Unintentional Conversation Starters -- ugh!

[buffcoat]

I had cateract surgery when I was two weeks old, so I have crazy eyes. They're two different colours, one of my pupils doesn't dilate so it's perma-tiny, and one of them kind of wanders off on its own, cookie-monster-like, when I'm tired. Some people know me for years before they notice, but a lot of people on the street/on the subway notice it right off the bat.

I don't mind getting "hey, you have eyes like David Bowie/Thom Yorke/that girl from the movie Blue Crush/a dog i had once" (that one happens ALL THE TIME and there is no way to respond to it except for the nod-and-smile), but every so often, a complete stranger will come up to me and go "HAS ANYONE EVER TOLD YOU THAT YOUR EYES ARE REALLY WEIRD?"

I would've expected it to be, "you spell lots of words with an unusual 'u.'"

[emma]

WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ALREADYU

[Emily]

People often comment on my height (I'm 5'2") but I guess I seem smaller because I never wear heels and I sort of look young.

I've been asked all sorts of questions, some teasing, some naive, like "do you shop in GAP kids?" and "do you have a Napoleon complex?" I even had a friend (who's under 6 ft himself) sort of crouch down beside me, in public at a Deerhoof show, so he could be at the same height as me "to make me feel more comfortable".  He then walked away from me, still holding this crouched position, and searched for a spot that would give me a better view of the stage. I was a little mortified. I think he was being considerate, but it was just too much of a production and totally unnecessary, because if I wanted a better spot, I'd just go & find one.

A coworker once told me I should never become a high school teacher b/c the students wouldn't respect me "you're the same size at them! they'd never take you seriously". I think about this whenever I pass a group of school kids on the street - I could easily blend in with them.

Several times since turning 21 my ID has been refused or ridiculed at bars & stores when I tried to buy beer (most recently last month)(I'm now 28), so sometimes when I go to buy beer I get a little nervous that it's going to be an issue, which then makes me seem suspiciously under age.

I don't even really mind. I like my self and I don't walk around thinking about how small I am. I might not ever t
even think about it if other people didn't bring it up.

[<<<<<]

Facial piercings back in the mid-nineties. 

Ugh.

"Does that hurt?"

"Yes, I'm in excruciating pain even now as we speak."

[Sarah]

I'm shocked that people give you a hard time about your height, Emily.  Surely, there are plenty of 5' 2" women about?  Hell, one of my sisters is 5' 1 1/2" and a friend of mine and several other people in this tiny town are about the same.  I mean, emma's crazy eyes and Andy' cock sock I get, but a 5' 2" woman?  Come on.

[Emily]

It's true! I've even thought about deliberately wearing heels all the time to make it a non-issue, but I just haven't gotten around to that yet.

[pinky]

Same sort of thing as Samir, I am an aussie living in London, I get.

"Wow, you're an Aussie, what are you doing here?"
or
"Your from Australia, why did you leave?"
or
"Why don't all you criminals f&%k off back to Australia"

[A.M. Thomas]

Holy moly.  If anything, this thread just proves how entirely insensitive people can be.

I'm a weird, small-statured guy, but thank god I'm too unapproachable most of the time for anyone to tease me about it.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

(although, you have a pretty intimidating voice, Thomas.)

i have the same problem as Emily (i'm 5' even), but not near the problems.  i seem to have lots of tall friends, but they all appreciate my small stature.  i refuse to wear shoes to make me taller and ive never had a problem with my I.D.  however, i do get from strangers, "Oh my god, you're really short!" a lot.  not to mention, around halloween and christmas, there are plenty of jokes about being an oompa loompa or an elf.  also, lots of trash talk when we go out and we're forced to sit on bar stools or i have to use the handicap stall in the bathroom- my feet dont touch the ground.

but i will say it makes it easy for me to get to the front at shows when i need to, sleep on love seats when the couch is taken, and im just generally more adorable thanks to my small size.

[<<<<<]

Growing up in the midwest, I was often derided/teased for being thin ~ usually in a manner that equated being thin and male with being homosexual.

Moving to the west coast solved that though.

[yesno]

Growing up in the midwest, I was often derided/teased for being thin ~ usually in a manner that equated being thin and male with being homosexual.

Moving to the west coast solved that though.

I didn't get the gay thing, but I was super skinny growing up and hit puberty late besides.

The people who laughed at me then are now fat bald slobs (bad kind of slob).  Good for them.  I'm glad being able to shave at age 14 worked out for you, baldy.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

im assuming angstrom means skinny, like the opposite of muscles?  or it could mean the opposite of fatso.  either way, being called gay because of it=weak.

[Amplituden]

My friend and his brother are both about six foot seven.
When they are in bars people always have to come up to them and tell them that they are really tall.
They usually respond by telling the person that they are really ugly.
Its a great shut down.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

They usually respond by telling the person that they are really ugly.

if it were me, that would be the pot calling the kettle black.  i cant gamble with this one. 

[Andy]

I hope I get the opportunity to meet Emma some time.  If I do, the very first words out of my mouth would be "Daaamn, girl.  your eyes is fucked up."