# Tired of this (being short) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 29, 2026, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654 "2026-04-29T21:56:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CastletonSnob1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@CastletonSnob1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob1)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/1 "2026-04-29T21:56:22Z")
I’m a guy and 5’2 1/4. I feel like I should be taller because my mom is 5’5, my dad is 5’8, and my grandfather was 5’11. I’m tired of being shorter than everyone when I’m in public. This wouldn’t even be a problem if I could grow more, but I finished growing over a decade ago. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/2 "2026-04-29T22:06:08Z")
Sorry. Nothing to do about it, though. FWIW I always preferred shorter men. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/3 "2026-04-29T22:07:55Z")
Me, too, **susan**. A tall man towering over me always made me feel uncomfortable. Looking back, all the men I dated were on the short side. Mr. brown is about 1/2 inch shorter than me. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/4 "2026-04-29T22:10:37Z")
There is [limb lengthening surgery](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24316-limb-lengthening-surgery) but you might gain only a couple of inches and it sounds really extreme. I’m 5’ 6" tall so I know where you’re coming from but I’ve come to accept being this tall. On the bright side, I never feel the need to pay for the extended legroom seats on airplanes. ---
**Author:** ![CastletonSnob1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@CastletonSnob1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob1)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/5 "2026-04-29T22:12:01Z")
Not really helpful. Being 5’6 isn’t the same as being 5’2. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/6 "2026-04-29T22:16:59Z")
I’m sorry. The world can be a cruel place – or sometimes even ‘just’ _feel like_ a cruel place – particularly if you’re outside of the mainstream in some readily apparent way. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/7 "2026-04-29T22:24:35Z")
That’s more for people who, for whatever reason, have limbs of unequal length. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/8 "2026-04-29T22:29:03Z")
Recently, some have the surgery for cosmetic reasons. See [this paywalled New York Times article](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/us/height-surgery-limb-lengthening-men-health.html) for some examples. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/9 "2026-04-29T22:36:03Z")
I was 5’ 7" in college 50 years ago, and now I’m 5’ 5". Shrinking in old age is normal and expected. Do I wish I was taller? Sometimes, like when I am reaching for something on the top shelf. Is there anything I can do about it? Nope, and I’m perfectly okay with that, and if I ever get down to 5’ 2" I’m not going to feel any different. I learned a long time ago to accept things I can’t change. We’ll all be gone sooner or later, and at that point nobody will know or care how tall I was. It just won’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/10 "2026-04-29T22:45:08Z")
I sympathize with the comparison to family, though I’m theoretically completely average (just over 5’9"). But my maternal grandfather was 6’1" and his son, my uncle was 6’3". Since I look almost exactly like that side of the family, I always _expected_ I’d get to 6 feet - though my mother is _much_ shorter and my father was pretty average in height. Doesn’t mean I’m not blessed with the “default” height for an American, but it’s those _expectations_ and comparisons that we often base our assumptions on. TV and Movies especially defy the norms with even more extremes expected for weight (especially for women!), height, and musculature/definition. Doesn’t mean I don’t _still_ need to loose weight, but the cultural conditioning on expectations really doesn’t help either. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/11 "2026-04-29T22:54:37Z")
In the U.S. at least, the average height for men is 5’ 9.5" and the average height for woman is 5’ 4.1". (Those of you who want to use the metric system will have to do the calculations yourself.) The average expected height of a man whose father is X feet and inches tall and whose mother is Y feet and inches tall is ((X+Y)/2) + 2.7". The average expected height of a woman whose father is X feet and inches tall and whose mother is Y feet and inches tall is ((X+Y)/2) - 2.7". However, these are average expected heights. Probably about 2/3 of people are within 2 inches of that average, either above or below it. Probably about 99% of people are within 4 inches of that average, either above or below it. Probably about 99.9% of people are within 6 inches of that average, either above or below it. Being in the .1% group still says nothing interesting about you. I’m 4’11" (and male). My mother was 4’ 10" My father was 5’ 5". It’s still not that surprising. It’s not true that you’re shorter than everyone else when you’re in public. There are a lot of women shorter than you and a reasonable number of men. You need to get used to it. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/12 "2026-04-29T22:57:24Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Recently, some have the surgery for cosmetic reasons. See [this paywalled New York Times article](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/us/height-surgery-limb-lengthening-men-health.html) for some examples. And others who have had disabling permanent complications. Bad idea just for an inch or two. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/13 "2026-04-29T22:57:28Z")
You can build your identity around who you are not, or around who you are. The latter is far healthier. It’s admittedly easier to say this than to do this. But I submit that 100% of the negative thoughts you have ever had about your height have only made you less capable, less happy, and more neurotic. When you’re already in a hole, quit digging is the first order of business. I don’t know how old you are, but at the ripe old age of 65 I finally jettisoned a lot of negative feelings about a lifelong perceived shortcoming of mine. It really improved my life to do so. I bet you can do it too. Good luck. Seriously, not snarkily. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/14 "2026-04-29T23:12:34Z")
“Comparison is the thief of joy” - Theodore Roosevelt “Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.” “Don’t live your life based on what other people say or may think.” I am not in your shoes, but what problems are you facing? When you look around at others you cannot always see the problems they are working on, but know that everyone struggles with something - no one’s perfect - even those of average height. Comparing yourself to others is going to be a losing game. Maybe focus on the good things about you: are you healthy? Do you have empathy? Do you make others happy? It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of self-loathing and self-defeat, but you have a lot of value and offer a lot to others, I am sure, and height has nothing to do with that. Listen to your strengths - everyone has those, too! ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/15 "2026-04-29T23:19:59Z")
So you’re 5’2". Great! Rey Mysterio and Muggsy Bogues are around that height! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/16 "2026-04-29T23:28:11Z")
> [@CastletonSnob1](#): > > I’m a guy and 5’2 1/4. I feel like I should be taller because my mom is 5’5, my dad is 5’8, and my grandfather was 5’11. I’m tired of being shorter than everyone when I’m in public. My ex-wife is 4’10". She’d totally go for a guy your size. There are plenty of women out there who want men of average-minus height; guys who mesh well with their size. And if you think the world looks short from 5’2", consider that about 40% of women are shorter than you are. They’re all looking up to see where you are. ---
**Author:** ![CastletonSnob1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@CastletonSnob1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob1)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/17 "2026-04-29T23:45:19Z")
I also have ADHD, autism, OCD, anxiety, and I can’t drive. Yeah, I’m playing life on Hard Mode. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/18 "2026-04-29T23:49:11Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I finally jettisoned a lot of negative feelings about a lifelong perceived shortcoming of mine. But you still drive the sports car… ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/19 "2026-04-29T23:49:31Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Recently, some have the surgery for cosmetic reasons. And actually, I remember reading about guys getting it a dozen years ago or longer just for cosmetic reasons. One fellow in particular got a bone infection that ultimately cleared up, but was horrificly painful for several months. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654/20 "2026-04-29T23:54:38Z")
My advice for people in this hole is always the same: Find some charity work. Your self-esteem will never get higher by thinking about yourself. But find someone who has less than you do, and do something to help them. Find an organization that you can help do some good in the world. People generally are happy or not in relationship to their service to their fellow humans (or animals.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tired-of-this-being-short/1029654.md?page=2)