Mel Lastman. Short, loud, persistent, annoying, and successful as the mayor of Toronto. 'Nuff said.
One may be noticeable because of height, but height alone won’t make up for the lack of other qualities, like determination.
Why, some of my best friends are little people. Sure, I wouldn’t want one of them in my country club or dating my imaginary children, but they’re nice enough folks. Those little sub 6 footers are often quite jovial, spirited and amusing. I’m not sure about letting them vote, but that’s another topic.
Well…this isn’t exactly the topic, but it’s related, so I’m just gonna go for it.
I am 4’9’’ and, even for a woman, this seems freakishly short to me. I am not a midget, or a dwarf, or any of that…it’s just genes. Does anyone know anyone this height or shorter? Does being that short make you completely unnattractive and odd-looking? Since I don’t know any of you, go ahead and tell me the truth. (But not cruel, OK? 
)
No, not odd looking. One of my girl friends is about 4’9" or 4’10", and she is certainly very attractive. However, I will confess I have noticed that sometimes I feel like a freakishly huge person when I’m standing next to her (and I’m only 5’3"). I mentioned this to another one of our friends (another woman, about 5’9") who thought I was crazy. We think this is because the tall woman is used to being around many people who are shorter than she is, and she doesn’t notice their particular heights so much. But as a fairly short-ish person myself, it’s unusual* for me to be with a person who is noticably shorter, so I pay more attention to it.
*unusual in terms of this conversation, not unusual in the sense of having a giant kangaroo on roller skates enter your workplace or anything.
TwasMimsy,
I’m a touch under 4’11", which makes me shorter relative to the average height for men than you are relative to the average height for women. (The average adult American man is 5’9.1" tall, while the average adult American woman is 5’3.6" tall.) I’m that short purely because of genetics, not dwarfism or anything else.
I think I’m the shortest man on the SDMB and you’re the shortest woman. tiggeril (who’s female) is 4’10", if I recall correctly.
>>I am 4’9’’ and, even for a woman, this seems freakishly short to me…Does being that short make you completely unnattractive and odd-looking?<<
I find petite women very attractive. Very.
OK, maybe this is just me: I’m about 5’7", and the average girl is, what, 5’5" or so, so maybe being with a shorter lady makes me feel well, tall.
But truly, in my minds eye short girls are just so, hmmm, feminine. You know, fragile, dainty, elegant.
I think there’s a lot of men who find petite girls attractive.
And, FWIW, you can make yourself taller with heels (woof!) :). Many tall girls are self-conscious about thier height, and can do nothing about it.
Please, do NOT be self-conscious about your height. To some (me!), it is definitely an asset.
Well, TwasMimsy (great name, BTW), I have an aunt who’s about 4’10" or 4’11", which wouldn’t be so bad… except that she’s married to my 6’4" uncle. The pictures from the wedding of “you may now kiss the bride” are almost comical.
The rest of the family made the obligatory jokes for a couple of months or so, but we hardly even notice at all, anymore.
My favorite married pair o’ dopers, Nen and lilah, are 6’4" and 5’1" respectively. Still makes me giggle every time I see ‘em together.
Frank Lloyd Wright had the same idea. He was of below-average height, but insisted that he take his own height as typical when designing the scale of his buildings. If anyone here has ever been to see Falling Water, they will know what I mean. I had to duck my head to one side just to stand up in some of the rooms, and the concrete railings on the balconies only came up to just above my kneecaps. The bed in the master bedroom (which he also designed) was so short that it seemed impossible that most adults could even sleep in it. The family he designed it for was not short, either. He just liked things that way.
On a side note, I really enjoy being tall for the most part, but I find that almost all furniture is uncomfortable and rides on airplanes (I just got off one, so it’s on my mind) are almost intolerable. I have often thought of starting a company that designes chairs specifically for tall folks like me.
Good call, aschrott. You can read the Master’s words about Wright here.