me like a child because of my size. I don't think that most of them mean to or even realize it. For example, I was 24 years old last year when I went to the eye doctor for my annual check up and refill of contacts. As I was signing out and getting my lenses, the receptionist said, "Aw! You're so tiny! You're adorable!"

I'm just going on a hunch here, but I have a feeling she doesn't talk to other 24 year old women like that.

Yes, she was nice and I realize she probably didn't mean anything by it, but I am not a child! I don't appreciate being spoken to like one. It's especially infuriating when people use that high pitched voice as though I were a toddler.

I work, I pay my bills on time, I have my own apartment and I'm far more responsible than most people my age, yet I don't get the privilege of being treated like an adult because I'm small.

I'm fucking tired of it.

[Nyoibo]

For the record, I only tease people about their height if I know them and know it doesn't really bother them.

[Bloodsoul]

I have to say, I like short girls. Especially short girls with really really big swords/hammers/etc. Something inheritely kickass about that, me thinks.

I think I might have inadverantly mocked my girlfriend's height once, but she quickly put me in my place.. though we both laughed, I know I shan't do so again. Her shin kicks hurt!

[Talon]

As Rigel of Farscape put it:

I may be short, but allow me to remind you that puts me closer to castration level!

[Nyoibo]

Yup, a fact my short friends like to remind people of.

[joe hx]

Rephrase: why is it insulting to make fun of one's weight, but not their height?

[Greenday]

Because people tend to believe you can control your weight. Or at least control it enough not to be extremely overweight. You can't do anything about your height and it'd be unfair to make fun of someone for something they can't control.

[Fashion Lad!]

There's a girl in one of the classes that I'm taking who is just a bit over 5' tall. She's hilarious once you start going on about her height. She actually starts making fun of herself about being short right along with us. I guess it's different for every person. I would *NEVER* make a crack about some woman's weight though. Ugh, that's just asking for trouble like you would not believe.

[Boozy]

People used to make fun of my weight all the time, when I was really skinny.

It's not "height vs. weight", really. It's just that you can't make fun of fat people.

That makes sense, because overweight folks are more likely to be sensitive about it. There's no societal pressure to be a certain height. But there's intense pressure to be thin, so "chubby" jokes are more likely to be seen as insults than jokes.

For the record, I was always very sensitive about my weight when I was too thin. I guess people assumed I was fine with it, or had lost weight on purpose. But the jokes still hurt.

The best rule of thumb: Unless you know someone very, very well - well enough to know what hurts them - don't comment on the appearance of their bodies. It's just rude.

[jackfaire]

There's no societal pressure to be a certain height.

Bull. I am 5'7. I have had many girls who won't date anyone under 6' because they dont' want to date guys the same height as them in my area I tend to be shorter than most guys. It doesn't bother me I dont' think about it but when I was in high school I did all the time.

It's not a big media thing unless your even shorter than I am but it does happen.

[Flyndaran]

I've seen studies that show women care about a prospective date's height more than nearly anything else. They had to tell women that a man was rich, nice, etc. and that the other men in the group were unemployed and mean before women would even consider dating the short guy.
I mean come on look at the english language. Short tempered, small minded, little man, etc. "We" don't like short men.
Making fun of people for any reason is probably not a nice thing to do.

[blas87]

I have to respectfully disagree with you, Boozy and go with jack. Although taller girls are more prone to not wanting to date shorter guys, there are shorter girls who feel the same way.

I may have no right to be this demanding, since I'm known around work as munchkin, but I won't date shorter guys.

I like wearing my heels. I like to look taller. I don't want to tower over a guy like the Tom and Katie/Nicole thing when I only make myself about 5'6 when wearing heels.

The taller, the better.

I know, I'm mean and shallow. But I don't think guys take a look at me and think "Wow, look at the brains on her!", so at the same time, I'm not that bad.

[Rapscallion]

Shrug - people are attracted to different things. Of the two crushes I laboured under some time back, one was a redhead who - once my glands had settled down - was a fairly greasy specimen without any real work ethic. The second was (and still is) rather petite.

Actually, though this is major league drift, I really think that people crush/love/obsess over their perceived image of another person.

I know, I'm mean and shallow. But I don't think guys take a look at me and think "Wow, look at the brains on her!", so at the same time, I'm not that bad.

You're literate, articulate, and willing to stand your ground. Worth admiring. I've never met you in person, but that's the impression I get of your positive qualities.

Rapscallion

[jackfaire]

"Wow, look at the brains on her!", so at the same time, I'm not that bad.

LOL actually I do. For me I won't even consider asking a girl out unless she is smart. I don't care what she looks like. Looks are a distraction. Attraction for me is all about who they are.

[Boozy]

When I say there's no societal pressure to be tall, I don't mean that tall men are not considered stronger, more manly, or more attractive than short men. I meant exactly what I said: There is no societal pressure to be tall. You can apply all the peer pressure you want and it's not going to change someone's height.

However, the theory is that peer pressure might change someone's weight.

That's why I think jokes about weight are taken more personally than those about height. There's always an implication that it's your own damn fault, so why don't you change to meet society's expectations?