Why are people so bothered by a protagonist for being short?

[Novicewriter34]

Is there something so unappealing about a protagonist being super short, due to torturous experiments done to them by the main villain, who happens to be much taller than the protagonist? Why is this such a terrible idea?

 

[Banespawn]

I've never heard of anyone being bothered by a short protagonist. Of all the books I've read, and all the characters in those books, I couldn't tell you whether most were tall, short, average or whatever. Height is usually only mentioned when the character is extra tall or extra short. It's just not important in most cases.

As a short person myself, I probably have a tendency to make my protagonists a bit shorter than other characters, but I honestly don't even mention it for most of them. And if I do mention it, it's typically as a comparison to someone else rather than providing a specific height.

If you're talking about extremely short people, they probably aren't well represented in most genres. Tyrion in Game of Thrones is one of the most well-known. But I wouldn't view that lack of representation as people being bothered by it. If you want to write about a very short protagonist, go for it.

 

[Homer Potvin]

Is there something so unappealing about a protagonist being super short, due to torturous experiments done to them by the main villain, who happens to be much taller than the protagonist? Why is this such a terrible idea?

Like, how do you mean? I've never noticed a character's height unless I've been forced to pay attention, like with Tyrian Lannister or the dwarf in that Shirley Jackson novel I can never remember the name of.

 

[big soft moose]

Never did bilbo and Frodo any harm

 

[Naomasa298]

Because the short, angry man is a stereotype, and potentially a lazy one if that's what you're writing, somewhat like a villain being fat. Some people are going to be offended by it.

due to torturous experiments

Take this, for example - it suggests PTSD from the physical trauma would be at the forefront of his mind, rather than his height.

I mean, there's nothing to stop you from doing it if you feel you can portray it accurately.

 

[Luxuria]

....you seem really caught on this height thing. You mentioned it in your last post, too. I don't think I have ever heard a reader or writer complain about a character being too short.

 

[Novicewriter34]

If you're talking about extremely short people, they probably aren't well represented in most genres. Tyrion in Game of Thrones is one of the most well-known. But I wouldn't view that lack of representation as people being bothered by it

That’s the whole twist in my story, he’s stunted from growing at a young age, but as time goes on, he then continues to rapidly shrink to going beyond extremely short.

Like, how do you mean? I've never noticed a character's height unless I've been forced to pay attention

It’s a major plot in my story, that at a young age, he continues to rapidly decrease in height, before he’s cybered up. But before that he continues to shrink due to a failed experiment done on him.

Because the short, angry man is a stereotype, and potentially a lazy one if that's what you're writing, somewhat like a villain being fat. Some people are going to be offended by it.

But he’s not a villain and he’s definitely not the angry short man syndrome stereotype by no means. And he ends up taller through augmentation, which saves his life.

I don't think I have ever heard a reader or writer complain about a character being too short

It’s because it’s a major plot point and I want to make sure others will be ok with it. He stops growing at a young age, and continues to shrink each year which is noticeable to others around him and how he’s treated.

 

[Homer Potvin]

Sounds fine to me then, and it doesn't sound like it would be an issue for anyone else either. The execution might not work, but that goes for anything. Have you written any of it yet? I wouldn't wait for approval. Just get it going if you haven't already. The proof is always in the pudding. Or the bolognese.

 

[Kiraann]

It didn’t seem to be an issue in the Miles Vorkosigan books. Similar to your protagonist, he suffered as a youth and is shorter than average height with brittle bones and other issues.

 

[GlitterRain]

Why is this such a terrible idea?

I don’t think it’s a terrible idea. I think the worst you can do (which you obviously want to avoid doing this) is write this in a way that harms or is insensitive to shorter people and the struggles they may face in their lives, like when people write what they don’t know and use stereotypes in a harmful or insensitive way towards POC, women, immigrants, disabled people, etc. As long as you are not being insensitive and harming shorter people by perpetuating stereotypes, you are probably fine.

It’s a major plot in my story,

Again, should be fine. If it was not a major point in your story, I would ask why it is necessary, but as long as you’ve got a solid reasoning for it, I think you’re good.