She's Three Feet Tall!

[MoonCat]

Maybe I'm over-sensitive on behalf of my co-worker, but...
A little while ago I had a call from a lady asking to speak with "that little woman, she's 'bout three feet tall!"

It just came across as very rude. I asked her if I could help her and she repeated she wanted to speak to "that little woman, I think she's only three feet tall, you know which one?"

Really, lady? THREE FEET TALL? You ever looked at how high (or how short) that actually is?

The person she was referring to works at the customer service counter in the lobby. She's just a tad under 5 feet tall, which I don't think is unusually short, I'm only a couple inches taller myself. Just seems like a really rude way to ask for somebody, could have said "very petite" or hey, here's an idea, ask "who's the lady who works at the counter taking ads?"

[Argabarga]

I'm only tree' an' a half years old! [/Looney Tunes]

Sorry, that's what was going through my head when I read that

[Register9]

Isn't three feet tall some sort of record? Usually 4'5 is considered really, really short.

[Sheldonrs]

Isn't three feet tall some sort of record? ....

Maybe for you.

[Mr Hero]

At first glane, Sheldons's post looks innocent enough, but knowing him,I think we know what he meant.

[Plaidman]

Isn't three feet tall some sort of record? Usually 4'5 is considered really, really short.

No..... Pingping was 2 foot five. He passed away recently.

That being said, I don't think 4'5 is really really really short at all.

[42_42_42]

Anyone under 4'10" is classified as a dwarf, whether or not they actually have a form of dwarfism.

[hinakiba777]

Anyone under 4'10" is classified as a dwarf, whether or not they actually have a form of dwarfism.

This is true. I have a friend who is 4'9" and i remind her of this all the time. Then she kicks me and uses me as a bench.

But yeah, that's really rude. I mean could you imagine if someone did that for an overweight person using an estimated weight. Honestly Petitte would have been good enough. Or as you said, "The woman who takes ads." Describe people by their JOB not how you think they look >.<

[Grumpy]

I don't think it's rude to describe people by how they look, it's the most efficient was of doing so, and naturally you're going to describe somebody by whatever stands out the most about them. If someone describes me as "the tall guy with skinny legs and a pointy nose" I wouldn't consider that rude, just accurate.

I once had an argument with my then-girlfriend along these lines. I had to go to her place of work to drop off some paperwork for her, and I didn't know any of her co-workers, since I'd only been to her office once or twice, so names meant nothing to me. She told me to give the file to Monica. I said "Is she the heavyset girl with the weird hair?"
My GF got sort of angry and said "Yes. She's also the girl who fosters abused dogs, is an awesome friend and the hardest worker in the company! Maybe you could be a little less judgmental with your descriptions!"
I said "Well, those are all wonderful qualities, and she sounds like a great girl, but you can't tell any of those things by looking at her. You can, however, tell that she is heavyset and has weird hair, and that sets her apart from everyone else I've seen in your office, making her easy to find and give a file folder to!"

[hinakiba777]

@Grumpy- I don't think the issue is describing the girl as short. I mean it's one thing to say "The chubby guy who works in the mailroom" compared to "The 400lbs guy who works in the mail room." Truthful descriptions are one thing, exaggerations to the point of being rude are another.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

We actually had the opposite problem sometimes at Kinko's...people meaning "the big girl" or "the black girl" who didn't want to come out and say that, even though it would have instantly narrowed the field.

Three feet is a bit much, though, I think they could have said it in a less disparaging way.

[Zellie Crescent]

A little while ago I had a call from a lady asking to speak with "that little woman, she's 'bout three feet tall!"

I know some of you shruged it off as whatever, but I would be upset. Then again I'm a litte sensitive about my hieght.

[MoonCat]

You do see the point, Hinakiba777. Thank you!
Grumpy - I see what you're saying, but you could also have just asked for Monica by name when you got to the office. Or, you could have asked your GF, "so what does Monica look like?" and leave the description up to her, that way she couldn't really complain about your going by Monica's looks.

[chainedbarista]

yah, i wouldn't be happy about a height reference in that area, either. rude or non thinking? you be the judge...

[MrsEclipse]

Also, I think there's a world of difference between "short" and "'bout three feet tall."