All the way from childhood people thought I was supposed to just grow taller, as I grow older say 16-17 people found it odd I was still this height. I've gone through bouts of depression throughout the years, I'm 22 at the moment and although I've gotten through some serious times dealing with obesity due to how insecure I felt and lost the weight. I still can't help but feel held back through no fault of my own. These past few months I've felt extremely confident, I used to weigh 190lbs (82kg). At several points in my life I considered suicide. I am now 130lbs, I cycle 2x a week and go gym 2x a week, progressing fairly slightly slower than expected but fairly well. Even though I've gone through all this, built this confidence, it gets shattered as soon as I realize that instead of applauding you, people just bring you down. Family, friends and people who you try to ask out... This isn't a story to gain pity from anyone here, I'm sure you all have experienced similar descrimination throughout your life. I ask you though, why does it feel that everything you try to accomplish just goes unnoticed by everyone? 

Most important of all is the general perception from women I get all the time, the thing that grinds my gears the most is when I'm told "you're too short". Why, why is this a deal breaker for women? I find this to be such a disgusting statement to make, why is that they are allowed to put me down due to something I cannot control but when I mention their weight, they turn into aggressive hateful beasts? 

I felt the need to put this out there as to get it off my chest. I guess there's nothing I can do about my height, just feels bad being dealt such a harsh card in life.

I read in a guide by the Modest Man that wearing monochromatic clothing gives the illusion of being taller and on other sites that two or two toned is the way to go. What is your honest opinion?

Gotta love Anime. They tend to portray short guys as the "cool underdog" unlike a lot of media in the west which portrays shorter guys as insecure, pathetic and unattractive. Mega points for this cool chart of their characters. 

BBC Podcast

Richard also talks to Thomas Keeper, an estate agent, who recently spent £35,000 on a surgical procedure to extend his legs pushing his height from 5ft 6in to 5ft 10in.

BBC Radio - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01c6j1f

New York Times

Steven Kurutz April 3, 2017

Short men need fashion love, too. The big and tall have their own specialty clothing stores, as do the plus-size, while guys the size of Daniel Radcliffe (5-foot-5), Tom Cruise (5-7) or Bruno Mars (also 5-7) may find themselves pawing through the offerings in the boys’ department.

But in March, the men’s wear brand Peter Manning, which designs for guys 5-8 and under, expanded its online business and opened a store in Manhattan. Located on the third floor of a building in the Flatiron district, the shop has a discreet presence at street level, as if to acknowledge the mild embarrassment its customers may experience on their way in and out.

Rest of the article is here

"I am a Navy Seal, have completed 10 successful missions, am decorated and have the respect of my entire unit."

But you're short!

"I play 28 instruments, have toured on 6 continents, have products bearing my name and have 2 platinum records"

But you're short!

"I have a black belt, have won 40 tournaments, am undefeated and have fought guys both big and small"

But you're short!

"I have a Masters Degree and two PhD in STEM related disciplines"

But you're short!

This has the be the most annoying most widely accepted view that no matter how much a man has accomplished, it means diddly squat if he is short. Being short is promoted like it is some irredeemable quality. I have been around associated in a social situations and heard this and even with women I've dated. I could say almost all with the exception of one has bought this up. Can you imagine if a woman said:

"I just finished my bachelors in molecular biology" 

and then I responded, "but you have small breasts"

Any woman would be livid over such a statement.

After hearing this often if enough, it rots you from the core. I have friends who never suggest me as a potential date for their female associates because I am the "short one". I'm at the point where even if I met someone nice, I'd have this at the back of my head. 

This is a post from reddit. I'll link it below the copied/pasted text from the post:

Random girl found me on FB...

I'm a musician and she claimed to be "super into music" so I took her to see Chevelle at the Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park NY.

Her first words to me after meeting in person were "Wow...I didn't think you were that short!"

(I'm 5'6", she's looked to be 5'3"-5'4")

So we hang out at the bar for the opening acts and it's clear to me that she's not interested by the way she's throwing back shots and blabbering on about how hot the bouncer was...

"Seriously...Did you see his muscles?!"

Me: Yea...He's a big guy...

"He's gotta be at least 6'4"!"

Me: Most likely...

"I would let him do whatever he wants to me!"

Me: Seems like the kinda guy who would end up raping someone.

"You can't rape the willing"

Chevelle goes on and she's into it, but tells me she's going to the bathroom and disappears...

Concert's over and she's nowhere to be found...

I'm texting her and she finally gets back to me..

"Hey...I met this other guy outside and he offered to let me stay at his house...You probably think I'm a real bitch but I can't settle for someone I know I can do better than...I'm sure you'll find someone eventually ;)"

That was 2014 and I haven't been on a date since

On a positive note, Chevelle put on an amazing show!

You literally can't make stuff like this up. The reddit post is here: here

Before you know it, new technology will be able to make us taller even well after puberty. Research is underway to regenerate growth plate tissue and is showing promising results: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2014/02/regrowing-growth-plates-a-fix-for-kids-injuries/

Once upon a time, if you ended up short after puberty, you were short forever. Pretty soon it won't have to be that way.