What are your thoughts on tall people?
For you tall individuals who read this, what are some common questions or comments people make toward you?
What are the pros and cons of being tall?
Do you have any tips for tall persons?
For those of you who are not ... do you know one? or have you seen one before?
I'm 6+ and have some funny stories, but I'd like to hear your's first.
97 comments:
to wet your appetite ... click here for some of my stories.
Be Content with being tall; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.
I'm about 190cm [6'3?].
Everyone I know who is taller is called: 'Gigantor'.
The real issue is when one is 14-16 years of age. Height has always been considered a good thing, for whatever reason. [Although it didn't turn out too good for Saul!] But when you are a teenager, sticking out [or rather up] is not what you are looking for.
I reckon sometimes I have back issues cos during those years, I tried to stoop too much to avoid being noticed.
So -- Anyone know a tall teenager? Let them know that it’s better to stand up and enjoy it.
Justin.
here here, Justin. My mother was constatly pressing my shoulders back to get me to stand straight.
It wasn't until ... hmm, maybe I was a senior in high school ... I was walking downtown with my separated-at-birth-and-slightly-older twin. I noticed our reflexion in the windows as we walked by. She looked so regal and alluring. Me ... like a sack of potatoes. As we strolled along ... I straightened up ... still watching the windows.
As we stood in front of one shop, she commented, "Christine, you look so beautiful when you stand up straight."
My mother never had to press my shoulders back again.
However, you know how girls always huddle up whispering to each other. I *can't* hear them from way up here ... initially, I was resigned to ignore the conversation or be content with the bits and pieces I could snatch. but when someone wanted my opinion ...
hmm? i'm sorry I couldn't here.
so, i slumped down.
but that was too weird for them.
I'm not what I'd call tall myself, but I admire people who are... no matter how amusing I may find it when somebody happens to be enormously higher than me, I think height could be a very cool thing... specifically on a guy. At dances, for example--you can't spin under his hand if he can't reach above you! And it is so much easier to 'look up to" a guy if I can do it literally.
-Anita
So Anita, you have a problem with tall girls? They need to be spun too.
yeah, the tall girls and short fellas luck out when it comes to spinning and twirling and throwing up in the air.
Christine- Hmmm. You managed to keep your shoulders back from walking past one shop on one day? Where is this magical shop?
My shoulders and back even now feel like they were moulded by years of teenage shame! :)
Twin? I have a real one -- he had the same problem. Blind leading the blind on that one, I'm afraid.
shock factor, justin. it was like seeing "before and after" pictures. But perhaps it was the shop itself ... it was a wee little shop in a tiny little village in northern Germany. i think they sell socks there.
I'm about 5'10.
I have a Dad at 6'3, a brother at 6'4, and another brother at 6'2...
My mum is 5'1.
So, although I'm not short, I certainly feel it. That said, my wife said she could never marry someone shorter than her... I think I'm about 2 cm taller than her :) From what many friends say, this is a common view among girls.
The complaint I hear most is that short women always seem to nab the really tall guys. Is there some kind protective cave-man sense that kicks in for tall guys when faced with short women (my mum and dad being a couple of this type - there is 1'2 between their heights!)?
Tall girls can't afford to be (too) picky.
*However*, I *have* noticed the number of guys on my college basketball team dating girls that came up to their belly-buttons.
For myself, my bestfriends have always been petite. In school I was always the tallest kid. My best friend? The shortest. In college, my best friend was a full 12 inches shorter than me (6'2" and 5'2").
Two extremes come together ... you can imagine we made quite a site walking about together. I don't know why I've always been drawn towards the wee people. Maybe I should ask her. Actually, I'm a bit freaked out by tiny people.
Once I was walking out of a food line at the dining facility. I turned to say something to my friend behind me. When I turned back around ...
ACK!
a head connected to a small little body walked out from under my tray.
I almost spilled my food on me and anyone else around me ... not to mention the little person.
Tallness stories... I decided to blog my own tallness story (here) Sorry don't mean to thread jack. Well actually I do but in a nice way.
There is no way that I'm leaving ckhnat, jack. Take your gypsy wares elsewhere.
what ARE you talking about?!
My Story:
I'm 5'7" (I had to go all the way to a conversion site to work it out). I think that makes me smack-bang average height. I'm happy with that.
Despite that, I was short at school because I live in the Holland of the Southern Hemisphere.
Then I moved to Melbourne last year and I became tall (because Melbourne is the India/China of the Southern Hemisphere).
I'm not usually attracted to guys shorter than me (unless he's uber good looking), and I don't think a guy can be too tall unless he's all gangly.
That made me wonder, would a woman go for a giant? Is there some Fruedian fascination with a man who is taller than tall?
Where's the Holland of the Southern Hemisphere ... are there any positions open for Women's Ministry?
LOL
Tasmania. Although there are also significant Dutch populations in Perth and South Eastern Qld.
Lots of tall people. You'd love it. ;)
That's it! You keep your eyes and ears open for a job for me, missy. I'm movin' to Tas.
On the flip side...what do you think of very short men?
When I was dating I always dated tall men. The taller the better in my opinion. I knew I would NEVER date a short man...much less marry one.
At 24 I was still single and in a wonderful fellowship group in Rochester, NY. There was a nice young man who went. I remember thinking..."He would make such a good husband for someone...too bad he's short."
This "nice young man" started asking me out. I am ashamed to tell you that I kept turning him down solely because of his height. Finally he decided to ask me out one last time and if I said no, he was never going to ask me again. Well...he asked me...I started to say no again, but something stopped me. I felt very convicted about my attitude and I really felt like I should say yes. So I opened my mouth to say no and I said, "Ok." The Lord kept bringing this scripture to my mind:
1 Sam 16:7..."Do not consider his appearance or his height,....The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
The Lord wanted me to look at this young man's heart...not his height. Well...I was wise enough to go out with him. I married him about a year and half after that. He and I are about the same height-5'6".
Yes...you CAN look up to a man who is shorter than you!
I agree.
I just wonder if *he'd* be comfortable with it.
And I do so much like to wear heels!
I know what you mean about the heels. I enjoyed wearing them too. I wore them anyway once while we dated. He asked me if I please wouldn't. At first I was annoyed...but you know?...I decided to sacrifice them for his sake.
I used to still wear them when we were first married...like to work where he wasn't. Of course he did not have a problem with this.
I also sacrificed perfume because he is allergic to it.
*sigh* What one does for those she loves.
Sometimes the evil one stilll comes to taunt me by saying, "Wouldn't it be nice if he was taller?" He especially tries this tactic when Jamie and I have had a disagreement of some sort.
I have to remember to send him and his lies packing.
Christine, this is just a hunch, but I think guys are less worried about the height of the opposite sex than women are.
I take a lot of pride in my height! And most of my friends are really short too. And most boys are really short...darn it. I really hope I find a tall man one day...
So here's my tall story for the day. I went to mexico right? Where I stick out a bit, right?
I thought I was doing okay, I was speaking the lingo, even at a concert with all the people. I commented, "I feel like I'm really a part of the culture" to my roommate. She laughed. Sure enough, I looked around. I was at least 2 inches taller than EVERYONE in the crowd. Then the opening band welcomed the "tall american". I think i turned red.
keep your options open, Carmen.
Borg - you really think so? I had a couple of guy pals ... "short fellas", I called them ... a reactionary term of endearment resulting from their naming me "Tall Girl" ... the would have fallen for me if I had let them ... but, no sir. The Crane kept them at arms length.
Ha ... funny "short fella" story. So I was at lunch with two of them ... dropped my napkin ... or was it my fork ... anyway, bent down to pick it up.
Gasp! Bang (hit my head on the bottom of the table)
Hey, you alright?!!
Rubbing the back of my head I sat back up.
You ... you ... both of you, i stammered. both of you are wearing (buh buh buuuuhhh) WHITE SOCKS!!!
yeah? so?
WHITE SOCKS!!! With dark slacks! Are you nuts?!! (My voice went down to a whisper and I leaned forward.) YOU ARE ART MAJORS! YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER!
I got up from the table and carried my tray to the tray-return.
Hey! wait up!
I whipped around ... (my eyes twinkling with mischief) ... "I can't be seen with you. Go away."
But ... But ...
they continued to follow me ... prompting me to walk faster ... all the while attempting to justify their fashion blunder.
I would have none of it ... in fact I was going to embarass the heck out of them ... I began to run towards the commons area.
Laughing they chased me with their pants hitched up and white socks blaring.
I screached to halt directly in front of the wall of windows where crowds of people were milling about inside the Commons.
The pursuers stopped looked at me and then looked at the windows.
They wore more appropriate socks from then on.
LOL Good work!
Some guys don't mind height, but I'd much rather be taller than my g/f.
But I've seen a couple of relationships where the chick is taller.
I think you should definitely move to Tassie Christine...
Heh Mike - CK thread-jacked you back...
She did.
I'd just like to point out that even though I'm tall and live in Tassie I'm definately NOT dutch... not even remotely.
yes, you couldn't be less dutch, except that you are careful with your money...
I worked at a Reformed church a little south of Hobart a few years ago and most of the women were taller than me, and if they were, they were about 5'9 or 6', and broad shouldered.Big dutch community in Kingston, and yes they could probably use a women's worker, and they could afford it too...
I grew up in a Christian Reformed Church. Yep. I am dutch, but of average height. My mother's family was from Friesland in northern Holland. She married my father who is NOT dutch. He's your typical American mutt. Even has a bit of Jew in him.
Anyway...most dutch people are very tall, but my mother is only 5'3". All those tall boys I grew up with. I married a short french guy.
Oh...my husband told me that he was never going to date or marry a girl how was taller than him. He kept looking for the short girl. Well here I am and I am about 1/2" taller than him.
It still bothers me when we are dancing.
Christine - don't go to Tas...come to Sydney!!!
I'm short...and I like it. My hubby is taller than me, and I like his height next to mine - but I wouldn't say he's a particularly tall man. He doesn't care if I wear heels or not, he just loves me the way I am...very content about both our heights. I would've have married him were he shorter or taller than he is, because I have loved him from the first time I saw him, when we were 14.
14? Wow! When did you start going out? Tell us the story. Please. :)
And Christine is coming to Tasmania, not Sydney, because everyone is short in Sydney. ;)
Ruth, you find me a job, I'm there.
That being said what can you tell me about CWCI?
Short women need Jesus, too, Shiloh.
I tell you what ... we'll have an auction. Whoever makes me the best offer ... done!
As for Holland ... whenever I fly KLM to go home I have to layover in Amsterdam.
The moment I walk off the plane .... (ethereal music) ... I feel at home ... the land of giants. I can only imagine how it would make my little friend, Dolly, feel.
My parents won a trip to Holland, by flying KLM, when I was 14 (was a busy yr for me!!)...dad didn't want to go, so Mum took my sister and I....we got toured aroung in a car with a chauffer for two weeks, looking at...art, art, art, art,art and a few other things - palaces, museums, art, national parks and art.
It was fantastic - we stayed in all the 5star hotels, and all our meals were provided in swish restaurants.
It was fun. Holland is an amazing country.....so full of art!
And Christine - really Sydney has some tall people....I'm sure it does.....at least I might have seen a tall person once....now, it was a dream!
What yr do you finish seminary?
Shiloh - I will tell you the story one day, but not tonight...although it is a lovely story, I think.
Ruth I think the tall person you saw was me visting in Sydney... ;) I'll be there again next month so keep an eagle eye out.
Hmm ... probably December of '07
What year are we in now?
Mike - what are you coming to Sydney to do?
It could well have been you I saw last time :-)
I *just* completed my first year.
me in front of a windmill
I'm usually there in January. I help to run and organise Christian camps for aboriginal kids up the coast. What am I going up for you ask... well for a hloiday and visit friends (I also have number of mates at Moore College and SMBC) although there are others who would argue I'm there for "other reasons".
While I'm still up wasting time and not sleeping. One of the few blokes I know who's taller than me also lives in Sydney. But he's an dutch import from the republic of Kingston... he's also married.
is that an odd thing?
; )
or are you joining ranks with the rest of the world in an attempt to marry me off but sadly have to inform me that the only other guy you know taller than yourself is already taken?
rofl would dream of anything so patronsing... I can smell a set up a mile away. My advice run the opposite direction.
How tall are you btw?
2.54 x 74 =
188
Wow intimidating ;). That makes you a six foot two about the same height as my friend Andrea.
you're telling me! intimidating ...
does Andrea feel like she has to overcompensate by being extra friendly in order to ease the intimidation factor?
She has a bubbly friendly charismatic personality and left the Reformed church in Sydney and became (no surprises) a bubbly friendly charismatic. Draw your own conclusions
She has a boyfriend who incidentally is shorter than her (keeping on topic). Seeing them together geometrically doesn’t quite work. He’s thin and shorter. She’s big boned (NOT fat) and tall. Probably too much information. *cough*
ha ... that would be like me and a little roly-poly fellow
Cute picture of you in front of the windwill.
They're fighting over you, Christine. That's quite a compliment.
Hey Beautiful TALL woman,
So, Bethy and I got our tickets for MINI. And hotel is taken care off. SO, we're set. Hope you can make it....
There's no fight at all. It's simply a non issue. Everyone know's that Tasmania is better than mainland Oz. ;)
Indeed. tasmania is more beautiful, less stressful, cheaper rent and petrol.
More laid back, nicer people,
Plus we have a lot of christians leaving to the mainland to study theology, so we have more of a need for trained workers.
Sydney is overflowing with them
Amen.
*cough* so why were you thinking of leaving then borg?
Yes we will miss the borg, but her presence will live on in the ether....
We'll probably hear as much about what she's doing if she moves anyway.... ;)
I'm only going for 3 months!
looks like the Tasmanians have it. how could i say no.
but i think you might be a little more generous with your Shioh. if i'm to come to Tasmania ... i should think that you'd allow S'lo to come visit with me in Boston.
hmm, maybe i shouldn't go to Tas. Tasmanians are *selfish* people.
joking ... just joking, c'mon!
LOL!
It would be cool if Slo could meet you when she went over, but being terrible at geohraphy, I'm not sure how far Massachusets is from Boston...
On the other end of dating a tall person, I had a very tall b/f, 6' 4 I think... and I got a sore neck and back with every hug. However, on the plus side, I felt small and dainty even on chunky days :)
However, Luke is just right, not too tall, more comfortable hugs and good for hand holding, no strange shoullder height issues here.. ;)
but being terrible at geohraphy, I'm not sure how far Massachusets is from Boston...
LOL Boston is in Massachusets.
Proof why Austrailia isn't a world superpower.
Hey! Don't let MY terrible geography be indicative of my nation!! I always talked in geography classes...AND I've barely travelled beyond sydney....
Who was this handsome 6'4 guy Amiel? he sounds like quite a catch. ;)
Obviously, in class, you weren't talking about GEOGRAPHY.
I think that you ARE an indication of your nation and it's geographic abilities. Harumph!
WCSN ... Yes, I'm sure all 10 year old Australians memorize all the United States Presidents and all 50 States and their captials.
Just like we all know what the captial of Australia is ... or the captial of Tasmania is ... or the name of the current Prime Minister ...
I didn't say he was hansdome mike ;)
I could have googled boston and massachusetts...but then I wouldn't have had a chance to show off how terrbile my geography is :)
ckhnat, is that a challenge? Remember, I am a product of the finest school system in the universe. Not only do I know the capital of Australia, but ...
I am the very model of a modern Major-General
I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral
I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical
From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical
I'm very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical
I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical
About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse
I'm very good at integral and differential calculus
I know the scientific names of beings animalculous
In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral
I am the very model of a modern Major-General.
Shall I go on?
You would also gladly give your daughters away to pirates!
Impressive WCSN I am awed by your credentials and wittiness. If ONLY we had people like you in Australia. Have you considered moving too?
ooo ... the sarcasm is just oooooozing
You're a fan of musicals WCSN?
Don't let him full you. He's masquerading as the blubbering fool of a father of a dozen daughters or so picnicing on an island.
Don't let those Tasmanians fool you Christine....they are sending a lot of Christians to the mainland to study theology...but that just means that in a few years time they are going to have a whole lot of theologically trained locals!!!
They are right though, we do have loads of great Bible teachers...
It is much warmer in Sydney though!
Stephen, I see you have been educated in Gilbert and Sullivan, but I didn't see the capital of Australia, or Tasmania, or the tasmanian minister for education's name.... :)
Indeed Christine, '...I like your sense of duty, and take my daughters, all of whom are beauties'...
However frederick didn't treat them much better
'Is there not one maiden here, whose homely face and bad complexion, have caused all hope to disappear of ever winning man's afffection?"
But he did promise to love them no matter how plain they were.:)
Ruth, yes, God willing we will get them all back, but they are being drawn away by Sydney anglicans. ( don't get me wrong, I love the sydney anglicans, they make me glad to be a christian)
The problem is, most of the Taswegians are studying at anglican theological colleges, and the really growing part of the Tasmanian church is Presbyterian/Reformed
Now Presbyterian churches in Australia are more picky about ordination than anglicans. So Pressy's want ministers who are trained at anglican colleges to do an extra year of study to be ordained in the pressy church.
All those going to sydney will need to be ordained so that they can suuport their families, so they can either do the extra study, or be ordained in the anglican church.
However, if they want to be 'home missionaries' or another title, thats okay. The money may not be quite as good....
Ruth you are also sooo right, it is MUCH warmer in sydney. It depends on if you really like that in a place to live :)
I'm not a great fan of the heat...
Hey Amiel - That is frustrating about the ordination thing. I have some friends who moved from Sydney to Tasmania to work in a church...so it does happen. I can understand, though, that 5 yrs of study is not always a viable option (four years were certainly enough for me - not that I was the one doing the study - AB was!!)
What weather you like is quite dependant on what you're used to. My parents went to Tas (speaking at something or other..), then holidayed - they froze!!! Not quite what they expected!! They are very fond of Tasmania though - and love to see the people they know there.
For Andrew's birthday, I gave him a photographic book of Tas., cause he's always wanted to go there. (ah, retirement! - can't wait!!)
Well, I see that I've found an entire room of worthy adversaries. I thought that my fantastic quote would steer everyone away from the Australian quiz-show, but I was greatly mistaken. To answer Mike, I have not considered relocating, but I may be convinced. Flattery will get you everywhere. ckhnat, I wouldn't give my daughters away against their will! Plus, they are not all pirates. One has changed his way... Amiel, if you are not a fan of the Heat, are you then pulling for the Mavericks?
Canberra, Hobart and David Bartlett.
Can any of you tell me the leading cash-crop in Iowa?
It's corn right??
I watch the 'West Wing' you know :)
After that, pigs/hogs...
Let's see...where are you from WCSN? Maine! Brrrr! It's cold there too!
I was just curious...because I don't know much about weather in Australia. I just always pictures it being hot there all the time. I've read several references to the cold. How cold does it get there? 'Course then again...my freinds were from Cairns. That's very warm isn't it?
Nice work Amiel. I guess the "West Wing" isn't a total waste after all. However, I still won't watch it.
You did well on the minister for education too, stephen :)
Yes the WW went downhill after the 3rd or 4th series... but I kept watching...
Now all I have is the low calorie artifically sweetened version, Commannder in Chief, ever since Spencer passed away...:(
Priscilla, Brisbane is very warm, the best time of year for brisbane is spring. Its sunny, around 24 c (75 f) and cool in the evenings. In summer it gets over 45 sometimes ( 115f)and tarred roads melt.
Cairns is hot and sunny, I've never been there but I've heard it is :)
Tasmania is quite cold, but the sun is nice. We get winds and temperature changes from the air currents coming up from antarctica. Winters are long, summers are pretty short, but spring and autumn are really nice.
That said, it never gets THAT cold here. Rarely more than a few degrees c below zero. It can just be very windy and rainy, which makes it seem colder.
Melbourne and Sydney are much warmer, as they are further from antarctica. Sydney is very nice heat. Warm, sunny, mostly.
Craig would be better qualified to comment on how cold it gets in sydney, I've only been there in summer.
Melbourne is aggressive heat but more changeable. The humidity is pretty full-on.
If you check out this webcam during the day you'll get an idea of what the weather looks like.
http://www.rosebay.tased.edu.au/camera.htm
Alternativly check here for the latest Hobart weather...
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDT65012.shtml
Tasmania sounds like New York State.
Does it ever snow?
It snows on'the mountain' aka Mount Wellington which is in plain view of most places in Hobart.
Occasionally it snows down lower, it snowed last year in my area, I don;t think it snowed down to the city... Jolly, did you get snow last year?
See here some pictures of the mountain behind Hobart with snow... it did snow here in town last year but it didn't settle.
http://www.rosebay.tased.edu.au/images/kept%20images/july_2.jpg
Ok...so it really doesn't snow in your area like it does here. That's all I needed to know.
A few years ago, a couple and their 3 children came to intern at our church from Cairns. They stayed a year and a half. They had never seen snow before. (up close and personal at least) We had so much fun introducing them to snow!
here's what I think of when someone says "snow"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lidarose/97502494/in/pool-upstatenewyork/
Thats pretty Priscilla, very homey.:) We haven't had snow like that since '84...
trying to get you interested in Hobart. Love you lots.
A little flirting also on this thread.. I wanted to actually check I was taller.
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