# At what point does male height provide "diminishing returns?" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 9, 2017, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-male-height-provide-diminishing-returns/790812 "2017-07-09T06:36:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-male-height-provide-diminishing-returns/790812/41 "2017-07-10T23:36:36Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Grin! Me too. My old co-worker was 5’4" and hated me for putting stuff on top shelves. > > (But being tallish was very handy when it came time to string data cables through the ceilings!) > > Ah, well, “Long enough to reach the ground,” I guess! When I was living in Taiwan, I met this other American guy who was about 5’ 2". Every six months we’d have to fly to Hong Kong to get a new visa for Taiwan. We’d only be there a few days so we didn’t need a large piece of luggage. He would bring this small back pack, but would always check it in instead of just taking it the plane as a carry on. One time I asked him why and he said it was embarrassing for him to have carry on luggage because he couldn’t reach the over head bins. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2017, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-male-height-provide-diminishing-returns/790812/42 "2017-07-10T23:49:03Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > When I was living in Taiwan, I met this other American guy who was about 5’ 2". Every six months we’d have to fly to Hong Kong to get a new visa for Taiwan. We’d only be there a few days so we didn’t need a large piece of luggage. He would bring this small back pack, but would always check it in instead of just taking it the plane as a carry on. > > One time I asked him why and he said it was embarrassing for him to have carry on luggage because he couldn’t reach the over head bins. Being super tall is a definite pain in the ass, but I sure as fuck am glad I’m not super short instead. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-male-height-provide-diminishing-returns/790812/43 "2017-07-11T01:17:29Z")
I’m 6 3.5, and I’ve never thought the height made much difference one way or another for romance: some of my friends hooked up, some didn’t, and it didn’t seem to be related to height. I have known some tall guys who were going out with special or hot women, but those tall guys were athletes: that may bias the numbers. I’ve certainly never wanted to be a different height (except to be as tall as my dad, which I missed by 1/2"). At 6’ 3.5", I’m already aware how much more annoying some things would be if I’m taller, and how little I would miss out on by being slightly shorter, but being tall is part of my self-definition, so I’m not looking to be shorter either. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-male-height-provide-diminishing-returns/790812/44 "2017-07-11T01:25:25Z")
I’m (183 cm) 6’ which is on the taller side for Taiwan but really tall for Japan. It’s hard to find clothes for me in Asia. I used to just shop whenever I’d go back home but the internet helped. My wife is 5’, so we run into the typical problems such as deciding on the right height for counters and such. When I first lived in Japan in the early 80s, many of the older homes have doors where were just my height. I had companions who were taller and who would hit their head sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-male-height-provide-diminishing-returns/790812/45 "2017-07-11T13:07:57Z")
I’m 6’2" and find that I can’t fit in some cars (sports cars) that I might actually want to own/drive. Airplane and bus seats are too confining. Many shirts are too short, torso-wise. While I appreciate being tall in crowds, and can reach high shelves, I definitely wouldn’t want to be any taller. I think anything over 6" starts to have more drawbacks than benefits. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-male-height-provide-diminishing-returns/790812/46 "2017-07-11T18:43:01Z")
My BF is 6’8". All of the above annoyances, clothes, door jambs (ceiling fans!!), airline seats, but man, when I need intimidation, he’s the best. He just looks down from those great heights. So no diminishing returns here. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-male-height-provide-diminishing-returns/790812/47 "2017-07-12T15:04:56Z")
I’m 6’5". Advantages: [ul] I can see over crowds so navigating through a crowded train station (for example) is easier. [/ul] [ul] On my bicycle I can see over most cars on the road. [/ul] [ul] I get served quicker at a busy pub. This can also be a disadvantage since it annoys people who were at the bar before me. [/ul] [ul] In my house I can change a lightbulb (or even paint the ceiling if I was so inclined) without a stepladder. [/ul] Disadvantages: [ul] Small cars and sports cars are right out. One exception - I had a Smart ForTwo for several years. It was like a TARDIS. [/ul] [ul] Old houses/pubs with low beams or light fixtures are a hazard. [/ul] [ul] I can’t fit my legs under the tables at some restaurants. [/ul] Neutral: [ul] Dating. My shyness probably cancelled any advantage my height gained. [/ul] [ul] Clothes. I can get Levi’s with 36 inseam online. I don’t need dress shirts anymore. My feet are only UK11/US12 so no issues there. [/ul] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-does-male-height-provide-diminishing-returns/790812.md?page=2)