# Big Guy Troubles
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-guy-troubles/100339
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [March 27, 2002, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-guy-troubles/100339 "2002-03-27T06:01:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@igotit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/igotit)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2002, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-guy-troubles/100339/21 "2002-03-27T20:15:38Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Zanshin \*
> I feel ya, **Belrix**. I’m about 6’5", 240 lb, in good shape, plenty strong and broad-shouldered – because of my build, everyone always asks whether I played football in college.
**Zanshin** , you sound yummy! 😉
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### Author:  [@Zanshin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zanshin)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2002, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-guy-troubles/100339/22 "2002-03-27T21:04:35Z")
I am, doll, I am. 😉
So, **igotit** , to beat a phrase _completely_ into the turf…
How **you** doin’…? Hey! Ow! Don’t throw that at… ouch! All right, all right, I’m sorry already! 🙂
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### Author:  [@igotit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/igotit)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2002, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-guy-troubles/100339/23 "2002-03-27T21:46:46Z")
**Zanshin** , I like a confident man. I’m _doing_ fine now.
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### Author:  [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2002, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-guy-troubles/100339/24 "2002-03-27T21:53:36Z")
You sure it’s your size and not your seven feet, **heptapod**?
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### Author:  [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2002, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-guy-troubles/100339/25 "2002-03-27T23:36:16Z")
I actually fairly short, only 5-11, but going about 260. A large percentage of it is fat but theres some bone and muscle too, My whole family is very barrel chested. Plus the fact I have an out of place nose, a couple scars, a red beard, long hair, and a naturally smirky smile. I deffinately know the freaky big guy feeling, and have often been told I look like a pissed off viking. I get a lot of people locking car doors, stepping of elevators, and reaching in purses for mace. The worst part is when some drunk moron decides he wants to find a big guy to fight and is going to start shit no matter what.
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### Author:  [@shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shrew)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2002, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-guy-troubles/100339/26 "2002-03-28T03:38:20Z")
**Heptapod** , I used to have this problem. My size is fairly intimidating, but only because I carry it well. People aren’t typically intimidated by overweight girls.
I remember in high school, however, I was on a bus of other students who I happened not to know. I had gone to school with them, but most were underclassmen. We were going to the state basketball tournament. We all started singing along to the Judds (mind you, this was only about nine years ago). After a couple rounds of “Why not Me?”, a girl turned to me and said, “Shrew, I can’t believe you’re so nice. I always thought you were the biggest bitch. Honestly, I’ve always been afraid of you.”
College presented the same problem.
I finally decided to work on changing it. I never used to go out of my way to say Hello to people or to ask how they’re doing. I always thought it was a waste of time. Now, however, I make an effort to smile at people and say Hi whenever I can. It makes a big difference. Making eye contact helps a lot.
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### Author:  [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2002, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-guy-troubles/100339/27 "2002-03-28T05:20:40Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by shrew \*
> \*\*
> I finally decided to work on changing it. I never used to go out of my way to say Hello to people or to ask how they’re doing. I always thought it was a waste of time. Now, however, I make an effort to smile at people and say Hi whenever I can. It makes a big difference. Making eye contact helps a lot. \*\*
Oh yeah. I’m 6’4" and my weight has ranged from 245 in college to 340 now (I know, I know…) I used to get the “you’re intimidating and scare people” thing a lot. It didn’t help that I usually dressed in black and pulled a baseball cap way down over my eyes.
I finally made a conscious effort to be friendly. It’s amazing the difference it makes. Now, people think I’m a big teddy bear. This is made easier by how much more rolly-polly I am these days. ☹
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