Heightism

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Gods! I don't think that I could even have a
friend that I'd be comfortable with being physically
close (distance for talking) to, at that height - and
I've got nearly a foot on you. I had trouble with someone
who was only 5' tall, as the height difference was enough
to keep me from being able to talk while standing, and
still be at the right level.

I thought they did it because they liked
torture.

That's why sitting is a good thing.

See what I'm talking about now? Tall people being discriminated against, too. I've always suspected people didn't talk to me because it felt physically awkward. After reading that I now know that that has happened before.

I rarely wear heels, usually I just stick with platforms. They are easier to walk in. I figure if I can't run in the shoes even for a minute, they are useless. Except for my sister's wedding, I bought impractical heels for that and I paid the price in blisters. I think ragtime's shoes are a good idea, although shoes with rollerskates in them also make you taller and have a skating option I had to put insoles in mine eventually, though, because the wheel brackets started poking my feet after about a year. Also, rollerskate shoes might only come in children/youth sizes. Sorry, guys, your feet are too big for that fun.

There is SOME discrimination against the very tall.
But, I know that I never don't talk to someone, just
because of their height. I do move to a greater distance,
if the difference is uncomfortable.

Well, when I have talked to a much taller man out of necessity, i.e. "Excuse me", it usually feel -- in a slight way -- like I'm being over-confident, or over-assuming, because when I talk to people, I generally use somewhat of a tone of authority. It's just how I address people. Not as in "I'm great", but as in "We're great". I don't care whether the person is two feet taller than me; he's still a person -- just one on "stilts" -- and I address him like I address anyone else. Same if they're much shorter than I am. Talking "up to" someone is as bad as talking "down to" someone. It's patronizing. If I'm talking to a man who's much shorter than me, I talk to him like he's a man. Whereas, if I'm talking to a boy who's much taller than me (like my nephews, at 6'3" and 6'2"), I talk to him like he's a boy. My best friend is 6'3", and needless to say we get along fine -- height never comes into it.

It's important, when talking with someone, to try and tap into how they identify themselves. I hate when people address me incorrectly, or talk to me like I'm some sort of diminutive, just because I have short legs. My personality and self image is in no way diminutive, and I don't put up with people treating me "like a short guy". I let them know where I stand pretty quick if they do.

Last edited by Ragtime on 13 Sep 2007, 2:13 pm, edited 5 times in total.

I don't discriminate against very short or very tall people, just my poor neck muscles have a hard time with looking way up or way down without getting sore.

Yeah, I guess us tall guys are a pain in the neck sometimes. Although we're aspies here, why should we have to look up. Have we suddenly learned eye contact?

Um try being 5ft 1in and dating a guy 6ft 8in and you still have to stand on a chair and still look up to just kiss. It is awkward.

Find me an 8' 2" girlfriend and then maybe I can relate.

If I find that then it'll be like in the Guinness World Records.