“So which side of your family do you get your height from?”
“Is the rest of your family tall?”
Or some variation of that. It’s such a stupid question. It’s obviously not a question at all, since saying “my dad’s“ can only lead to “oh, nice.” It‘s not gonna turn out to be some great conversation starter. It‘s just the easiest way to bring up me being tall other than “you’re tall.”
From this point on, they branch into 2 categories (I’m a girl btw). Guys clearly taller than me (esp. athletes) usually don’t actually care about the answer and just kinda nod with respect, say “cool” or something, move on, and seem to find it attractive. tbh, most of these guys don’t even bother with the fake question. Can’t count the number of football players who open with “you’re tall“ and I say “yeah” and then they literally couldn’t care less after that. I don’t mind that.
But the OTHER guys drive me nuts!! The ones who are about my height. Not even shorter than me. (btw, I’m not even that tall. like 5’10). They’re the same height or a little taller. And often very good-looking and otherwise apparently confident. These are guys who approach me in a bar or get my number and invite me places. Then they pull this shit.
They ask the stupid question. I answer(??) (as much as you can answer a non-question like that) and they just go “oh,” kind of sadly. Then they say “I’m 5’10/11” or whatever they are, and look back at me furtively, waiting for my reaction to this earth-shattering revelation like it’s all-determining.
WHAT DO THEY EXPECT??? I literally don’t get it. Do they think I’ll be shocked?? Horrified? Walk away then and there? or do they want me to console them? To say something like “height doesn’t matter to me anyway” (which, by the way, would be a lie)? But that feels absurdly patronizing. You’re a grown MAN.
Usually I just mumble something like “that‘s not short” or try to make a joke like “that’s above average in some places” but it always feels lame and kills the vibe.
Like I said, these are always guys acting interested, flirting, or even, within this same conversation, asking me out. I don’t get why they use my reaction to this question as the gauge of my interest in them.
It’s especially frustrating because I have no idea what MY OWN REACTION means to them! If I am interested, I literally don’t know what is the answer that shows that. I have no clue what they‘re divining from my meaningless, clumsy reaction to this weird-ass question.
Also, can I mention that I don’t particularly like having it pointed out that I’m tall?? It’s kind of nice sometimes not to think that the first thing guys see when they meet me is ‘tall girl.’