@YukoandHiro
PS *@TheViewFromDownHere* I'm sorry people have been so judgemental throughout your life. As a man, do you find it has affected friendships or just romance?
At the expense of this sounding all "woe is me", I would say it feels like it has ultimately affected my whole life.
And before everyone piles in with the short man syndrome & can't accept who I am type comments - On a personal level, I really don't care that I'm short - I actually don't know the difference or have anything to compare it with.
It's like your eye colour - it's been with you from birth. You don't even give it a second thought. And it makes absolutely no difference to what you see when you look out at the world.
It's only when the world looks back at you, they see that brown eyed girl and make their own judgements.
Same with me - When I look out at the world from down here, I see the same world that you all see from up there. It's only when the world looks back at me that they see a short person and make their own judgements.
But back to your question...
The bullying about my height began right back in school as what, back then, would be classed as simple "teasing"
"There there. Stop telling tales etc." (it was the 80's - Anti-Bullying policies weren't a thing!)
And that was the thin end of the wedge - Simple teasing about being the shortest kid in the class lead on to being picked on for any other minor infringement that kids pick up on at that age (wrong shoes, wrong parents, etc.)
And from there on, like everyone else that has ever been singled out by the bullies for whatever reason - it's just a one-way street - Once a few people start teasing about something - that teasing becomes full-on bullying.
And as everybody knows - it's uncool to be seen taking sides with (let alone dating!!) the dweeb - so more people join the bullies side and the void widens.
Then you reach adulthood with barely any friends & socially awkward because you've spent so long trying not to stick your head above the parapet that it just becomes part of who you are - And that's not conducive to romance either!
And then, from other threads in here - no romance history is usually met with calls of "This one's obviously broken - throw him back, you can do better for yourself, sister!"
In addition to all the "I could never date a man shorter than me 'cos I'd look silly standing next to him in heels" or "I just like a tall man who makes me feel protected"
(we could cash in some of my ISA and buy some top-notch insurance approved security systems if that would make you feel protected?!)
On the biological level - I get! As a bloke, I'm drawn to a nice pair of breasts! Doesn't mean I'd automatically reject someone just 'cos of the letters printed on her bra strap, though!
I do have a small handful of really good friends, male & female. But we're rarely in touch these days as they're all busy with their own lives & families and good luck to them.
On the flip side - it only takes about 5 minutes to write all my Christmas cards!
Every cloud has a silver lining! :)