# The Shortest Person You Know **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 17, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621 "2003-12-17T21:38:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/21 "2003-12-18T15:37:29Z")
I think the shortest person I can claim any acquaintance with is about 2’10" or so. I just found the thread, **Tapioca Dextrin**. 🙂 Yep, I’m 4’2", thanks to a weird rare orthopedic condition. Height isn’t everything. A few more inches would have been a nice bonus, but it just wasn’t in the cards. ---
**Author:** ![Sqwerticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@Sqwerticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sqwerticus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/22 "2003-12-18T15:42:47Z")
Our next door neighbours are affectionately known as the Tiny People, or in moments of meanness The Borrowers. She is 4ft 6in and he checks in at about 4ft 10in. They are perfectly proportioned - there’s just less of them. We reckon they could easily turn their house into a 4 storey property, by installing mezzanine floors. They have a specially fitted kitchen, with low counters. That plays havoc with my back (I am 6ft) when I am seconded in on cat feeding duty. Their kids are small too. Their grandchildren are minute. Maybe they have great grandchildren but they just can’t be seen with the naked eye. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/23 "2003-12-18T15:46:04Z")
My sister-in-law is 4’10". ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/24 "2003-12-18T16:36:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Their kids are small too. Their grandchildren are minute. Maybe they have great grandchildren but they just can’t be seen with the naked eye. Heh 🙂 I knew a girl at school who was about 4’10" when fully grown. Last I heard she was a diving instructor in the Cayman Islands or somewhere like that… so if you see her give her a shout! ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/25 "2003-12-18T18:33:03Z")
I have a friend who is 4’ 11". ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/26 "2003-12-18T19:21:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sqwerticus \* > \*\*They have a specially fitted kitchen, with low counters. That plays havoc with my back (I am 6ft) when I am seconded in on cat feeding duty. \*\* Oh, hush. YOUR counters would play havoc with THEIR backs, I’m sure. The world just isn’t built for people much under 5 feet. If I ever own my own house, I’m going to get at least some counter space lowered. And quite possibly the sink in the bathroom I use the most. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/27 "2003-12-18T19:43:55Z")
Ex-girl friend, 4’ 6". She would always tell people she was 4’ 8". She tacked on two inches for shoes and was still 4"short of 5’. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/28 "2003-12-18T19:55:16Z")
I have a great aunt who is around 4’10" She’s so cute! ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/29 "2003-12-18T22:21:26Z")
I am 4ft10 and fully grown. My mum is 5ft and my dad is 5ft2. Our kitchen is specially designed so we don’t have any high cupboards. People stare at us when we’re out as a family. I also work with a dwarf, who must be around 3ft5. ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/30 "2003-12-18T22:43:32Z")
And a picture to illustrate the comedy height difference between me and **Kferr** (who I think is 6ft7) taken at a recent Londope: [http://www.ianrowland.com/Images/Photos/LonDopeNov2903/LD076.JPG](http://www.ianrowland.com/Images/Photos/LonDopeNov2903/LD076.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/31 "2003-12-19T00:50:00Z")
My husband’s family also has a “weird rare orthopedic condition.”, so he’s a hair under six feet and my mother in law (and two of her brothers) were six inches shorter than that. Aside from the fact that I get stuck changing all the light bulbs, it isn’t that big of a deal. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/32 "2003-12-21T06:25:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whiterabbit \* > \*\*A few more inches would have been a nice bonus. \*\* must … resist … urge to make inappropriate joke … ;p ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/33 "2003-12-21T13:33:53Z")
There are three females, I reckon between 4’11" - 5’ that I often see around campus. The shortest guy that I know personally is around 5’3". ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/34 "2003-12-21T15:37:03Z")
My daughter is 4’8" – she’s 16 1/2 and unlikely to grow any more. We aren’t sure why she’s so short – she has Cerebral Palsy, but that doesn’t cause shortness so far as I’ve ever heard. She was also quite premature (born at 27 weeks gestational age), so that may account for it. My father-in-law is about my height (5’1") which is pretty short for a guy. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/35 "2003-12-21T16:44:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tapioca Dextrin \* > \*\*must … resist … urge to make inappropriate joke … > > ;p \*\* I didn’t even THINK of that. _blushing_ But what with being a girl and all, I don’t want THOSE sort of inches, unless they’re attached to somebody else…😃 ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/36 "2003-12-21T16:52:43Z")
I work with a woman who’s 4’10" and suddenly realize I have worked closely with her for 9 years and know her only as “Tiny.” I attended her bridal shower, wedding and baby shower over the years and even those invitations didn’t have her real name. I really ought to find out what it is someday. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/37 "2003-12-21T19:51:33Z")
Me. I’m 5 feet tall in my hiking boots. It seems like absolutely none of that height is leg. Buying a pair of jeans is an all-day adventure for me. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/38 "2003-12-21T20:15:16Z")
I hate buying clothes with a passion, but my mom sews and will do basic alterations for my stuff. Otherwise, it’s well worth paying for. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/39 "2003-12-21T20:29:35Z")
I read this thread really hoping **Francesca** posted in here. It would have been terribly embarassing to be the first one to name her 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621/40 "2003-12-21T21:16:09Z")
> [@](#): > > My husband’s family also has a “weird rare orthopedic condition.”, so he’s a hair under six feet and my mother in law (and two of her brothers) were six inches shorter than that. Aside from the fact that I get stuck changing all the light bulbs, it isn’t that big of a deal. Am I reading this wrong, or did you just call your nearly six foot tall husband “short”? “A hair under six feet” is actually well above average height. It certainly isn’t short, no matter how tall you are in comparison. And I find it hard to believe that the shortest person you know is 5’6". That is slightly above average height for females. You must not know very many people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shortest-person-you-know/219621.md?page=3)