Hey, My Head Is NOT A Portable Arm Rest!

<p>BONK! Huh? What happened? You rub the back of your head, trying to massage the sudden pain away, and you look around to find the cause of it. Then you realize there's a person in front of you apologizing profusely and asking if you're okay. Huh? Right about this time your senses come back to you and you notice that the person is holding what appears to be The Biggest Book Ever, and that it would certainly explain the throbbing lump in the back of your skull. "I was walking, and... I didn't even see you! I'm so sorry!" the person is saying. That's right, buddy, this charmer just slammed you upside the head with that monstrous book and didn't even see you until after you had already gotten a mild concussion. You continue to rub your aching head and wonder how in the world this could've happened to you twice in the same week... </p> <p>This little story, fictional though it may be, gives a small glimpse into my world the land of being a short person among a sea of tall people, also known as the Dwarves versus Giants complex (kidding... just kidding). At 4'11", it seems like everyone is taller than me, including several of the older elementary school kids. And while the story in the beginning never happened to me, a similar scenario did take place where someone's Biology book fell out of her locker and onto my head. </p> <p>Don't get me wrong, I love being short. It's part of who I am and I've never had to duck through a doorway, which believe me is a major plus. But there are disadvantages, like often not being able to reach things without help (from a nearby human or an inanimate object). And people always think I'm much younger than I really am because I'm so much shorter than they are. I actually had this one kid tell me that I looked like I was twelve years old and I had just turned eighteen! Go figure... </p> <p>The point to all of this (and trust me, there is one I think) is that short people are just like everyone else, just... err... shorter. Don't think that just because you're bigger that you have the right to tease or use us. We don't like that, the same way you don't like someone doing that to you. We can't control our height any more than you can control yours. </p> <p>So the next time you see someone struggling to get something obviously out of his or her reach, please, PLEASE don't laugh or make jokes. Hey, if you're feeling particularly generous you might want to go over and ask if they would like any help. And for god sakes, our heads are NOT portable arm rests! The bottom line here is that we want to be respected, appreciated, and treated like human beings. Is that really too much to ask? </p>