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AIBU?

To think a lot of people assume everyone is tall?

152 replies

SleepDreamThinkHuge · 11/09/2022 08:23

I have noticed that people seem to think everyone is tall. In their definition they see "tall" as 6 foot or over for men and over 5 foot 7 for women. But in reality, that is not the case. In the UK, someone who is 6 foot (man) is

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Am I being unreasonable?

AIBU

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OneTC · 11/09/2022 10:14

Quite interesting that the guy who set the basis of lots of architecture as 6 foot, which was way above average of the time, was being prescient.

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BobaTeaPoops · 11/09/2022 10:17

The thing is 5'7" might be 'tall' but it's only 2" taller than a very average 5'4".

And who notices a 3" difference between people?

Even trainers have 1" soles.

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ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 11/09/2022 10:18

People do seem to be getting taller. I am in my 50's and 5'5" so pretty average height for a woman of my age. I am like a Lilliputian in my house. DH is 5'11.5", DS1 is 6'2" at 19 (so may grow a bit) and DS2 is around 5'10" at 15 (likely to top 6ft).
The DS don't perceive themselves a particularly tall but by the standards of my generation they are.

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Handsoffmyrights · 11/09/2022 10:18

I'm 5ft 1 and when I'm at a gig I feel extra short.

A family friend likes to remark how short I am, so I remind her that it never did Madonna, Kylie, GaGa or The Queen any harm!

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FKATondelayo · 11/09/2022 12:06

Height is definitely linked to region and class as well (unpopular opinion). I moved from the poorest part of Manchester to the richest part of London and everyone - especially men - seemed so much taller. I'm 5'8" - at a holiday caravan park in south wales, I will be one of the tallest women there. At a media event in Soho I feel quite the shorty.

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HRTQueen · 11/09/2022 12:11

I’m confused

I’m 5’2 I always notice people’s hight

I think the average heights will chance soon there are more more taller people ie. girls above 5’7 boys above 6’1 than there used to be

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EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 11/09/2022 12:13

I’m 4ft11 & tend to avoid events where everyone will be standing, because I’m not interested in staring at people’s backs.

I also have to be quite resourceful in shops where stuff is on ridiculously high shelves.

On the other hand, leg room has never ever been a problem. Nor have low ceilings.

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YingMei · 11/09/2022 12:14

I'm surprised 5'4 is the average height for a woman. I am 5'6 and most of my friends and colleagues are same height or a couple of inches taller.
My DH is 6'00 and we feel like a fairly average size couple

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Lockheart · 11/09/2022 12:15

Based on lots of threads in Relationships any man under 6' is too short and therefore undateable. Despite a man of 5'11" being of above average height. It's quite bizarre (I also wonder who takes along a tape measure on dates).

I'm 5'10" so I'm already the height of your average man in the UK. The main problem I have is finding shoes in my size. And I can't wear jumpsuits. I know I'm tall but I also seem to know a lot of women who are as tall, or taller even still! When I look around at averages on the street though, it's obvious I'm taller than most.

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Breakfastisjustporridge · 11/09/2022 12:15

I think it's relative to your height. I'm 5 ft 6, so 5ft 7 inch - 6ft wouldn't really register as tall to me.
I think height is only an issue if you deviate a fair bit from the average.

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BerriesOnTop · 11/09/2022 12:45

I am a tall woman at 174 (around 5’8?) but I only rarely perceive myself as tall because I am about as tall as the average man. I think that’s why a lot
of women my height think of themselves as average …

I often do this too, but then I think of how rarely I meet a woman taller than me … rare enough that I always make note of it 😅

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Foldingchair · 11/09/2022 12:50

When I went to York, I expected lots of men to be taller than me, thanks to their viking ancestry. I was wrong.

And for the pp who said kate moss was small, I think supermodels were always near 6ft and Amazonian. She hulk reminds me of the 90s supermodels, before heroin chic came in. I remember at the time km being unusual for being small for a model.

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midsomermurderess · 11/09/2022 12:51

I'm 5'11. I assume most people are in fact small/short.

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TheOrigRights · 11/09/2022 14:56

OneTC · 11/09/2022 09:26

Much was designed actually for someone even taller.

Look up modulor and how that's influenced so much of modern architecture and it was modelled for a 6 foot tall policeman.

That's interesting. I will look that up when I have some time. I'm surprised though as my 6 foot son definitely faces more 'trials' going through life with feeling like desks/countertop are too low, resulting in back pain, or having his knees up to his chin in the theatre, or clonking his head on things.

I did just read that the average snow shovel is designed for someone who is 5'7".
Fun facts!

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CoastalWave · 11/09/2022 15:00

I'm 5'2. Everyone IS tall compared to me.

Really don't like it tbh. It does affect friendships as I simply can't be friends with someone who is towering over me - feels like some sort of weird power trip. I avoid making friends with women over 5.6 - just being honest!

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Wouldloveanother · 11/09/2022 15:00

I know a few women who go on about how little and tiny they are, despite being a perfectly average 5ft3/5ft4.

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TheOrigRights · 11/09/2022 15:08

CoastalWave · 11/09/2022 15:00

I'm 5'2. Everyone IS tall compared to me.

Really don't like it tbh. It does affect friendships as I simply can't be friends with someone who is towering over me - feels like some sort of weird power trip. I avoid making friends with women over 5.6 - just being honest!

Yikes! What happens if you get chatting to someone you don't know when you're sitting down? If you feel you'd like to get to know them, do you ask their height, or do you wait until they stand up and then make a decision?

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Wouldloveanother · 11/09/2022 15:11

CoastalWave · 11/09/2022 15:00

I'm 5'2. Everyone IS tall compared to me.

Really don't like it tbh. It does affect friendships as I simply can't be friends with someone who is towering over me - feels like some sort of weird power trip. I avoid making friends with women over 5.6 - just being honest!

You’re 2 inches shorter than average. Hardly thumbalina.

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deedledeedledum · 11/09/2022 15:15

Montague22 · 11/09/2022 08:35

As a 5ft 11 woman I find that a lot of things aren’t made for my height:
Kitchen work services and sinks
Buggy handles
Trolley handles should be adjustable too
Beds in holiday lets with bars/boards at the bottom
Leg room on public transport
Nearly all sleeves if not in tall ranges
Actual shops never stock tall ranges to try on (of maternity), but do stock petite

These things lead me to stoop so may have an actual effect on my back over the years.

I don't understand. 5'11" is very tall for a woman but only an inch or so taller than an average man. So why are general things so small for you? I know men who are 6'5" + who struggle with beds etc but that's a whole lot taller

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deedledeedledum · 11/09/2022 15:18

@itsgettingweird why did you think Charles was tall? His mother was tiny. His father was pretty tall but he had shrunken quite a bit in the last 15-20 years of his life and even then he was taller than Charles. Hasn't you noticed how William and Harry towered over Charles?

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Fizbosshoes · 11/09/2022 15:23

CoastalWave · 11/09/2022 15:00

I'm 5'2. Everyone IS tall compared to me.

Really don't like it tbh. It does affect friendships as I simply can't be friends with someone who is towering over me - feels like some sort of weird power trip. I avoid making friends with women over 5.6 - just being honest!

I'm 4'10. It's a pain being chest or shoulder height to other adults sometimes especially on a packed commuter train but it is what it is, I can't (sadly) do anything about being the height of a 10 year old. My friends are my friends - half of them I couldn't tell you how tall they are, they are mostly substantially taller than me. I wouldn't say it affected my friendships, none of us can do anything about our height

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Anystarinthesky · 11/09/2022 15:45

I am 5'3 1/2" and a size 12.

I find airline seats and theatre seats are comfortable for me but they are ridiculous for taller people, such as my DP who is 6'.

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midsomermurderess · 11/09/2022 15:50

I don't think that tall people are on power trips; it's just largely genetic. But as one small person said here, she has few tall friends, most of my closest friends are tall. If you're out and about in bars etc, you're at the right height to talk, hear, be heard . In my experience, the world is built for smaller people, and why not. But things tend to be lower, shorter, less leg room whatever. Many years ago I did decide to stop being self conscious, almost apologetic of my height, that I was almost too 'manly' for a woman I own it, stand 'tall', but never intend to lord it over anyone.

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Dadaya · 11/09/2022 15:57

People assume that the height they find attractive is the average. Most women want to date a man who is at least 6ft. I remember reading an article which said for every inch a man is under 6ft he has to earn an extra 10k for his attractiveness level to remain the same.

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TroysMammy · 11/09/2022 15:58

That's probably the reason why small sized shoes are on the top shelf and trousers for sale are only suitable for a stilt walker.

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