Do you think "tall" is subjective?

[Anonymous]

I personally do not think it is.
The definition of tall means to be above average and every country has statistics about what is the average height for a man or woman.

[0112358]

It’s definitely above average, the question is how much? And also what is the “area” under consideration?

on the first question : if the average man is 5’9” in a country does that make a 5’10” man tall? Or do you have to be a standard deviation above average? Or more? Another way Of putting it is - are half of men tall and half short? Or are more men “normal” and only 20% are tall?

on the second question - if the average man on the planet is 5’7” (I don’t know if that’s true) but the average man in the Netherlands is 6’, is a 5’11” man in the Netherlands tall or not? It depends on context. In some ways it’s true to say “men in the Netherlands are tall” and that includes him. But inside the Netherlands probably nobody considers him tall. That particular issue occurs within countries as well. The average middle class or higher white man from the American Midwest is significantly higher than the average American male overall.

[God_of_Thunder]

I think it's a little of both.

A person can be above average height, and therefore technically considered tall, but if they are still shorter than I am, I have a hard time seeing them as such.

I know they fit the actual definition of "tall", but by way of comparison, I see them as short, so there's a dichotomy there. If I'm looking down at them, they just don't seem tall to me.

[nettle]

I'm the size of the average argentinian man 😆 I kinda agree with you because just cause he's taller than youuu doesn't mean he's tall, like a short girl with an average guy. I dont know cause I'm not a short girl, but I feel like i hear that a lot of girls JUST want a guy who is taller than them and he doesn't have to be tall in comparison to the population? Maybe not tho 😝

[nodnol32]

Statistically its quite clear whats tall and whats not. External factors come in to play for someone's definition of tall being different. For eg, if a woman is from a tall family and she's taller than the average male, she might find a woman of average height to be short.

[Mpodere]

Yes but depends on the country.
for example I'am 180cm and I'am tall in my country, but I'am normal in Netherland and north Europe

[AaronKrieger]

Yeah, it can be, but tall means by the definition I looked at a bit ago is that you're four inches or more than the average height for your gender.

[Jersey2]

Not much difference in opinions. Some might say 5’10” is tall and others 6 inches more at 6’4”. Most would be within an inch or two of 6th for saying someone is tall. That’s not much difference.

[najekim]

Subjective and can depend on where you're from/at too. After we moved to New England from the lower Mid-West, I notice that I was 3-4 inches taller than most of the other men in the region and I'm only 6'-0" bare footed.

[Cryptic-Game]

I agree with you. The same with fat. It is not an opinion. If a person is over the average weight they should be, they are fat. Same will tall or short.

[F1nski]

It's adjective. it is always comparable. Its not a name.

[postaldudePL123]

Above 5'9 is tall. It is more objective.

Well if a person is >=6'0 he/she is definitely tall.

[Pliskin55]

Since you can measure height and compare that to other people’s height to find out who is tall, that would mean it’s objective

[OddBeMe]

Every adjective is subjective.