"Small people...can turn out to be a pain"

   So, just about a week ago, an article came out suggesting that fact that tall people are at a higher risk of cancer.  Then, in response, real quickly, another article came out from the BBC making sure that tall people were cuddled and basically said  "Don't worry, though you may be at a higher risk of cancer, you still are superior to the shorties!"   Here is the article:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14233727

   Specifically, have a look at this quote from the director of a Tall Person's Club, a 6'3" woman named Louise Ross-Foden:

Louise Ross-Foden, a director of the Tall Persons Club, is 6ft 3in. She says there are lots of advantages to being tall.

 "I can always get a good view at concerts because I can see over everyone else's heads. If you're tall there's automatically a 'wow' factor, people notice you and if you're a confident person like me then you carry yourself better.

"Small people constantly want to prove themselves - and they can turn out to be a pain as a result."          

  Gee Ms Foden, do you think perhaps the idea that shorter people must try harder could have anything to do with the fact that you have a sense of entitlement about yourself and have such a negative view of  us "small people"?  Sadly, we have to try harder because we aren't treated as equals, especially by people like you!

***Update***

   Today (7/28/11), I received an email from the Tall Person's Club about this particular quote and it has since been removed due to complaints from others to the BBC as well:

Hi Chris,

Thank you for your email.

I appreciate that the article you mentioned caused you some distress - we're
not very happy about it either as it is not a true reflection of Louise's
comments. What she actually said was "Tall people get noticed more easily,
shorter people have to work harder to stand out", which is something I have
always found to be true and not necessarily in a beneficial way - I
personally rarely want the extra attention my height gives me.

Louise never said that "short people can be a pain" - she doesn't believe
this at all and neither does the Club. The purpose of our Club is to
provide practical, medical and social support for those of above average
height, not to in any way denigrate those who are not.

I hope this answers your query, if not please feel free to contact me
directly.

Helen Porter
Admin
Tall Persons Club GB & Ireland

To: Webmaster

From:
Chris Hamre

Message:
Dear Ms. Foden-

My name is Christopher Hamre and I am the president of NOSSA
(National Organization of Short Statured Adults) and I want to respond
to your comment in a recent article about small people being pains
because we have to prove ourselves.

Since women have not been treated equally either, would it then be
fair to label you in the same fashion? Women also have had to work
harder to prove themselves but I wouldn't then refer to them in a
negative way. I wouldn't penalize them and stigmatize them unfairly as
you have small people.

Short people are not treated equally, so why attach blame to us when
we have to work harder to succeed? I guess if we were treated equally
(as we should be), we would cease being "pains" then.

So, which is it, are we equals or not? If so, then we need similar
measures to counter the prejudice we face. If you don't think of us as
equals, then why be surprised when we have to try 10x harder to make
it in life?

Thanks for your time