Why are we prejudiced towards name and height? Sure, movie celebrities do it to make pronunciations simpler. But was Benny Kabulsky that hard to pronounce? Who has a better chance of winning a presidency of the US…Brad Blaine or Kalso Levitsky…all things being equal. And why are tall men considered leaders over short men generally speaking? Do “pretty visually or sounding names” really suggest that the person is better qualified; same true with height? I’d be interested in your comments. I realize that this may have been discussed in the past and maybe not.
Well, I am 6’9" and I consider myself pretty spiffy. Looks like you are right.
Seriously, I am not sure why it is. It just seems to be. Being overly tall has always benefited me. With anybody (regardless of age, race, sex, etc) my height is an easy icebreaker that gets a conversation rolling. If I had a dollar for every time I have been asked how tall I am, or if I played basketball I would currently be watching Bill Gates polish my car.
It makes it a lot easier to talk to anybody, and that opens up avenues that I never would have known existed.
Well, shut my mouth. It’s also illegal to put squirrels down your pants for the purposes of gambling.
Perhaps a valid question, but definitely a difficult one to answer. Asking why people have certain attitudes towards others can get quite complex indeed.
Tall women, on the other hand, can have a tough time of it. Especially if you hit your growth spurt young. All you want to do in junior high is blend in, and there you are at 5’11".
Also, tall women can have a tough time finding dates - either because they’re sensitive about being taller than the guy, or because men are intimidated by her size.
Sucks to your assmar.
Never dated a girl under 5’11. Married one that is 6’1. Height is my major turn-on (of course blond hair and being stunningly attractive doesn’t hurt.) But I always have to laugh when I see really tall males with short females. I still don’t understand that.
beefymeg said:
Which is one of the reasons- IMHO- that the taller candidate has a stronger chance of election, especially in these televised times. We look for leaders who are strong, and height in some ways indicates strength.
As for names- remember that names still to a large degree carry ethnic weight to them, and there are still vestiges of “one of them vs. one of us” in society today. I don’t doubt that if I ran for office, my last name might cause Hispanics to support me more than they would if my name were Smith or Kublinsky.
As for movie stars, etc. changing their names- it was a lot more common in the days of vaudeville and radio, for a couple of reasons. First, immediate prejudice regarding ethnic groups was more common, and in some ways, vaudeville even played to that (if you came on stage with a Jewish last name, it would have been surprising if you didn’t speak with a heavy Yiddish accent). Second, audiences remembered names. If your act as “The Mystifying Swann” just plain sucked, when you re-did your act, you’d change your name so that people wouldn’t just assume that because your name was “Swann” your act sucked. Thus, Benny Kublesky went under many different names (I’m away from my copy of “All My Best Friends” by George Burns) before finally settling into “Jack Benny.”
JMCJ
Die, Prentiss, Die! You will never have a more glorious opportunity!
I think you are right about short people and funny names being discriminated against. It is very similar to racism and sexism. There have been laws made against racism and sexism. We need sort of an affirmative action for short people, fat people, bald people, people with glasses, people with big noses, people with acne, people with funny names, etc.
There are many ways society discriminates against types of people. However, it is race and gender that get the most attention.
curious george said:
Hey, I’m all for affirmitave action for short, fat, bald, nearsighted people with funny names.
But people with big noses? Man, they’re just freaks.
JMCJ
Die, Prentiss, Die! You will never have a more glorious opportunity!
Where are these tall women you’re talking about, Mullinator? I am 6’5" and I only know a few women that I consider tall. Quit hogging them, damnit!
“I hear the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think that they will sing to me.” -T.S. Eliot
Hey Longhrn
Well, I am married now, so my hogging days are over. We just happened to have a seriously kick butt girls bball team in high school, so that gave plenty of options. Date a girl that can dunk, that’s always an eyeopener.
Oh yeah, my astounding wit, intellectual ability, and humility might have something to do with it.
I’ve always felt sorry for the dumb ass questions that overly tall people get from the rubes of society.
I was looking at a magazine I picked up in England and there is this Czech ( I think) model (Can’t remember her name, but she is stunning) who has a 49 inch inseam. I’m only 62 inches tall with an inseam of 30 inches.I just blows my mind.
Would those dumb assed questions be something like “Do you play basketball?” I usually respond to the first with “No, do you play miniature golf?” Not my own invention, but I like it anyway.
“I hear the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think that they will sing to me.” -T.S. Eliot