Short people got no reason to live? (Joking)

[David777]

Again, it wasn't that Randy was serious as he created it as a joking parody but rather that much of his USA audience embraced it as the way they really felt since it accurately reflected much American culture, taking on a life of its own.

 

[feywon]

When that song came out and got much radio play, it wasn't interpreted as a joke but rather an opinion many shared condescendingly.

What younger people in this era won't understand is until the mid 1980s when immigration exploded and it became increasingly politically incorrect to be critical of immigrants, many of which were shorter than average white Caucasians, there was a huge cultural bias against short men that was present at all ages growing up and rampant in workplaces where most men chosen for management roles were also the tallest. That was most true for sales positions. In the military at basic training, the shortest men were instantly assigned as permanent "road guards with flashlights" for marching around while tallest were made group leads. At social events, the last thing girls with any better social status would do is be seen dancing with any shorter boys to the extent short girls were also embarrassed to dance with shorter men. At retail clothing stores the shortest or smallest sizes were invariably the plainest with fewest lengths. Much more books have been written over. Amazingly how quickly that all changed.

Actually studies show that the top jobs at big companies still most often go to tall men, not the smartest, most productive or creative ones. Malcolm Gladwell cites them in his book 'Blink' when talking about how biases can negatively effect unconscious data processing.

 

[Alligatorob]

Again, it wasn't that Randy was serious as he created it as a joking parody but rather that much of his USA audience embraced it as the way they really felt since it accurately reflected much American culture, taking on a life of its own.

Probably so; Randy's humor is subtle, he was actually making fun of the people who believed that way. Something lost on many.

Actually studies show that the top jobs at big companies still most often go to tall men, not the smartest, most productive or creative ones.

Certainly some truth to that, however there are exceptions. Just like for all discriminated against minorities promotion and advancement is possible for short people, just harder than for tall.

As you say it is unfortunate and leads to less effective staffing, true whenever the most talented are not promoted.

 

[feywon]

Probably so; Randy's humor is subtle, he was actually making fun of the people who believed that way. Something lost on many.

Certainly some truth to that, however there are exceptions. Just like for all discriminated against minorities promotion and advancement is possible for short people, just harder than for tall.

As you say it is unfortunate and leads to less effective staffing, true whenever the most talented are not promoted.

There's always exceptions to such biases but you are right that they generally have to.work harder.

Gladwell also talks about the bias against women playing certain instruments in orchestras. But when orchestras have first auditions be 'blind' ones where hiring committees and conductors can judge only on sound they are often surprised at how many women play things like trombones with the same energy, control and expertise as male candidates. Busting the myths of less lungpower and lip control.

 

[Alligatorob]

There alway exceptions to such biases but you are right that they generally have to.work harder.

Growing up in the south (US) black people were very much discriminated against, openly and legally.

My father was an engineer, first working for RCA and then Sperry. He told me that he always looked for the rare black secretary, technician, or other engineer to work with. He said that for them to have the job was a sign they were really good at what they did, much better than most.
I think there was a lot of truth to that!