I’m 6’4″. I weigh over 300 pounds. I am a big dude.
I’m not just big, I’m wide. Even if I weren’t overweight I’d still take up a whole doorframe because of the width of my shoulders.
I also like to keep my hair real short because of how grey it is. Seeing a head full of grey hair in the mirror makes me sad, so I just cut it all off.
Plus I can do the growly voice.
Because of all this, I am constantly asked if I play football. At more than one party I have been mistaken for a security guard. I have been told that I have an intimidating presence.
But I’m not intimidating. I don’t have a violent nature. I love rainbows, and, and kittens! And small children! And…and pretty stuff! Architecture! And flowers! Lots of flowers!
Sometimes I actually like to embrace my largish nature, as evidenced by the picture above (which will go on my Aspyr badge).
But I’m really just a big fuzzy-wuzzy cuddly bear, dammit!
Could be worse… You could be a minority. I know that sounds harsh, but being black, I speak from experience. I’m pretty articulate and it seems to throw a lot of people off sometimes. I’ve had fellow African Americans ask me where I’m from because they’ve never heard someone speak so clearly.
I’ve also got a black friend from Detroit who has this… I guess the best way to put it is “evil” look about him. However, he’s a very nice guy and he speaks softly too! But you couldn’t tell that just by looking at him…
I think smiling would help. If you’re smiling all the time people will then mistake you for the slow dim-witted but ultimately nice big guy. 🙂
Anyhoo, just don’t let it bug you. And PTFSD!
Keith
Smiling is fine, but I’d caution against more. When I first got to college, I’d make eye contact with all the pretty ladies, smile and nod quickly, flicking my air at them. This made them smile back at me. Trouble is, by the end of the day, I had a very sore neck and a headache.
I’d wear bunny slippers or a cool hat. I think that’d work great, too. Possibly Fez or a Bowler at a jaunty angle. Something that says “whimsy.” (I mean that metaphorically, not that the Fez actually has the word “whimsy” embroidered on it, although that might work)
Yes, it’s time for the sandwich to be put down again. This time for good.
Esrix: You’re right, it probably would be even worse if I were black. And I too have a black friend who says he gets funny looks when he talks because people don’t expect him to speak so coherently.