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The average height varies between countries, but in the US, it's 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) for men and 5 feet 3.5 inches (161 cm) for women.

If you're above or below these measurements, you might notice a few traits specific to your size. Interested in the latter group, one Reddit user made a post on the platform, asking people who consider themselves short to share the problems that they think taller folks will never truly understand.

From attending concerts to carrying backpacks, here are some of the things that they've mentioned.

#1

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand The overhead visor isn’t going to do anything against the sun.

13-Penguins , ConfusedRant6669/reddit Report

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PeepPeep the duck
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I use a hair clip to clip a piece of cardboard on the visor where the sun is, but only on interstate long drives

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#2

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand We don't need to ever clean those top shelves you say are dirty. I don't see them. Thus, they do not exist.

OUJayhawk36 , cottonbro studio/pexels Report

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zububonsai
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2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On the other side, I wish I'd never seen the underside of the kitchen drawers that hung above the oven in my airBnB flat in London (in a posh borough). First errand I ran was for Latex gloves and cleaning supplies.... 🫣😬😱🤢😖 ,*smol person problem*

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#3

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand It makes me feel unsafe if you talk about how easily you can pick me up and take me. Or how easily someone could overpower me. why would you tell me that when I'm already afraid of it happening.

Vivid_Sport9191 , Victoria Strelka_ph/pexels Report

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Tracy Wallick
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2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think a lot of women can relate to this, it's just even worse when you're petite. If it's any consolation, it also means you'd be easier to rescue in the event of an emergency like a fire.

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#4

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand Most short people can’t sit with their back against the back of a chair or sofa AND have their feet touch the floor. Without a pillow behind them it gets uncomfortable quickly. A lot of guys make fun of all the decorative pillows, but they also serve a function.

Silly-Resist8306 , George Chambers/pexels Report

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pineapple87
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This! Guys always complain about my throw pillows and I'm like "if it's in your way, give it to me! I will take all that I can get"

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#5

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand When you’re in a crowd of people, you can’t see a damn thing!

dogballet:

I'm 5ft tall and I have almost never enjoyed a live music event in my life.

Pennyfeather46 , Laura Stanley/pexels Report

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zububonsai
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2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Though, there's been TWO exceptions that made me feel not "too short for life": in January 2020 at a "The HU" Concert in Berlin, a second before they shot to fame. They are a Mongolian band, so half of the audience were Mongolians (4'5''-5'2''?), even the Ambassador of Mongolia to Germany was there (,on a balcony). I'm 5'1'' and could stand in the middle! of! the! crowd! and still see the band over the peoples' heads.Awesome. (In 2023 there was a much more "standard German white bun" crowd aka 3-6'' taller than me 😢).

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#6

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand If you walk normally I have to basically power walk. Even if you tell them, either they don't seem to understand, can't adapt on short notice or don't care.

LichtbringerU , Clem Onojeghuo/pexels Report

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howdylee
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom is 5', her brother is 6'2". It's funny watching them try to walk together. I call my mom a "sand piper" with how fast her legs have to run to keep up with him!

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#7

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand That people won't respect you as much as a tall person in a professional setting.

Prosperous_Petiole:

4'8 here. Customers at my work often think I'm the trainee. I'm the manager.

Yansura25 , Canva Studio/pexels Report

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Kira Okah
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

4'11. I've never been treated as "the trainee" at work in retail/fast food when the manager, nope. Coworkers and customers alike instead treated me like an impetulant toddler.

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María Hermida
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is even worse if you are a man, I think. People in general have these stereotypes about men and women so ingrained that we don't realise they are just stereotypes. Men are supposed to be tall and strong-looking, and have a deep voice. A male friend of mine had a high-pitched voice and a lot of adult people make fun of him. He is very intelligent but he avoids talking as much as possible. Even unimportant details in your physical appearance can have an enormous impact in your life.

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Donkey boi
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A former boss of mine was an incredibly short woman (4ft2). She had the respect of the entire office, excluding senior management. Don't know what their problem was with her, but we loved her. When she told us she was leaving, about 40 people handed in their notice. The company ended up closing the office and relocating up North.

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Rebecca McManus
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

5' here, I'm the manager and have to wear 3" heels to convince people

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kelliewhyte_85
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was 22 at the shops and I was sick sitting on a bench hunched over waiting for my fiance to finish shopping, and a man my age came up to me and asked where my parents were.

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D. Pitbull
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh.. it's true. In a group talking about something that I literally got my degree in... and... every single one of them either didn't go to post-sec at all or majored in a completely unrelated field... absolutely none of them take what I say as 'valid' - nothing. I said something about liking marmosets, because they're tiny monkeys - and someone said "So, like, not a real monkey"... and they simply would not believe that a marmoset was a type of primate at all. Nope. I could not POSSIBLY know such a thing (that could even be easily looked up online)

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Lee Banks
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My cousin is 4'9. Wound up teaching kindergarten, because the older kids didn't respect her.

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Sarah Mezei
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was in my 20's with customers asking what grade I was going into.

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MushroomHead22
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

how does being short correlate to being trained? they think you're a kid iguess?

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ShyWahine
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But we do get mistaken for being at least 5-10 years younger that we really are, a lot of the times...

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Sand Ers
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not entirely a bad thing. People have pegged me 5 to 10 years younger than I am all my life.

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TheGoodBoi
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This so much. A lot of corporate people I've met/know are big huge specimens. 90% are idiots and don't know what they're doing but have the title

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detective miller's hat
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm 5'. A number of friends and co-workers have told me that I "seem taller" than I really am.

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#8

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand If I gain 5lbs I may need a different size pants. 5lbs is so much to a person with no place to put it.

missdawn1970:

OMG, yes! I'm 5 feet tall, and gaining even 2 pounds makes my pants and skirts dig into my waist.

centralperk_7 , Andres Ayrton/pexels Report

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wowbagger
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And I will have to hem those new pants before I can wear them. I've become an expert at hemming pants.

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#9

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand In crowds it can become difficult to breathe. Taller people can reach the fresh air, but I’m trapped under where everyone else is breathing out.

MEG4NTRON , San Fermin Pamplona/pexels Report

#10

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand My space matters too. I also like to be comfortable. I don't appreciate being squeezed into the smallest space all the time "because it's easier". I don't want the s****y seat, bed, etc. every time we travel.

Being told constantly that you just need to roll with whatever because your comfort matters least HONESTLY had an effect on me.

Hagridsbuttcrack66 , João Jesus/pexels Report

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Tempest
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m average height but really skinny and I get this same treatment. I’m always expected to squeeze into the tightest spaces. Once some friends and I hired a car to go on a hike at a location that was about a 6 hour ride from our place (one way) and the car had one less seat that the number in our group so naturally I was made to sit on a pile of bags in the space between two seats for the whole duration of the trip up and down. I had back pain for days afterwards.

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#11

How difficult it is to get clothes out the bottom of a top loading washer. I have repurposed some kitchen tongs to be used as laundry tongs.

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#12

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand Y’all tall b**ches need to stop hovering over toilets and making them wet and gross. Short women cannot hover pee, and we should not have to. If no one hovered this would not be an issue.

str4ngerc4t , grilledcheese2332/reddit Report

#13

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand Being used as an armrest is annoying, and not peak humor that some tall people think it is.

Aoife226 , Samson Katt/pexels Report

#14

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand People really do show preferential treatment to tall men and discriminate against short men.

ProfessionalPin5993 , Kampus Production/pexels Report

#15

That annoying, tip of the fingers making the thing turn around instead of being able to grab it off an upper shelf.

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Little king trash mouth
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh or you just push it further back! I wanted cookies the other day at my in-laws. They were on the tippy top shelf. Now, No one cares if I eat cookies but I didn't really need to announce to the whole house that I needed help gaining access to said cookies. Frustrating!

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#16

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand I have rocked out calves because I go up on tiptoes twenty times a day.

zardozLateFee , Amar Preciado/pexels Report

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detective miller's hat
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I never thought about that.... As chubby as I get (and I'm pretty darn chubby at this stage of my life :/ ), my leg muscles are always rock solid.

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#17

How awesome it is to be able to pull the covers up to your chin without having your feet sticking out from under the duvet even when you’re lying stretched out on the bed.

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LB
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a huge downside of being tall (6' or 183cm) for me.

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#18

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand **I'm still a m***********g adult.**

I am a 43-year-old adult who has been working in my career for **20 f*****g years.**

I am a grown-up. Just because I'm the height of the average 12-year-old and also have a baby face and also just happen to be traditionally attractive does not mean that I am not a *serious f*****g adult.* This has been my biggest pet peeve since I was in my 20s, where at my first job out of college everyone assumed I was not a college intern, but someone who somehow was in high school yet coming to an office job from 8 to 5 every day?!

Just because we're short doesn't mean we're actually children. For the love of God, I am begging all of you to please remember this whenever you deal with a professional adult who just doesn't happen to be as tall as most adults.

ranchojasper , Keira Burton/pexels Report

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Kare Deter
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I went to rent my first apartment the landlord refused to rent to a "13 year old". I LITERALLY had to bring my father back to the guy to convince the guy I was 20. like wtf. He was sure my license was fake.

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#19

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand Every time I go to see a movie or play, I hope that a kid is sitting in front of me, otherwise I can't see the stage/screen.

Espressoencake , Luis Quintero/pexels Report

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Who? Me?
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My grade school teacher was 6'7" (although, at that age, seemed 7'6"), his wife was ~5'6". When they sat down she was taller than him, he was all legs.

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#20

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand No chairs are made for me. At 5’3, my feet always dangle and worsen my sciatica. It feels dumb to feel like a toddler in every chair.

HellyOHaint , Andrea Piacquadio/pexels Report

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Little king trash mouth
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would kill to be 5'3"! Ok so I'm only 5'2" but about 100x a day I wish I was just one inch taller to reach the thing juuuuuuust out of my reach.

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#21

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand We see up into your nostrils all the time.

Rizalwasright , M. M. Sand/flickr Report

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Javelina Poppers
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2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least have the decency to let us know if we're about to have a hanger.

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#22

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand Even if the object isn’t that heavy, if my arms can’t wrap comfortable around to hold it, I can’t carry it.

13-Penguins , Humphrey Muleba/pexels Report

#23

The joy of going to Japan and finally having counters and cupboards in your size.

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Laura Mortensen
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I taught English in South Korea, it made me feel tall. (I'm 5'2")

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#24

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand I'm not eating small portions to starve myself, I'm eating small portions because if I consume more than 1300 calories a day I'll gain weight.

razcalnikov , Alexy Almond/pexels Report

#25

Carrying pretty much anything in bags or under arms is heavier because our arms are shorter. The bags or whatever we're carrying would probably drag on the floor if we left our arms hanging at full length. So we gotta bend them up, and sustain that muscle contracted all the way home.

Tall people can just grab a bag, and let their arms relax.

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rullyman
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have busted out the sewing machine to adjust bag strap lengths a couple of times

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#26

We can comfortably sleep on most couches/airplanes.

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#27

Always having to find the step stool that they've moved. 

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Kimmer
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This!! ... My family know I have to use stools all over, and sometimes I have to go searching. But they have to move them out of the way to get to what they need AND can reach. I have them in several rooms of the house and in front of the washing machine. So, to be fair I am outnumbered 6 to one and don't mind having to look for my stool, cause if I can't find one I just call out to hubby to help me (he knows I will kiss him if he does, double the benefit for me). There are many times I know exactly where a stool is and call hubby to help anyway.... HAHA!

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#28

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand As a shorter guy (5'5"M), you can literally be invisible in a group. At parties or gatherings, I've often had experiences where taller people will introduce themselves to each other and simply not notice me. I've learned to be more assertive, but it's annoying AF when it happens all the time.

lovebzz , Fox/pexels Report

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Sven Horlemann
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get that. Still... sounds like a superpower to me. I often whish people would NOT take note of me (6'5 here).

#29

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand The world is not designed for short people. As mentioned in other comments, items on higher shelves aren't easy to reach and dangling feet when sitting on a toilet or in a chair sucks. Consider my own 4'10" pet peeve... the average countertop height should reach the average person around mid-hip or thereabouts. This allows for hands to be in an ideal ergonomic position to do whatever. But for us short people, the countertop height trends upward to somewhere torso level making doing things at counter height just... miserable. I hate cooking, doing dishes, etc. simply because after a little while, my neck, shoulders, and back ache from extending my arms up and out rather than out and down like everyone else. I imagine taller than average folks have similar issues with needing to stoop down to reach the counter.

H0us3Hunt3r , Los Muertos Crew/pexels Report

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PeepPeep the duck
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Once I learnt about air bags in cars, it just plays in my mind a lot. They scare me

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#30

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand People treat you like your lesser of a person. Like hell I’m 38, I’ve been through a lot of s**t. just because I’m 4’11” doesn’t mean I’m not worthy of respect. Damnit.

krandle41709 , Liza Summer/pexels Report

#31

That we are closer to your crotch and can attack anytime.

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#32

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand We’re at backpack height & it’s going to hit us in the face if you’re not careful.

CatCatCatCubed:

Omg, this. I’m so hyper aware of backpacks after nearly catching a dangly metal zipper in the teeth. The trend of putting enamel pins and/or keychains on a backpack (or even a purse) always seems like a good way for me to get a facial scar or an eye injury.

micallab , Bhupendra Singh/pexels Report

#33

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand What it's like to go to the grocery store and have the item you need be on the very top shelf. You have to either suck up your pride and social anxiety and ask for help or go home without it.

BigTittyGothGfLovesD , Mikhail Nilov/pexels Report

#34

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand Harder to shop for pants and maxi dresses. Not every retailer sells petite sizes. I have a 28 inch inseam. Regular sizes will drag on the floor.

Beneficial-Cow-2544 , MART PRODUCTION/pexels Report

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detective miller's hat
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sooooo hard to find maxi dresses that aren't like a foot too long for me. The only fun part is feeling like a princess in a gown because you have to hold the skirt up when you walk.

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#35

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand We kind of need personal space too, even if we take up less of it. We don't appreciate the jokes about all the things we make seem bigger.

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Alicia M
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The invasion of personal space would drive me crazy. I have not thought much about this, but I am really going to be aware of it now because I would hate to crowd someone out.

#36

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand Tall people don't have the same innate climbing abilities as a short one. Climbing is a sport to tall peeps, it's getting something off the top shelf for us. My daughter calls it dad-nastics.

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Kira Okah
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't climb shelves though, I've seen those things fall on people, you don't want that, believe me. At home, I use a stool, outside I politely ask someone else or my partner.

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#37

We’re probably worse with eye contact because we don’t like looking up to people it feels weird.

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#38

How you get treated as a short person. Don't get me wrong, I know tall people get flack too. But there's a big difference between "how's the weather up there" or "you remind me of Slenderman" and being condescended or treated like a child, or having people touching your head, leaning on you, or laying hands on you in other ways without consent because you're short.

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Deborah B
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never been short, but I went from 5'11' using crutches to sitting in a wheelchair. Older people patting me on the head or shoulder went from "Hasn't happend since age eight." to "Once a month on average." It's condescending.

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#39

When I sit on a toilet, my feet don’t touch the ground. I have to sit in basically the exact opposite of the “ideal” squatting stance.

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K Miller
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This made me think of my parents house. They needed a new toilet and my Dad went to buy it. He's like almost 6' fall, my mother is maybe 5'3/5'4... She had to get a stool just so her legs don't go numb lol. Not that I'm much better, I'm shorter than her lmao.

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#40

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand Yall walk into us a LOT more than you think you do. I had to start wearing heels to stop it. For f***s sake make sure you look down occasionally.

testingforfun336 , Liza Summer/pexels Report

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Papa
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm puzzled by this one. I have never accidentally walked into someone just because he or she was shorter and I didn't see them.

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#41

In a festival l/standing event, my nose is at your armpits level. *Please wear deodorant*

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#42

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand We have to hem almost everything adding $ to every purchase.

NaughtyNuri , cottonbro studio/pexels Report

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DE Ray
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An ex used to have particular patterns of holes on all her good work outfits where she removed applique cartoon characters. Most of her clothing was bought in the children's department, and even dressy stuff would have random cartoon birds or cats on them.

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#43

Body aches from using furniture that isn't designed for your height. My feet don't reach the floor when I'm in an office chair, so it causes lower back pain. The armrests are often too wide for my frame so my elbows have to stick out, straining my shoulders.

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sandrabmorison
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2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Men who are 6ft 6 have this issue too. Everything is too small/ short and they end up stooping ,bending with bad backs

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#44

That for 99% of the time, I never give a c**p about being short. It matters so little day to day, most other people don't care nor will they say anything.

It's convenient when I have to get into a crawlspace or attic to do work on the house. Every car is fine for me. Every airplane seat is comfortable. I never hit my head on anything (well, maybe in the crawlspace or attic) and it's easy to find clothes that fit.

The only 1% of the time it comes up is when someone says something s****y. I was called "fun size" at work one time by some tall dude. No idea why he thought it'd be funny. Then you have to try and be cool with it because if you say something, now you're an angry little a*****e. Dude who said it literally had scarring all over his face. I never EVER considered calling him pizzaface or something because that's a d**k thing to say. Well, I thought about it immediately after he said what he did, but did not.

NFI why some people need to project their insecurities upon others and then play it off as a joke, but that's the ONLY time it really impacts my life. Beyond that I'm just happy in my tiny car or busy wiring up new stuff in the attic (just added some new lighting to the bedroom and corrected a botched 3-way switch from PO. Very pleased BTW).

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Deborah B
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try humor? "Fun-sized? How's the weather up there, Stretch?" You don't have to respond with anger to call someone on their rudeness.

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#45

No it's not funny when people keep constantly guessing your age to be much smaller. It's not funny when 13 year old boys are taller than you. It's not funny when everyone keeps asking for your ID.

I just want to look like my age man. Feels like everyone looks at you like you're a child.

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B
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you hit 52 you don't mind so much that people think you are younger ;)

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#46

29F here. I stand at a whopping 4'11.

- When I sit on various forms of seating, whether a toilet or a chair or table, my feet often don't touch the ground.
- I've been turned away from amusement/theme park rides.
- I've been pulled over by various police on the suspicion that I'm underage/too young to have a license.
- 0.02 extra lbs = I suddenly look like a human teletubby.
- Washer/dryer machines. Have you ever, quite literally, fallen into your washer or dryer machine? Because I have.
- On more than one occasion, an unsuspecting waiter has handed me a children's menu at a restaurant.
- Grocery shopping can be an......... *interesting*..... experience. I have to spend time scoping out which tall stranger looks friendly enough to approach and ask for help. If I'm in the refrigerated aisle/section, I have been known to straight up climb inside the freezer to grab what I want/need. I used to shop at the commissary (military installation) a lot, including a handful that have various high-ranking officers that shop there too. Have you ever had a 3-star general stare at you with a *shocked Pikachu face* as he watches you climb the little step/ladder thingie at the bottom of an aisle, and climb halfway inside the grocery freezer? I simply stared right back, as if to say, *WHATCHU LOOKIN' AT, HOMIE!? YOU GONNA HELP ME OR JUST STAND THERE!?*
- No, no I cannot see over the dash of most cars. Yes, the booster seat in the driver seat of the car belongs to me. Any other questions?

#shortpeopleproblems

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Auntriarch
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hah, wait till you have fallen into a chest freezer, in the supermarket, twice.

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#47

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand You see door handles? They got stuck in my sleeves sometimes!

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SBocker78
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At 6"1, my pockets get snagged on door handles constantly. I guess they get you one way or the other.

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#48

Normal chairs are too tall for me- I can only touch the floor with my tiptoes. So, I often just sit in the edge of my seat, but I always have to make sure my chair isn’t in the way (like in restaurants and office meetings, etc.). On the plus side, I can wear children’s socks and shoes, which are less expensive and in way more fun designs!

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LB
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's these pink sparkly doc martens-like boots that are in fashion for kids here now... So jealous

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#49

You can get away with looking at boobs more often because the boobs are at eye level.

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#50

Being constantly aware of where people are. Short folks need to watch for stray elbows, dipsh**s walking backward, drunk dipsh**s walking forward, and how to get attention of someone who is oblivious to your existence.

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#51

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand How it's often the first insult thrown.

A good example at the moment is the amount of people slamming Sunaks height in the uk.

His height is irrelevant whatever you think.

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BrownTabby
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sunak is the epitome of “why would you mock his height when there is so much else to deride about him, like his terrible character?”

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#52

Bringing a carry on bag for a flight makes me very anxious. Trying to put my bag in the overhead bin at 4’11 usually results in me almost smacking someone in the head with my suitcase. No one ever offers to help even though I’m obviously struggling, so I have to awkwardly look around and find the nearest tall person to ask for help.

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M O'Connell
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was on a flight with a similarly short lady who had absolutely no trouble delegating bag storage and retrieval to the nearest random tall person. She definitely had teacher energy so people just complied.

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#53

I can't see out of the peepholes in doors.

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Toothless Feline
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is soooooo annoying! I have to stand on my tiptoes to see out our front-door peephole, and I’m not even that short (just shy of 5’ 5”). And while I can find articles about peephole periscopes (to lower the eyepiece without making a new hole), I have yet to find anyone who actually sells them.

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#54

We’re not that easy to tip over so quit trying.

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#55

We also have smaller hands. so all your handheld consoles are s**t for us ...

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#56

When you place things on the top shelf, I can’t reach it. It’s possible I can’t even see it. And if I ask you for assistance getting it, I’m not feigning helplessness for no reason. Help, or accept that you having to crouch slightly to put it away is less of a burden than me being totally unable to access it.

Tall people also overlook shorter people all the time, and will barrel us right out of the way as if we aren’t even there.

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#57

It’s not that I’m weak it’s that when we are lifting something together you are lifting to your chest I am lifting it over my head.

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#58

I may be the size of a child to you, but that doesn't mean you can just grab me and pick me up, put me down ya fkn yutz.

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Huddo's sister
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This happened to my (60 y.o.) mum when we went to a bar for a concert recently! Thankfully it hasn't happened to me since high school.

#59

Finding shirts that fit my broad shoulders that don't have sleeves that are 6 inches longer than my fingertips..

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detective miller's hat
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is even more fun when you're petite but have giant breasts. Zero shirts fit properly.

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#60

I'm 4' 9", tall people don't understand that the world is not designed for short people. I have my car seat all the way forward and still can barely reach the pedals, the counter at the DMV is at my shoulder height, normal kitchen counters are too high, I have to climb shelves at the store because all the stuff I normally buy is above my head height. If I walk in front of a big truck my head is below the top of the grill, so there's no way the driver would see me. Oh and just because we're short, don't treat us like children, don't crouch down to talk to us, pat us on the head etc, it makes us angry.

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#61

"People Won't Respect You As Much": 30 Short People Share Things Tall Folks Don't Understand When hiking with a taller person, why you just can't take one step across a chasm to reach the next place of solid footing.

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wowbagger
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same with musical instruments. No, I literally can't make that chord -- my fingers don't stretch that far.

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#62

I don’t need to be reminded every single interaction how small I am.

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PeepPeep the duck
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When people do that now I point something out I would assume they are uncomfortable with like, big ears or lanky legs etc, they stop and think and then apologise mostly.

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#63

It's almost impossible to order anything from the bar if it's too high & no one can see you nor hear you. My god! This is why I prefer places where you are being served. At least I can get my drink.

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#64

If a short person does something really impressive, it's automatically "short man syndrome", "Napoleon Complex" or "compensating for small penis". If the a tall man does the same thing, it's just humbly impressive.

It pisses me off.

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#65

If we're going out to eat, pleaseeeee don't choose to sit at the high tops/bar. My legs will fall asleep.

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Kare Deter
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son did this to me once. After quietly watching me struggle to climb onto the stool he never did it again.

#66

That standing up for yourself doesn't mean the same thing for short people (like me).

I have a friend who is 6'4" and if he has ever gotten into an altercation, he stands up, and the person usually backs down and runs away. This has worked for him in serious (someone breaking into his office) and non serious (someone talking trash at him in public) situations.

Height intimidates a lot of people. When you're shorter than most people (like me), unfortunately standing up (literally) for yourself doesn't work as much.

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#67

Having to use a cushion when driving. Seatbelts that are super uncomfortable.

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Kira Okah
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Add in larger boobs, and seatbelts dig the side of my neck before digging into my chest between boobs. There is quite a bit of fluffy padding and supports on mine.

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#68

1. My eye level is NOT your eye level!
2. I can't see the hood of most cars while driving

Bonus - I've had to get really good at asking tall supermarket strangers for help. Alternatively, my skillset also includes scaling shelves like a 5' spider monkey

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Limey
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same with motorcycles. I am a 5’ female who rides motorcycles. First off, there are only a few I can ride, and a few others I can ride if I pay to have them lowered. Loads that I will never be able to ride, without stress anyway. BUT my husband also rides and often gives me grief because of where I position myself for a turn into oncoming traffic. I need to be further forward at an intersection to see than you do! especially if there is grass or something that you can see over while I have to try and see around.

#69

That it’s not funny when we have to jump up and down to get something off a shelf. 

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#70

Don't stand so close to me! specifically in line, when a tall man stands behind me too close, I get the icks. just because we're not right in front of your eyesight, doesn't mean we're not there!

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#71

There is a real, true bias against short people. Judging people on race, gender, sexual preference, or religion is extremely taboo, but "I only date guys over 6'6"" on a dating profile is perfectly acceptable. Men will pick fights with you because they can see the top of your head. Taller people are often respected more in office settings. And don't even get me started on the short-phobic NBA.

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PeepPeep the duck
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On the flip side I’m over people who say ‘only guys who are pedos would be into you’ etc when a man is interested in me that is tall

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#72

Here is a short list of lifelong inconveniences while living as a 4’11 woman

All pants must be hemmed, even petite sizes. Same for long skirts and dresses.
I realized way too late in life that the kids section for clothing and shoes is not only economical for me, but the fit is better too.

I need a step stool to reach the second and third shelf in all my cabinets.
Every room in my house has atleast one chair for me to get on to reach stuff up high.

I have to do a running jump to get into my truck. When I drive the seat has to be all the way forward and all the way up so I can see over the dashboard.

Talking to people is literally a pain in the neck. I have never been able to look anyone in the eye unless we are both sitting down.

Echoing what others have said about calorie intake. If I eat over 1500 calories, I gain weight. 5 pounds weight gain looks like 20 on me. If I weight more than 105 lbs, I look like an oompaloompa.

My four year old is now one foot shorter than me. I will have to stop carrying her soon because carrying someone as tall as me down the stairs doesn’t seem like a safe or smart idea.

My feet dangle when I sit to pee which feels weird. Squatty potty for the win.

I could literally write a book of lamentations of a short woman, lol but those are just some of the greatest hits I could think of at the moment.

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#73

Recently for me, despite there being a setting for adjusting exercise equipment to fit from tall to short, I am at that level of shortness where even the shortest/smallest setting is not small enough in *most* equipment. Also, every goddamn pair of pants I buy need to be hemmed up.

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Jessica SpeLangm
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have that problem with mammogram machines. No amount of standing on my tippy toes on a stool is going to make that process any more comfortable. Just make the machines go farther down so I can stand flat footed on the ground and be comfortable.

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#74

People literally respect you and the things you say more just because you are taller.

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Dumpster Fire
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm 6ft tall and I say some of the dumbest s**t possible to try and even the playing field for you. Respect.

#75

You don’t need to kneel in certain situations. You can do everything upright with no hassles!

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#76

The dread that shoots through your body when a fire alarm goes off. Even with a ladder, I have to stretch and hope I am close enough to pull the base down so I can change the battery and then screw it back in. High ceilings are my nightmare.

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detective miller's hat
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same. I live in a really old building, I dread having to change the light bulbs in the ceiling.

#77

Your height doesn't intimidate me. I'm used to looking up.

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#78

That I was never insecure about my height. It has never stopped me from dating people taller than me. Tall people have this thing where they love to comment on how short you are.

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Kira Okah
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not insecure about it at all. That my partner is tall was absolutely not a thing that was part of why I went out with them, and same opposite. We make ribbing height jokes at each others expense.

#79

I don't know if this is a short person thing but my dad is a little tall and he'd always ruffle my hair when I was a kid. I f*****g hated it and clearly would show that I hated it and would always tell him "*don't*" but he just kept doing it anyway. I feel like if I was tall he wouldn't have done that s**t to me. He also kept calling me "small". All the time. It was bad enough that he did that when I was like 5 years old cause back then I really was small but the older I got the more annoying it was to still get called that. I'm an adult in my 30's and he still calls me that once in a while and boy it pisses me off. I've told him several times to knock it off with calling me that, cause that was old when I was a kid. He claims its affection, but I always hated it. He keeps forgetting that we talked about it and will start doing it again. I hate it so much cause it feels like he's calling me "inferior", or something to that effect, so it's insulting to me. Again I know he wouldn't be doing that if I was tall(er).

TL;DR When tall people do things like ruffle someone's hair or call them some variation of the word "small"... they think it's cute/funny to do that to someone shorter than them but to us short people it's very annoying. Even if they don't mean it that way it feels insulting cause it's like they're calling us "inferior" in some way. It just pisses me off.

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