# Are you tall enough? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 27, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818 "2014-06-27T21:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/21 "2014-06-27T23:36:19Z")
I’m a female and I’m 5’10". I love it, aside from clothing issues and airplane seats. Short people look kind of, well, odd, to me. Sorry shorties! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/22 "2014-06-27T23:39:40Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I am unconvinced of your sincerity and will on no account be sleeping in your guest room. Hee hee hee! Well played. It’s not a big deal in my life–there are a buttload of things I’d change about the universe before I got around to my height–but being 5’5" is moderately inconveniencing sometimes. I certainly don’t blame the majority of my miserably single years in college on my height, but at the same time I don’t think it helped. And being able to reach high shelves sure would be nice. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/23 "2014-06-27T23:43:25Z")
5’9" female. I love being tall-ish. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/24 "2014-06-27T23:50:03Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I would like to be 6’2" instead of 6’4. Just tall enough to be tall but not tall enough to cause problems. I’m thinking the exact same thing, but from the other side. I’m 6’2" and totally cool with that. I’m right at the point where stuff is kind of a hassle - cars take consideration, my laundry routine includes a ‘stretch’ phase - but things aren’t too dire. Any higher, though, and there’d be an exponential increase in ‘grin-and-bear-it’ situations. In fact, I’d consider dropping to 6’1" just to fit a bit better into the world - but it’s kinda hard to drop back down. It’d be like Flowers for Algernon. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/25 "2014-06-27T23:50:40Z")
Female. I grew from 5’3 to 5’6 when I was 19 and I was really pleased. I went from below average height to slightly high average. That was nearly 30 years ago and young women are so tall these days! For that reason and because I have lost nearly an inch to age I voted that I would like to be taller, but just a bit as I wouldn’t want it to be even harder to find shoes. Incidentally I was chagrined to discover recently that in some shops I have to buy short fit jeans. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/26 "2014-06-28T00:06:13Z")
Male 5’ 7.5" Sure, sometimes it would be nice to be taller. The thing is though that I can be comfortable in any car, and in any airplane, movie theatre, whatever, and I’m not freakishly short. So, I kinda like where I am. Of course I’ll start shrinking in about 15 years, but don’t we all? ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/27 "2014-06-28T00:16:10Z")
I am at that awkward age when my Dr tells me I am too short for my weight but I look in the mirror and see that I am too tall for my hair 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/28 "2014-06-28T00:18:47Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > I am at that awkward age when my Dr tells me I am too short for my weight but I look in the mirror and see that I am too tall for my hair 😃 I’m too sexy for my shirt. ---
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/29 "2014-06-28T00:37:32Z")
I am a 5’ 2.5" inch male. My lack of height is a defining characteristic in my life. My goal in life from when I was about 10 was to be a military pilot, with the ultimate aim of being an astronaut. I got straight “A”'s in High School, and played 2 varsity sports. I went to an elite private high school which puts at least 2 graduates into a military academy every year. Class of 2013 had 3. Cite:[http://www.chaminade-hs.org/uploaded/Uploads/Class\_of\_2013\_Destinations.pdf](http://www.chaminade-hs.org/uploaded/Uploads/Class_of_2013_Destinations.pdf) I applied to the AF Academy, and was told that 80% of attendees had to be flight qualified, and I was not due to my height, and didn’t make it. Tried ROTC, was told that the Navy had a hard limit, but it could be waived if certain body measurements were okay. Measurements didn’t work out, so I was told that there was no way I could fly in the Navy or Air Force. Much self-pity ensued, which led to failing out of college. I enlisted in the Navy, and enjoyed my 20 year career, but feel like I could have been so much more. To this day I know that people don’t treat me as serious as I deserve, but that is their loss. tl/dr: Life hopes dashed due to being short, still causes problems. Hell no, I am not tall enough, I am 1.5 inches too short, but thanks for asking!!! ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/30 "2014-06-28T00:39:20Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > I’m a woman and exactly 5’ 6" 1/2 feet tall. I always wanted to be a petite little bit of a thing but I am mainly, average. I’m a woman, and now a shade over 5’7". But I desperately wanted to be tiny after falling in love with gymnastics while watching the 1976 Summer Olympics. It could have happened - my paternal grandmother was only 4’10" or so. By the time I was about 8, however, I realized that I was almost as tall as my Grandma, so I set my sights on the opposite end of the spectrum. I wanted to be six feet tall, like my maternal grandmother and my aunt. Instead, I stopped just shy of 5’9" (and have shrunk since then.) So either way, I didn’t get my druthers… I guess it’s okay, though, since my feet reach the ground most days, and it’s not too, too, too difficult to find clothes and shoes and stuff. (Except for long sleeves. I have Daddy’s monkey arms, so sleeves never quite reach my wrists.) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/31 "2014-06-28T01:16:45Z")
I’m female and 5’8" and that’d be great if I wasn’t so wide too. And I have big hair. So there is no hiding and I would really like to hide sometimes. I guess it’s good no one can accuse me of being round at least. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/32 "2014-06-28T01:48:46Z")
I’m a woman. I’m 5"1 and have always been amused by it. The real pain is not being on the short side, especially as I am female. The real pain has always been having very large breasts. Short and large breasted is a very odd combination. On the surface it sounds nice but finding shirts that fit and don’t show too much has always been a problem. I’ve also been the center of unwanted male attention many times. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/33 "2014-06-28T01:51:23Z")
How’s the saying go, “Height ain’t nothing but a number”? 🆒 I _guess_ I’d like to be taller (5’7") but it really wouldn’t matter, as I’m actually about 4 feet tall sitting in a wheelchair. :p. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/34 "2014-06-28T01:51:50Z")
I voted “just right,” but really in Thailand I’m a bit _too_ tall at 6’3" (but no, I don’t wish I were shorter). I feel more normal back in the West. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/35 "2014-06-28T02:11:13Z")
72." I’m okay with my height, but if it got me out of needing to lose 50 pounds to achieve my so-called ideal BMI, I could use another twenty inches. Frankly, I’m probably better off just being okay with my current BMI. ---
**Author:** ![minionkat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@minionkat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minionkat)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/36 "2014-06-28T02:16:15Z")
I am female and 5’10". I am happy with my height now. I have been this height since I was 11. It didn’t bother me, but did make for some awkwardness. I was the tallest one in my class from kindergarten until grade nine. It was great once I hit about 16, I looked 21 and never got carded. It was around then that I also started wishing I would break 6’. Now I am mostly at peace with it. I can wear heels and be comfortable, or flats and still feel tall. If only sleeves and pant legs were long enough…I often prefer skirts/dresses and three quarter sleeves for this reason. ---
**Author:** ![Hector\_St\_Clare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@Hector\_St\_Clare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hector_St_Clare)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/37 "2014-06-28T03:30:16Z")
> [@tonyfop](#): > > I am a 5’ 2.5" inch male. My lack of height is a defining characteristic in my life. My goal in life from when I was about 10 was to be a military pilot, with the ultimate aim of being an astronaut. I got straight “A”'s in High School, and played 2 varsity sports. I went to an elite private high school which puts at least 2 graduates into a military academy every year. Class of 2013 had 3. Cite:[http://www.chaminade-hs.org/uploaded/Uploads/Class\_of\_2013\_Destinations.pdf](http://www.chaminade-hs.org/uploaded/Uploads/Class_of_2013_Destinations.pdf) I applied to the AF Academy, and was told that 80% of attendees had to be flight qualified, and I was not due to my height, and didn’t make it. Tried ROTC, was told that the Navy had a hard limit, but it could be waived if certain body measurements were okay. Measurements didn’t work out, so I was told that there was no way I could fly in the Navy or Air Force. Much self-pity ensued, which led to failing out of college. I enlisted in the Navy, and enjoyed my 20 year career, but feel like I could have been so much more. To this day I know that people don’t treat me as serious as I deserve, but that is their loss. > > tl/dr: Life hopes dashed due to being short, still causes problems. Hell no, I am not tall enough, I am 1.5 inches too short, but thanks for asking!!! Sorry to hear that, but I was under the impression that the Air Force _preferred_ short people for pilots? I’m 5’7.25’', which is quite on the short side for the United States- maybe if it gets me down too much I could move to Latin America and be average. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/38 "2014-06-28T03:38:04Z")
> [@Hector\_St\_Clare](#): > > I’m 5’7.25’', which is quite on the short side for the United States- maybe if it gets me down too much I could move to Latin America and be average. You don’t _really_ measure your height out to the quarter-inch, do you? This is humor, right? ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/39 "2014-06-28T03:57:52Z")
Male / 5’8"-- I’ve always wished I could be at least 2 inches taller. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2014, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818/40 "2014-06-28T04:10:00Z")
5’10"(ish). I’m almost exactly average height. One side of my family was tall and skinny; one side wasn’t. I ended up in the middle. One sister was taller than me and one shorter, too. So I have no complaints in that direction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-tall-enough/691818.md?page=3)