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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 216.75.170.81 (talk) at 20:24, 18 September 2005 (→‎P.C. Terminology). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Limb lengthening

I've actually had my limbs lengthened. I got 11" in my legs and 4" in my arms. I just made some edits. Please don't link to the shortsupport page, it talks about limb lengthening for consitutional short stature and condemns it (rightly so). However, people may get confused and think he is condemning people like me with clinical short stature. What's with hte popularity in china comment? And what kind of neurosurgical operations would a midget need? I've never heard of that. Oh and for emphasis, it's LIMB lengthening not LEG lengthening. They lengthen your arms and legs. Midgets like me have short legs and arms. Although we have a big head, ass and trunk to compensate. -Nathan J. Yoder 06:29, 8 Nov 2004 (UTC) Thanks for your edits.

  1. I agree, limb lengthening is the more commonly used term, though some people just have their legs done.
  2. The link to shortsupport is a compendium of topics and aids for a variety of types of shortness with many good links. It was the best I found when I went looking. Why would you delete it just because it editorializes in a way you partially agree with? I hope you don't have a problem with my replacing it. If you want to add a critical comment to the citation, that might be a good compromise.
  1. In several forms of chrondrodystrophy, the spinal canal is too narrow, or the junction at the base of the skull is misshapen in a way that can cause problems. Neurosurgeons correct these problems as often or more often than orthopedists.
  2. If you feel inspired, we could use an article on limb lengthening.

Thanks for your contributions. Alteripse 15:48, 8 Nov 2004 (UTC)


  1. I haven't met a midget that had their legs, but not arms done. The arms are so much easier than the legs and you are much more functional during the procedure that cost would be the only reason not to get it done. However, it is true that some people of constitutional short stature and with different sized limbs would just get the legs done.
  2. Short support is a good website. My problem was that it was critical of limb lengthening for people of constitutional short stature. Constitutional short stature means people who are short, like 5' tall, but they don't have a clinical short stature like Achondroplasia which causes people to be around 4'. For people 5' the operation is ridiculous, but not for those with clinical short stature. I e-mailed the site owner a while back and he agreed with me that it's good for clinical short stature, but he wanted to keep up the warning to deter people of constitutional short stature form doing it. My concern is that people would confuse his critcism of lengthening for those of constitutional short stature with those of clinical short stature. Short support can be linked to the main page, but if you're going to link to the lengthening section I agree that a clarification should be added.
  3. The China stat seemed very odd to me. My surgeon is one of the (if not THE) most prominent limb lengthening surgeon in the world. People come from all around the world to see him.
  4. I may do a limb lengthening article. It would also cover corrective procedures involved with the same devices, it's not jsut for dwarves.

-Nathan J. Yoder 17:58, 8 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Verne paragraph

I added a short paragraph on Verne Troyer, basically because he's currently one of the most famous little people in the world. I don't mean any offense by having him the only little person mentioned by name in the article (not counting any of the authors who may be short statured). I just didn't want to expand this into a general section on / list of little actors (not right now, anyway). If this bothers you, please add more info about other famous little people. - dcljr 08:09, 13 Aug 2004 (UTC)

Dick Levy

Can anyone determine if Dick Levy has dwarfism? He's short, but I didn't find any Internet references to his being a little person. func(talk) 20:55, 24 May 2005 (UTC)[reply]

I'm pretty sure it's part of a smear campaign. See User:Kmccoy/Delfino. kmccoy (talk) 05:37, 13 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Height Cut-offs

Is there any agreed-upon set of heights below which people would be considered Little People, as opposed to just short? Whether there is or isn't, I think it should be mentioned in the article. What cut-off should we use for the list of famous people? --Misterwindupbird 01:39, 5 Jun 2005 (UTC)

P.C. Terminology

I expanded the stub quickly and it would benefit from others' additions or refinements. If someone prefers to separate this into two articles, go ahead.

My memory nags me that I have missed some books and movies--- please add. However, I purposely avoided listing movies or books which feature a single dwarf buffoon or villain and tried to list those which someone might actually read or watch especially for their treatment of this topic: (1) dwarfism itself is a major theme of the work, realistically or not, or (2) many of the actors display various forms of dwarfism. If you feel compelled to list movies or tv shows with one humorous or villainous dwarf as a one-dimensional accessory character, please add a new paragraph and start a separate list.

Also, I noted that there is already a lovingly edited article on dwarves as a "race" in western fantasy games, movies, and books. Let's continue to keep the articles distinct. Alteripse 15:28, 16 May 2004 (UTC)[reply]

I am reverting just to initiate discussion. See the link provided with an earlier version of this page. It certainly looks as though people with the condition or people strongly identifying with and supportive of people with the condition are using the term. Unless you can give me a stronger argument, how about if we compromise and hedge it?

Alteripse 22:05, 29 May 2004 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, they do use it, but there are a few who are offended by the term 'dwarf.' In those cases the only PC term is 'little person' or just LP. Those people who are offended are of the easily offended variety and can be safely ignored. I even heard there was something being done to replace 'little person' *g*. Just thought you might want to hear from an actual midget-err I mean dwarf--shit I mean little person---FUCK I mean vertically challenged. ;-P Nathan J. Yoder 22:44, 12 Sep 2004 (UTC)
I think that Little People / Person is the most common term used to describe this condition, so why is the article under dwarfism? To me, dwarfism should be saved for the part about non-people, but the information on little people should be moved to an article called Little person --Quasipalm 29 June 2005 03:54 (UTC)
Bad idea for several reasons. First, remember that we want to title the articles with the most likely sought term. Our primary purpose is to write an encyclopedia, not enforce political correctness. Second, the term dwarf is hundreds of years old; the euphemism "little person" perhaps 3 decades and mainly in North America. Third, even beyond that I would strenuously object to any article that prefers to reserve a term for fantasy gaming which applies to a real world subject; many people think we are way out of balance already in that direction. Fourth, don't confuse a term for the condition with calling a person a name. There is nothing shameful about the term as a collective term for bone dysplasias even if we might not describe a particular person as "a dwarf." alteripse 29 June 2005 06:51 (UTC)

Just an observation from someone with no connection to the subject, but to me "little person" sounds far more demeaning than any of the alternatives. PeteVerdon

Agreed. Anyone affected with this condition care to weigh in on the matter?

I've already voiced it, but I can voice it again. "Dwarf" as a term seems to be the one in most common usage and while offensive to some, is generally seen as benign. Little person actually does seem more offensive to me personally, which is why I think many just say "LP" instead. I think they should just stick with dwarf since it's so well recognized. Nathan J. Yoder 16:47, 25 July 2005 (UTC)[reply]
I also feel very uncomfortable saying "little person", not only because it sounds demeaning, but because in my personal lexicon, "the little people" are faeries and leprechauns and such, so I have to stifle a giggle whenever it comes up. Is it okay to say "small person"? 216.75.170.81 20:24, 18 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Alexander Pope

Is he really a dwarf? From the Pope page here a Wikipedia:

From early childhood he suffered numerous health problems, including Pott's disease (a form of tuberculosis affecting the spine) which deformed his body and stunted his growth. He never grew beyond 1.37m (4ft 6in).

I'm not sure that constitutes dwarfism, but I don't know. Can anyone resolve this? --Qwayfe 05:10, 26 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

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