Being small

While we're in hate self mode.

I am sick of this. I am sick of the snidey remarks and not funny jokes.

I'm 5"1, not THAT small. And that's the problem. If someone is small because they have a medical condition, people don't just have a wee joke at their expense (unless they are bullying and being malicious), but it's ok to laugh at someone if they're just that little bit shorter than your average person. Apparently.

It doesn't happen all that often to be fair, but when it does, it affects my self confidence. There are 2 people in my life who I would trust never to make a remark or laugh if somebody else did. There are a few others who I trust not to say anything but I don't trust not to laugh if someone else does. Everyone's guilty of this, you laugh along just to fit in, and you don't see what harm it can possibly do. Even if you don't find it funny, it's easier not to stand up for them.

Stupid remarks, which are uncalled for. And it's always so unexpected. I was chatting away to my friend the other day, when all of a sudden she stopped and said, "Gillian, look at you, you're such a midget".
You can respond in many ways to something like that.

1. Laugh. People tell you to act like you don't care, but that only applies if it's bullying. This isn't bullying. They're not trying to be malicious, they just think it's funny.

2. Shout and scream - Shows you're upset, but people are less likely to take you seriously.

3. Calmly explain that it upsets you when people say things like this, and explain why.

I usually tell people it upsets me. It's not funny or necessary. One response I got to that was, "Yeah, I'd like to be small. What's it like being small?"
What's it like being small?!?!

Wow.

You may ignorantly ask someone what it's like having a disability or how it is living with an illness, neither of which is remotely similar to being small. I know I'm blowing this out of all proportion, but that is how it feels. I feel so bad letting it get to me, because there are people with real things wrong with them, and I should be grateful I'm healthy. But people taking the p*ss and making you feel like less of a person makes it difficult to turn the other cheek. Again blowing it out of proportion.

Every day I am reminded in some way that I look younger than all the other girls in my year. A lowlight was when someone thought I was in first year. I can see you laughing now.

One day everyone laughed because I got stopped from skipping the queue (6th years are allowed to, like) by the b*tch of a head teacher. Everyone started laughing "She got mistaken for a first year again"

"Gillian, you're so small and cute when you're angry, I just can't take you seriously."

I was walking with someone when she bumped into a friend of hers
"Friend x, this is Gillian."
"Oh cool. What year is she in?"
"6th"
"No way, she looks 14."

In front of my f*cking face.
I know this is nothing to get upset about. But I'm just so pathetic I let it affect me. I feel guilty about moaning about it. It's not a real problem.

What is so funny about short jokes? Someone please enlighten me.

I'm jealous of average people, not tall ones. I know it's probably sh*t being tall as well.

I have a lot going for me. I just wish things like this didn't push the good things to one side.

I'm 5'2. It's not nice rolling the legs of your jeans up.

Quote: Rincewind

I'm 5'2. It's not nice rolling the legs of your jeans up.

I buy petite, but even they are a fraction too long.

What size are "normal" jeans made for anyway?

Quote: Smylz

Quote: Rincewind

I'm 5'2. It's not nice rolling the legs of your jeans up.

I buy petite, but even they are a fraction too long.

What size are "normal" jeans made for anyway?

between 5ft 4 and 6 I think.

I hate having ankle swingers. but don't like shelling out the extra on the long-tall sally stuff.

Would you like a spade?

My mother is 6ft 2, and has just given up and buys regular length trousers and wears them as cropped ones. as she has a 36 inside leg. hope it doesn't make her die sooner, as they've predicted 6ft 3 for Abbie.

Quote: Completely_Underwhelmed

looking young is probably worse than being short when you're 17, but it has its advantages (train tickets being just one of them!!) and if you have ID then once you're 18 it doesn't matter anyway.

I used to hang about with 3 guys who were a couple of months younger than me but looked about 19. I had just turned 16 and they were still 15, and bus drivers (trains haven't reached this part of the world yet) would never believe they were 15...but gave me the child ticket. It was great fun for a while, but then they would moan to the driver that I was 16 and they were 15 and he laughed and said "Yeah right" so it got all sad again.

I can get to Glasgow half price though, when I don't know the bus driver, which is good

I'm 'vertically challenged' myself (5'7") but I'm past caring what other people have to say about it. It got to me when I was younger I suppose, but I very rarely get comments about it now. I would have thought it was easier being short if you're female, though? Not being sexist or anything, but most of the lads I know are 6 foot plus. It must look quite odd when I'm walking side by side with them.

Short jokes aren't funny and they are tiresome, but the best thing to do is remember how unfunny and f*ckwitted the person making them clearly is. Don't get a chip on your shoulder about it because there's really no point. Hitler was short, and look what happened to him.

My friend Louise is 4ft 9", from West Belfast, living in North London. She rocks.

Not unlike Neen.

Quote: Al_Calavicci

If you do gymnastics, it's better for you to be short. If you have big feet, then you're perfect!

My feet are barely a 3. I also have ridiculously narrow heels which means I can only wear trainers and boots. I can't wear nice girly shoes cause they just don't fit

I used to do gymnastics on horses, as an aside.

But no more moaning for me, it's not attractive

Urgh, shortness. OK, so I'm 5"3 and bordering on 'average height', but you wouldn't know it. I don't have a single pair of trousers that fit, and skirts and dresses always fall in a funny place on my legs. Even better, the style of top that suits me best is a long one, but that makes me look even shorter. Oh, and my feet are a stupid shape that means I can't wear heels. Fantastic.

I know that's not the main issue though. But, at risk of sounding like a Mum, you'll be glad of looking younger in 10-15 years time, and being glad of that will last a lot longer than your being annoyed with it now. And really, anyone who makes a comment about anyone's height really isn't worth anything. But also, I don't know if you do or not, but if you try to not react when people make comments about your height or looks then they might- hopefully- grow bored of it. Again, if not, they've obviously got pretty pethetic lives if all they can think to do with it is make small jokes. But seriously, one day it will just become a part of you and people won't even think to mention it any more. (My sister's five foot, nobody even bothers mentioning it any more, so it can happen, honest! )

height is relative.

i get the p*ss taken for being short by my mother and brothers. I'm 5ft 9, they're all 6ft 1 plus...

Im 6ft 2 and always been a lanky git trust me tall people get as much stick as midgets i mean short people. But to be honest id rather my height, i like looking down at people and its good for scaring little kids whahaha

Quote: Completely_Underwhelmed

I never thought I was that tall (at 5ft8.) but since coming to uni I've realised that I'm actually half a foot taller than most of my friends, and it was kindly pointed out that I'm actually supposedly the uk average height for a man

There's not alot of tall women in Manchester, based upon what i've seen anyways.

Quote: Radical_Edward

Quote: Pet_Sounds

Quote: Completely_Underwhelmed

I never thought I was that tall (at 5ft8.) but since coming to uni I've realised that I'm actually half a foot taller than most of my friends, and it was kindly pointed out that I'm actually supposedly the uk average height for a man

There's not alot of tall women in Manchester, based upon what i've seen anyways.

You've spent a lot of tie in Manchester the last 6 months then?

You are right though. Their aren't, which makes me all the happier!

No, but i spent alot of time there a couple of years ago for some reason...