Why are so many people mistaken as to their height?

The_Minister

I'm 6'4''.

I have measured, and I am 6'4''.

My doctor even measured me. I'm right on the line.

Yet, when I'm out, and people (tbh, guys mostly) ask how tall I am and I respond "6'4''", I get told continually that I am not 6'4'', I am in fact 6'6'' because they are 6'1'' and they barely tickle my nose, and therefore I must be taller.

This happens continually.

If you are only up to my chin, you are not 6' tall. Maybe you wish you were, but my head is not only 4 inches big.

Were that the case I would be dead.

Anyone else noticed that loads of guys think they are 6'1'' when they are actually much shorter?

Magill

This is true.

FearDark

My cock is 6'4"... hur hur beavis.

Sod'o swords

Well i'm 6' 3" and haven't grown in about two years.

But apparently I've grown, in height, according to people I've seen only a month or so ago. When I tell them i haven't, they seem convinced i'm wrong.

And same as yourself "Only 6' 3"?? thought you'd be much more, cause i'm 5' 11" and you're much taller". At first i thought it was just Aunts and Uncles trying to make conversation, and do the whole 'you were only this size when i saw you last' cliche, but nearly everyone does it..

And at parties, people just come up and say 'Wow you're tall!'. I've had a Range of responses, usually just moaning about how being tall means i'll have no knees or back by 27. Though if it happens too often, I just tell people maybe i'm normal and they're just short arses, goes down well.

Tail Wagger

The_Minister wrote: »

I'm 6'4''.

I have measured, and I am 6'4''.

My doctor even measured me. I'm right on the line.

Yet, when I'm out, and people (tbh, guys mostly) ask how tall I am and I respond "6'4''", I get told continually that I am not 6'4'', I am in fact 6'6'' because they are 6'1'' and they barely tickle my nose, and therefore I must be taller.

This happens continually.

If you are only up to my chin, you are not 6' tall. Maybe you wish you were, but my head is not only 4 inches big.

Were that the case I would be dead.

Anyone else noticed that loads of guys think they are 6'1'' when they are actually much shorter?

Yea I'm 5.7 and I tell everyone I'm 6.2..!

Fromvert

Agree OP, I'd say it's an ego thing.

Ardennes1944

Tail Wagger wrote: »

Yea I'm 5.7 and I tell everyone I'm 6.2..!

is that you richard hammond?

Jeebus

HURR DURR, I am taller than you !

epgc3fyqirnbsx

People keep telling me that I've grown in the past year which I haven't. I've just started walking taller cos I realised that I'm pretty awesome.
True story

Oh Sheesh Yall Twas A Dream

I think its because people are measured once and then just assume over time that they must of grown a few inches and add it to the height they were measured at last

Captain Chaos

If you measure your height in the morning and again before you go to sleep you won't get the same measurement unless you have been lying down all day.

Your spine compresses slightly through out the day due to atmospheric pressure and gravity.

I think you lose about half an inch throughout a day.

Could be a load of balls though.

starbelgrade

Captain Chaos wrote: »

If you measure your height in the morning and again before you go to sleep you won't get the same measurement unless you have been lying down all day.

Your spine compresses slightly through out the day due to atmospheric pressure and gravity.

I think you lose about half an inch throughout a day.

Could be a load of balls though.

And a few more of a night, if you've played your cards right.

The_Minister

Fromvert wrote: »

Agree OP, I'd say it's an ego thing.

But what gets me is that it is a genuine belief - to the point that they will refuse to believe that I am not 6'6''.

strobe

Why are so many people mistaken as to their height?

Sorry for going for the obvious answer here but.........Because most people have never measured themselves (why would they?) so they just guess?

Fromvert

The_Minister wrote: »

But what gets me is that it is a genuine belief - to the point that they will refuse to believe that I am not 6'6''.

Carry around a measuring tape with you.

I'm 5'11'' and 3/4 of an inch and I have talked to people that truly believe they are 5'10'' when they are clearly 4/5 inches shorter then me. The more I think about it the more my reason for this is, is that people are pretty dumb.

tolosenc

I'm bad at judging the height of others (a friend is 6'7", I thought he was more like 7'...). It's an ego thing, I guess. I'm 5'10" and ain't ashamed...

Leyton84

I've measured myself and I'm 8 FT 4'. but everybody tells me I'm about 5 FT 8'. It's weird

Seloth

I am 6'1 and measured as so too :P

But once a girl was convinced I was shorter as she still thought she was the same height she was in 6th class for petes sake when she was about 5'9 hah

Victor

Fromvert wrote: »

I'm 5'11'' and 3/4 of an inch and I have talked to people that truly believe they are 5'10'' when they are clearly 4/5 inches shorter then me. The more I think about it the more my reason for this is, is that people are pretty dumb.

Is that you Len? (Len insists he isn't 6 foot).

Its actually relatively easy to be confused about other people's heights, as a small physical difference can have a large psychological difference. Its a bit silly being confused about your own height, though.

Lurching

Never really happens me. Im 6' 6".

Bit strange when I do meet someone whos towering over me though!

Sea Sharp

...........

/ goes to double check their height.

5'10, it's all good

2ygb4cmqetsjhx

I'm 177cm, mass is 67kg and I frequetly drive at 150 km/h. Greetings from the year 2010!

davyjose

The_Minister wrote: »

But what gets me is that it is a genuine belief - to the point that they will refuse to believe that I am not 6'6''.

:rolleyes: shortarse

Jesus Wept

The_Minister wrote: »

I'm 6'4''.

I have measured, and I am 6'4''.

My doctor even measured me. I'm right on the line.

Yet, when I'm out, and people (tbh, guys mostly) ask how tall I am and I respond "6'4''", I get told continually that I am not 6'4'', I am in fact 6'6'' because they are 6'1'' and they barely tickle my nose, and therefore I must be taller.

This happens continually.

If you are only up to my chin, you are not 6' tall. Maybe you wish you were, but my head is not only 4 inches big.

Were that the case I would be dead.

Anyone else noticed that loads of guys think they are 6'1'' when they are actually much shorter?

Here is the answer:

It is because many people reference how tall they are based on how tall someone else has told them that they are, especially if it's someone they are naturally inclined to believe or that told them when they were at a young age.

Most people don't actually measure their height, and want to add a bit to it. So when some person tells them that they are 'x' height, they quite happily agree with them and think 'well I'm 4 inches taller than him, I'm 'y' height'.

Case in point: I always believed my dad to be 5'8, because I'm sure I asked him once (or more) at a young age and it's not something I'd forget.
I am taller than him but I realised a few years ago that he is probably added at least an inch to that number, and I had probably over estimated my height based on it. (because he would do that 'well I'm 'x' height, you must be about 'y' height'.

etc, etc.


tl;dr: people lie about their height, other people are happy to take that at face value as it allows them to lie/add to their own height.

Mike 1972

What are these feet and inches you all speak of ?

javaboy

Weapons 10

Wibbs

Fromvert wrote: »

Carry around a measuring tape with you.

I'm 5'11'' and 3/4 of an inch and I have talked to people that truly believe they are 5'10'' when they are clearly 4/5 inches shorter then me.

I've a mate who insists he's 6 feet tall. I'm just 5 11 and he's clearly a couple of inches shorter than me. The ego thing I suppose. The other thing Ive noticed is how some(mostly women for some reason?) will describe me as tall when at 5 11 I'm defo not. Just above average really.

Milo Thundering Vermin wrote: »

I'm 177cm, mass is 67kg and I frequetly drive at 150 km/h. Greetings from the year 2010!

*shrugs* must be french. Sorry Sir. No. Speako. Dago. Ive an excuse being old though. I am surprised how "the Kidz"(tm) still use imperial.

piby

I subscribe to Lemarckian evolution so by stretching everyday I am getting taller! Therefore it's impossible for me to actually tell my own accurately.

My grandmother for years kept telling me and everyone else I was about 5'4", because she was 5'2". Now she IS about 5'2" but she insisted I was nearly the same height, even when I was standing right beside her and towering over her :rolleyes: I'm 5'7". Someone finally talked sense into her.

As for taller, I thought it was common knowledge lads always lie about their height to seem taller

tman

Stop wearing platform shoes when you go out and it'll stop happening.

oldyouth

Why is it of any importance to know your height at all?

SV

ah this is annoying.. I'm 5'10" and while I hate being a short arse at least I'm not gonna lie about it..that's just sad.

Cormac2791

I'm 6 ft 1. I've never experienced someone saying to me or anyone else 'I thought you were taller etc...'

Maybe that's just me though!

Ostrom

Happens all the time, I'm 6 3 (really)

Mr Benevolent

I'm 5'6". No-one asks me to get things down from high places, lift overly heavy stuff or be a human flagpole. Tall people get more slagging about their height too.

Voodu Child

oldyouth wrote: »

Why is it of any importance to know your height at all?

For ordering a coffin maybe. Do they come in different sizes?

Its the one time i'd underestimate my height... get a small one to save money, would love to be around watching them try to fit me in it :pac:

brummytom

SV wrote: »

ah this is annoying.. I'm 5'10" and while I hate being a short arse at least I'm not gonna lie about it..that's just sad.

Same, and yet I have people still claiming that I must be taller or shorter or whatever suits their lie

"Ah no, you can't be 5'10 because I'm 6'1 and you're only an inch shorter than me". Well you're 5'11 then aren't you, dickhead?

(I'm actually 5'10.5 at the last reading. That half an inch is very important :pac:)

Thoie

I think I'm shrinking I've been measured at 5'11 at various times, by various doctors. Then I went to a doctor a few years ago who insisted I was 5'6. Now, I still think he's mad, but since then I've been comparing myself to various other people, and am starting to think I'm only 5'9. I tried measuring myself (pencil mark on the door frame), but it's difficult to do. My passport thinks I'm 179cm. The door frame of a local petrol station says I'm over 6ft.

Jaxxy

A friend of mine insists he is 5'10 when in actuality he's more like 5'6. I myself am 5'2 and there is no way he's eight inches taller than me. It's definitely an ego thing; the smaller the guy the bigger the lie. :pac:

SV

brummytom wrote: »

Same, and yet I have people still claiming that I must be taller or shorter or whatever suits their lie

"Ah no, you can't be 5'10 because I'm 6'1 and you're only an inch shorter than me". Well you're 5'11 then aren't you, dickhead?

(I'm actually 5'10.5 at the last reading. That half an inch is very important :pac:)

what's worse is the ones who say they're the same height as you when they're clearly a good few inches shorter..

eugh..
I'm short but at least I'm taller than you díckhead!
hate it.

WoollyRedHat

Yeah, in reguards to passports and how tall you are, where is it? I was looking for it the other day, because I constantly forget what my height is by two inches. Anyway, couldn't find it anywhere in my passport but was told that it should be there. Likewise for eye colour, couldn't see it anywhere?

muckwarrior

Wibbs wrote: »

I've a mate who insists he's 6 feet tall. I'm just 5 11 and he's clearly a couple of inches shorter than me. The ego thing I suppose. The other thing Ive noticed is how some(mostly women for some reason?) will describe me as tall when at 5 11 I'm defo not. Just above average really.

Ditto. I'm about 5' 11"1/2 (1.81m) and I know people shorter than me who insist they're 6 foot. I think most people must measure themselves in their shoes which would add about 1 - 1 1/2 inches. I also get told I'm tall when I'm actually only a bit above average. I still find it hard to fit into seats on busses and planes, so I pity those who actually are really tall!

Thomas828

I haven't measured myself for some time. My passport says I'm 165cm tall but that was issued when I was 14. Last year somebody estimated my height and put it at 170cm! What the heck?! It should be at least 180cm!

gonedrinking

I'm 5'11 but always round it up to 6'0

BrianD3

Agreed, I'm 5' 9.5" and on several occasions I've had fellas tell me that I'm "6 foot". I've also had a lad who was about an inch shorter than me tell me that *he* was "6 foot"

However when women comment on my height (without knowng what it is) I'm usually referred to as "short". Which is a pretty stupid given that my height is very average.

Mate of mine is a verified 6'4". One of the same silly women that called me "shortarse" and is about 5'2" herself thinks he is "not tall".

Oh and I've long suspected that many rugby and GAA player heights are exaggerated. A friend (5' 5.75")got his photo taken with Isaac Boss (international scrum half) whose listed height is 5'10", from the photo he looks closer to 5'6" or 5'7"

The Sparrow

I'm 6'6 so this is not really a problem for me. I've my head in the clouds laughing at all of you shortarses arguing about a couple of inches.

You're all just barely more than midgets so deal with it!:D

The_Minister

The Sparrow wrote: »

I'm 6'6 so this is not really a problem for me. I've my head in the clouds laughing at all of you shortarses arguing about a couple of inches.

You're all just barely more than midgets so deal with it!:D

Take a trip to Holland sometime.

Lurching

Lets not get started on small man syndrome.

Apparently the average male height in Ireland is 5' 9 1/2". Id say thats complete boll0x. Of my mates, i can only think of one or two under that height.

SV

Lurching wrote: »

Lets not get started on small man syndrome.

Apparently the average male height in Ireland is 5' 9 1/2". Id say thats complete boll0x. Of my mates, i can only think of one or two under that height.

it has to be, I'm about the shortest of all my friends
average height for adult males in Ireland is about 6'0 I'd say

javaboy

Lurching wrote: »

Apparently the average male height in Ireland is 5' 9 1/2". Id say thats complete boll0x. Of my mates, i can only think of one or two under that height.

Sounds like a thorough survey there.

The average male height in Ireland is rising afaik. But there's still too many oldies knocking around from the days of poor diets and heavy smoking and what not dragging down the average.

Git101

I'm 5'7" and never bother to lie about my height.

When I played basketball I would have to explain to my very tall mates that height was a gravity thing.....
They had no mass in their head and therefore gravity would allow them to spring up like weeds.
My head, however, was packed full of brains and the extra weight kept me closer to the ground...