to wish tall people would all F off sometimes

[LaMaG]

OK, I know I am BU. I am 5'3", so not tiny. I went to a gig last night to a group that I was a huge fan of as a teenager and as soon as I arrived I realised there was no televised screen therefore I would not see anything. I should have seen it coming, it was a summer festival tent, not a venue as such with facilities. I moved around a bit eventually catching glimpses of the band every now again only to be immediately blocked again by a big person standing in front.

This weekend I also had my DD's gymnastics display which was a local thing with fold up chairs in a gym. A child sat in front of me and only then did I realise the huge relief I felt as I had been anxious a big man would sit in front and that was it ruined for me. Yes I could have craned my neck and been uncomfortable but DD would not have seen me and she was really nervous and needed to keep looking to me for reassurance.

It just got me thinking of all the times in my life I have paid to see something but just spent my time looking at the back of big stupid necks and shoulders, of feeling like my face was shoved into an arm pit. I have lost interest in live music and certain other things for this very reason but we are supposed to just put up with it, tough luck its your fault for being smaller.

Would it really be unreasonable for allowances to be made. I get there are many working problems with segregation by size but it seems to me that its not completely unworkable. For example there could be a priority viewing area in the front of gigs for people under 5'5", if they chose to move there. Or in a more casual setting, would be it unreasonable to ask - God forbid - that a taller person sits on the back row. I find it hard to believe tall people are all so selfish, I'm sure many would comply but this needs to be organised and normalised. It would be no more unfair than a person paying for a ticket not to see what they paid for.

Or, if you can easily see over someone’s head, you could let them go in front 🤷‍♀️

Gifted?! You mean given

Blame genetics for you being a short arse.

Bit of a mean way of putting it, but as a short person I have sometimes thought of bringing along a step stool.

@LaMaG I hear you! I've unfortunately shrunk as in my youth I reached the lofty height of 5'3.5" - and now I appear to be only 5'2"! I would so so love to be tall!!

I was in the 2nd/3rd row at a standing concert on Friday night and even then I had to catch a glimpse of the act between the heads of two young people!!

I know that no-one has control over their height, and I know that it's just one of the shitty things of life - but it's so frustrating!!! I've been to very many concerts over the years and only once has a tall person suggested I stand in front of them so I could see - I was so grateful!

I wish tall people could understand the limitations of us short-arses!!

And this attitude is the problem...

Speaking as one of the tall ones that offend you so, after spending a lifetime trying to make myself smaller and with everything that @bibbityboppityboo said so eloquently, too bad.
I am making it my life mission to help my 2 tall daughters own their space and not be so obliging of everyone else’s needs and frankly I am so much less accommodating now, so too bad OP sorry you are short but thems the breaks

Just ask the people if you can go in front of them if it won’t block their view. When I had a life and went to gigs, I’d look out for people around me who looked as though they couldn’t see and let them stand in front of me. My partner would also, who is 6ft3.

Tall people also struggle on planes and other forms of public transport, also at concerts etc at seated venues because of their long legs. They’re usually not in a position to ask be accommodated.

Life’s never going to be perfect OP. I don’t think we can reasonably be expected to have no inconveniences at all!

Also for those people complaining about the theatre, they often have child booster seats available. Or book a seat at the end of a row so you look down the aisle.

Your life must be a good one if this is the extent of your problems.

I go to gigs but only where there is raked seating.

I'm surprised at the lack of sympathy here! I wouldn't really expect venues to organise a separate area for short people, but I do think individuals with the advantage of height should recognise it and be gracious! I also don't think the flight comparison is fair - the reason you buy a flight is to get from one place to another. You might be comfortable, you might not, for a variety of reasons. The reason you go to a show is to see it. If a short person can't see the show, they are not getting what they paid for.

I'm not ridiculously tall for a woman but I have an incredibly long torso, which means when I'm sitting down I can block the view of pretty much anyone except the tallest men (like, really tall men). If it helps, I feel incredibly guilty about it and do my best to shuffle forwards in the seat, usually giving myself backache in the process.

I'm 5'2. I was at a theatre at the weekend and I was feeling sorry for tall people because it was a bit cramped even for my short legs. It must have been actually painful for anyone tall so i suppose there are positives and negatives for both sides.

I don’t think you need to physically make yourself smaller, although I understand the desire to want to sometimes. I’m also tall and it’s v tricky as a woman, especially when I was a teenager. But there’s no harm in being self aware to know if you’re blocking someone’s view and being in a position to do something about it.

Although unfortunately I have found that often shorter people who can’t see tend to like to moaning and grown about it passive aggressively at my back, rather than just ask if I could please move. Then I’m glad they can’t see 😂

You can have your short people spot at the front if I can have extra leg room in theatre and on planes etc.

Planes really wind me up. Short arses sitting in the bulkhead when I have to contort my long legs to fit in my seat.

I don’t understand how you can’t understand the flight comparison. It’s an example of how modern life doesn’t accommodate for all heights of people. It’s physically extremely uncomfortable for tall people on many forms of public transport, so pointing out one of the issues with being tall.

separate areas for viewing by height is also completely ridiculous, unless you tend to only go to events and shows with people of a similar height to you.

In my festival days, it was common to see short girls on the shoulders of strapping young men. So it was fun to struck behind that giant when the headliner was on!

"I have paid to see something but just spent my time looking at the back of big stupid necks and shoulders"

You're problem for being a pathetic weedy tiny little Pygmy

(Just thought I would match your energy)

I'm tall and have a sore neck from trying to slouch at the theatre the other night in case I was blocking the person behind me. I ended up so far down in my seat that my own view was blocked by the (also tall) person in front.

My posture is shit from spending 30 odd years trying not to stand out with my height. I can't help it just as much as you can't help being short.

Such a nasty post. Should my big stupid neck and shoulders stay at home??

I can't make myself any shorter (although I am slowly shrinking with age) but you can do things to make yourself taller. Wear platforms and take a booster seat!

Come on now, being 9ft+ is just another MN thing. The rest of us should now fully understand why they need that large rural home. Lettuce not forget the massive salads either 🤭

I’m 5’4” and I always end up with a tall person moving right in front of me when I find a good viewing space. I’m always aware of who is behind me and always move out the way for people smaller than me, especially children. Last weekend i was at a fair where my eldest was performing and a woman about 5’10” stood right in front of me
and my 5 year old son. She looked directly at him as she did so. I hope her next flight seat is too small for a 5’ person. By all means stand in front of adults but not tiny kids

Venues really should have adequately sloped floors for the standing areas. The best venue I went to for this was in london, sorry can’t remember it’s name.

Shockingly I’ve even been to concerts where the floor sloped the wrong way so the view at the back was impossible.

The worst thing at concerts isn’t the tall people it’s the knobheads with their phones out effectively putting hundreds of little torches (phone screens) in front of my view so I cant focus on the stage. Twats one and all.

😀and well deserved..

Except you called these tall people 'big stupid' - why are they stupid?

I’m 5ft1 and go to gigs regularly. I think a lot depends on the act / crowd. Some are lovely and let me through, but I’ve had the occasional tall arse who comes and stands right in front of me, completely oblivious he’s stood bang in front. But most people are lovely and it’s just what it is isn’t it. Can’t beat live music. That said, I’m tempted to buy a step on stool for Pulp and Blur gigs coming up 😂

+1