Short people must have to get used to jokes made at their expense but usually these are good-natured if still thoughless and offensive and these would generally be made by people who they were at least aquainted with.

I accompanied an exceptionally tall workmate of mine on the London Underground. He used to say good naturedly when asked - which was often - that he was six foot eleven and a half. His height was often referred to in the workplace but I must admit that was astonished when a complete stranger came up to him on the platform and asked him what the weather was like up there and a bit further on in our journey another group of young lads passing on the escalator thought it ammusing to shout-out comments about this height.

When I mentioned this to my friend - he was surprised that I should be surprised at this sort of thing. For it was something that he just took for granted and hardly noticed as it was just the way things were for him. I thought his attitude and conduct was always exemplary - not something I could say of those who took advantage of this.