Living as a tall person
So what’s it like living as a tall person in the 21st century? In this article, we look at all aspects of living a giant life.
Junior School
Well, let’s start off with growing up at school. Most tall people have a growth spurt in their early teenage years, just at the point when things are tough for a child anyway.At school, they literally stand out and are usually head and shoulders above the other kids. Not only this, they are also singled out. During the end of term photos, they always have to stand at the back, in assembly, they are heckled from kids behind who can’t see, in class they are asked to reach items off the top shelves and on the school bus or coach they can’t sit comfortably as there is no leg room. Plus of course, the school clothes are never made to fit
At school, they literally stand out and are usually head and shoulders above the other kids. Not only this, they are also singled out. During the end of term photos, they always have to stand at the back, in assembly, they are heckled from kids behind who can’t see, in class they are asked to reach items off the top shelves and on the school bus or coach they can’t sit comfortably as there is no leg room.Plus of course, the school clothes are never made to fit
Plus of course, the school clothes are never made to fit tall children, so they either end up with trousers and jumpers that are plainly too short in the arms and legs or their parents buy adult sized clothing that then stands out as it’s not the same material.
Bullying
Then sadly there is the fact that they are bullied as they stand out from the crowd, which can be either face to face or in the modern world cyberbullying.Sometimes this is shouting abuse, such as “F—ing lanky bitch” or “ugly lanky giant”, but it can
Sometimes this is shouting abuse, such as “F—ing lanky bitch” or “ugly lanky giant”, but it can be nicknames such as “lanky”, “lofty”, “stretch” or “lurch”. All set to make the blood boil of a young teenager.At secondary schools, battles for status become more serious and kids can become obsessed with comparing themselves with others. Bullying often starts when other children try to boost their own fragile confidence by looking askance at anyone who is out of the ordinary. Being slow or good at academic work, being short or tall, fat or skinny, posh or chav, spotty or red-headed – or even just shy – is enough to make another child an object of scorn. Unfortunately, tall kids stand out from the crowd in a way that they can do nothing about.
At secondary schools, battles for status become more serious and kids can become obsessed with comparing themselves with others.Bullying often starts when other children try to boost their own fragile confidence by looking askance at anyone who is out of the ordinary. Being slow or good at academic work, being short or tall, fat or skinny, posh or chav, spotty or red-headed – or even just shy – is enough to make another child an object of scorn. Unfortunately, tall kids stand out from the crowd in a way that they can do nothing about.
Bullying often starts when other children try to boost their own fragile confidence by looking askance at anyone who is out of the ordinary. Being slow or good at academic work, being short or tall, fat or skinny, posh or chav, spotty or red-headed – or even just shy – is enough to make another child an object of scorn.Unfortunately, tall kids stand out from the crowd in a way that they can do nothing about.
Unfortunately, tall kids stand out from the crowd in a way that they can do nothing about.
Adulthood
Once you get through secondary school and on into adulthood, people are more accepting but the nicknames can remain throughout your life. New problems also arise.Firstly you find that furniture isn’t right, desks aren’t tall enough, kitchen worktops are too low, you can’t see yourself in the mirror, showers only make your chest wet, beds aren’t long enough, baths are too small, you hit your head on a variety of door frames and stairwells and you can’t relax on sofas.
Firstly you find that furniture isn’t right, desks aren’t tall enough, kitchen worktops are too low, you can’t see yourself in the mirror, showers only make your chest wet, beds aren’t long enough, baths are too small, you hit your head on a variety of door frames and stairwells and you can’t relax on sofas.
Commuting
Then there is the joy of the daily commute to work. You can’t sit behind the forward facing seats on a bus or train so you desperately search for the ones that either face one another or are in the aisle or face the aisle.Then there are the London tubes where someone tall can only stand in the middle at the highest point and even then they can feel their groomed hair being pushed flat to their head. That’s bad enough on its own, but when it’s in rush hour it’s horrendous. You wait nervously for the train or bus hoping that there is a seat with some leg room free when it comes. As for the tube, most these days are so packed you have to squeeze on, bent over double just so the doors don’t catch your face or back.
Then there are the London tubes where someone tall can only stand in the middle at the highest point and even then they can feel their groomed hair being pushed flat to their head.That’s bad enough on its own, but when it’s in rush hour it’s horrendous. You wait nervously for the train or bus hoping that there is a seat with some leg room free when it comes. As for the tube, most these days are so packed you have to squeeze on, bent over double just so the doors don’t catch your face or back.
That’s bad enough on its own, but when it’s in rush hour it’s horrendous. You wait nervously for the train or bus hoping that there is a seat with some leg room free when it comes.As for the tube, most these days are so packed you have to squeeze on, bent over double just so the doors don’t catch your face or back.
As for the tube, most these days are so packed you have to squeeze on, bent over double just so the doors don’t catch your face or back.
Silly questions from shorter people
Then, of course, there are stupid things random people say to you like “how tall are you?”, “how’s the weather up there?”, “do you play basketball?” and “are your parents tall?”All tall people build up a repertoire of answers for these but even so you feel you shouldn’t be asked in the first place.
All tall people build up a repertoire of answers for these but even so you feel you shouldn’t be asked in the first place.
Hard to fit in with fashion trends
It becomes harder to dress fashionably. Top brands rarely make “tall” clothing and the tall ranges out there is usually very plain and very boring.When you wear jumpers the sleeves come halfway down the arm and the front does not even cover the stomach. Extra-long trousers are hard to find, long length in most shops are like
When you wear jumpers the sleeves come halfway down the arm and the front does not even cover the stomach. Extra-long trousers are hard to find, long length in most shops are like
Dresses come up too short, tights don’t come up far enough. Finally, you have to search endless shoe shops for size 14’s! Suits you may as well forget to buy off the rail, you have to pay the extra and go for made to measure!
Falling in love
Finding love can be quite difficult as your possible matches are limited in numbers.If you’re
If you’re tall women, you will want a taller man so you can wear heels and not tower above them which is socially awkward. But where do you find tall men?If you’re a tall man you want a tall woman, who is not taller than you, but not so short you have to bend over to kiss them. But where do you find tall women?
If you’re a tall man you want a tall woman, who is not taller than you, but not so short you have to bend over to kiss them. But where do you find tall women?
Are there any benefits to being tall?
So what are the good things about living in the tall world? Being tall means you’ll stand out from the crowd and get noticed, which is important in a lot of situations.
If you have good posture, you can really present an imposing stature which will help you in future audition/job competition situations, as well as parties and other social events.
Increased earnings must be a good thing?
For decades, social scientists have studied what is referred to as the “height premium” — the increased earnings that, on average, taller people receive.A 2001 study by Nicola Persico, Andrew Postlewaite and Dan Silverman of the University of Pennsylvania, found that it’s the height a person had as a teenager that matters when it comes to bringing home the bacon as an adult. “Two adults of the same age and height who were different heights at age 16 are treated differently on the labour market,” Persico, Postlewaite and Silverman concluded. “The person who was taller as a teen earns more.”
A 2001 study by Nicola Persico, Andrew Postlewaite and Dan Silverman of the University of Pennsylvania, found that it’s the height a person had as a teenager that matters when it comes to bringing home the bacon as an adult. “Two adults of the same age and height who were different heights at age 16 are treated differently on the labour market,” Persico, Postlewaite and Silverman concluded. “The person who was taller as a teen earns more.”
Intelligence
The height of a person also determines their intelligence. Exposing this fact, scientists found that IQ levels of a person declined with a reduction in height. The discovery of genes that influence height and IQ mainly led to this
The discovery of genes that influence height and IQ mainly led to this groundbreaking revelation. During a five-year study, researchers from three universities in UK- Edinburgh University, Aberdeen University and University College London- looked at DNA markers of 6,800 people, part of the Scottish Family Health Study. Participants, who were unrelated, underwent tests that measured their ability to recall, language skills and reaction time.
Results proved that shorter people had lower IQ compared to the taller participants.
Weight gain
You can also gain 20lbs in weight and nobody notices. You can reach things without needing a step ladder. There is a remote possibility you might become a famous model or basketball player and earn millions. No hug in this world is quite like a tall hug!
Have you had similar experiences? Would it be great to share those with other tall people?
If so, why not join our excellent Facebook group called “What’s the weather like up there” (We hope you like the name as much as us!), it’s great to share tall stories like this one, or tall humour, jokes, basically anything tall-related. You can join by clicking HERE.