to dislike being called tall?

I'm 5'2 and it used to annoy me when I was called tall by my friend and her mum and nan, not because there's anything wrong with being tall but because I knew I definitely wasn't. They were all around 4'11, and I suppose I was quite a bit taller than them, especially as I always used to wear heels.

I'm a bit taller than you, which makes me the tallest person in my biological family, including my dad, brother, uncles etc so I've always been the tall one.
It just seems like a fact to me, having said that my family all being quite short are very good natured about that so I've grown up in an environment where comments about height are joked about or not taken seriously.

After being asked multiple times by DM to reach something on a top shelf, DH asked her if our family heirloom is a reaching stick 😁 she just laughed and threw a tea towel at him. A lot of it is in the tone, intent and relationship. As PPs a lot of people see tall as a compliment. Which I find a bit bizarre as I didn't do anything other than grow, I had no impact on it.

DH is 6'4 his family are all very tall, his female cousin is 6ft so when I meet up with them I'm the short one!

DS takes after DHs family and is the same height as my brother's 8 year old, she's tiny, but DS isn't even five yet. We are a tall family, so I'm not bothered if people point it out

I think this is quite accurate. It often seems to be the case that it's a man saying it, and definitely not as a compliment, more as a "how dare you be taller than me?". That's my personal experience anyway! You can definitely tell the difference when it's meant as a compliment - same as if someone said your outfit was "interesting" you could tell from their tone whether that was a good thing or not!

Good fun when online dating, met by fury by men who according to their profile were taller than me. When actually meeting, I got regularly accused of being a liar who must be FREAKISHLY tall because they were DEFINITELY 6'2" or whatever and I was SO much taller than them (I'm 6'1"). Some were really quite aggressive about it, like I'd done it on purpose or something.

I tend to respond with a choice of "am I? <<confused look>>" or "I'm normal height cheers, you're just short" depending on how they come across.

I have been know to point out that through history, people tend to get taller and taller, so maybe I'm just more highly evolved than them - but that's reserved for the real dicks!

I'm quite a bit taller, I used to get random people stop me in the street to point out how BIG I was.... just being called tall would have been much nicer.

I'm 5ft 9 and haven't had tall comments since I was about 15. I always wanted to be 6ft though

Yes, personal comments can often be seen as rude, even if they are not intended as such. Best not to take it personally, the people uttering them are usually just not very socially aware.
But I'm intrigued that your boyfriend would take a plus one to his own son's wedding. What's the background to that?

Yeah, the OP specifically acknowledged this. She still gets comments. That's the whole point of the thread.

Being tall is seen as a desirable trait.

and various studies suggest that tall men and women (!) earn higher salaries and seem to have other advantages (professional, political etc).

the comments in your OP also don’t seem malicious. Maybe a bit inept / blunt but not malicious.

I think in today's age no one should comment on anyone's body. I get it all the time because I'm very underweight (due to a medical condition). Do they think we didn't notice? In your position I do think it's a bit odd because you aren't that tall.
I did screw up a little recently when DS's very tall friend was at our house (he's 6'8"). He took his trainers off at the front door and it just came out about how huge they were, a size 16. He laughed it off but I would never normally have commented.

Would you tell people they were fat? No you wouldn't. So why do people think they can comment on your height? Next time tell them that you aren't tall....they are short! Cheeky sods.

I think you’re being over-sensitive. In my opinion bullies usually focus in on people’s existing insecurities. Try to feel more positive about it.

I am 6 inches taller than you so while I completely sympathise with you as I grew up very self conscious due to all the comments and hated it, the way you have framed this shows you actually judge in the same way ‘but not some kind of giant’

Being tall can be great, but brings a LOT of comments as because most people think of it as a positive trait. It is, but as a woman you are made to feel like a freak or ‘some kind of giant’ by others feeling somehow they are the first to ever mention it.

Men sometimes comment because they feel intimidated by it (I actually turned up to start a job I’d only had a phone interview for and my new boss said “oh one of your referees warned me you were tall but I didn’t expect you to be this tall!”) and women usually wish they were a bit taller so it’s framed positively but can feel intrusive.

I think you’re perfectly within your rights to respond however you like as it’s rude to comment on anyone’s physical appearance but I have to say it has opened up a lot of chats with people who really just saw it as an ice breaker, perhaps easier than talking about the weather....although it’s great up here, what’s it like down there is a good come back 😉

I have siblings with red hair. Their whole lives they have gotten mostly negative attention because of it. I had massive over crowding in my teeth as a child so pre braces people pointed it out to me. I think sometimes people say what they see without thinking.

You are internalising these comments, which are probably arising from someone else’s insecurities. Some men are really insecure when they are shorter than a woman.

My auburn haired child gets loads of positive attention about the colour. It’s a really striking colour. It’s something he will just have to learn to ignore if it bothers him.

I'm 5ft 8, I've had plenty of "your quite tall" comments. I really haven't thought that much about it, and it doesn't bother me. I think people are seeing it as they are complementing you. As a pp said, being tall appears to be desirable. I dont get it so much now, I guess the fact I'm overweight takes away from my height now.

Me too. I've made a conscious decision to respond with an insult next time.

The best response is 'well, I didn't steal it from you, love'.

No. You’re not unreasonable. But some people are just too stupid or lacking in self-awareness to realise they shouldn’t comment on other people’s bodies, whatever the supposed intention behind it.

I'm 6ft OP and growing up the tall comments got boring fast, like somehow you are responsible for how tall you can get, as though it's an achievement of some kind, and is going to benefit you in life. It's none of those things and you can't help it!

It's not though is it? Pointlessly commenting on a random physical trait is not in the same category as "you look amazing" or "I love your dress", those are compliments and are specifically positive, saying "you're tall" is neither a compliment nor an insult, it's just stating a physical trait that the owner of said trait can't alter or have any influence on. It's just as stupid as saying "you're blonde" or " you have blue eyes", and would be just as annoying as being told "you're fat" or "you're small".

Tall people know they're tall, it gets old having it pointed out by strangers as if they haven't noticed their own height.

The UK average is 5'4" (or it used to be til recently) so relatively speaking it's a fact that you are tall. I'm 5'3" and would love to be taller but it seems to have it's downsides.

It would help if people just wouldn't make personal remarks.

YANBU. You aren't tall to me, but average height.

The problem with being tall is that it's not seen as a positive thing by many. Yes you can get stuff off the top shelves at a supermarket, but men tend not to like dating people who aren't at least 2-3 inches shorter than them because they get "issues" over it.

Shoe shops don't like making bigger sizes for shoes and most things in the real world seem to be catered to short people, like legroom on buses, planes, trains, etc.

Unless you look like a model, you tend to be treated like some thick lumbering oaf rather than a human.

No need to comment. I work with a woman who is super tall. Well over six foot. I have never mentioned it because it’s just rude to comment on someone’s appearance.

The only thing I ever do is say something like, ‘I love your top’ or something positive about someone’s clothes.

I admit to be envious of your height OP as a 5 3 woman!

"You're tall!"
"Yes, aren't I lucky!"