Forums:Height accuracy

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Tolkien Gateway > Forums > Height accuracy


Hey, I noticed that we (as the human race) are constantly getting taller. This also makes Tolkien's characters no longer as tall in perspective. I get that we haven't an exact height of every character, but we can't just go on calling Saruman (and other characters) tall when we are evolving to be way taller than they! (this problem is created solely because of fashion models) How do we change this? Do we estimate or what? Arya

You're comparing oranges and apples in that we exist in the real world and the characters in Tolkien's works don't. Very few characters are ascribed an exact height but Elendil the Tall was 7'11'' whilst Galadriel was 6'4''; by any standard they are both tall! If Tolkien calls them "Tall", then tall they are. If humanity reaches a point where 7'11'' is no longer regarded as tall then a note can be appended to the article to state the average heights in the mid-20th century. But I suspect this is a problem we won't have to deal with for many centuries! --Mith (Talk/Contribs/Edits) 18:24, 6 August 2015 (UTC)
I understand that Elendil and Galadriel are still considered tall, and will be for a very long time, but I believe that we should make these notes because we will as a species make it past the height of 7'11. When this happens is really not the question, but if it'll happen at all. The answer being yes, we should keep Tolkien Gateway as accurate as possible, for as long as possible, and make note of the current average height. Arya 05:55, 7 August 2015 (UTC)
Saying that Tolkien called Elendil "Tall" is accurate. --Mith (Talk/Contribs/Edits) 09:57, 7 August 2015 (UTC)
My reasoning is we need to make note of the average height because Tolkien's claim is accurate, but in the future, the reasoning for this claim will be not on many minds, and that if our pages explained the not so obvious, comprehension would be much more easily grasped. If my point is valid to you yet, is there any way I could get a list of all the Tolkien characters on this website, so I can not leave out any articles. Arya 17:05, 16 August 2015 (UTC)
Can I get permission to go forward with this? Arya 03:43, 21 August 2015 (UTC)
Not from me. --Mith (Talk/Contribs/Edits) 08:45, 25 August 2015 (UTC)
Then can you tell me who I ask Arya 19:23, 25 August 2015 (UTC)
I suggest you find someone who agrees with your proposal first. I agree with Mith that the height comparisons should stand as they are, since average heights are only a few centimetres taller than those during Tolkien's time at most, and the rate of increase in average human height is not fast enough for this to be an issue (and is also unevenly spread - apparently people during the Middle Ages were taller than in 1700). You're welcome to ask again if the issue becomes serious in a few hundred years. Arcorann 14:08, 28 August 2015 (UTC)

Thank you. Was looking for public opinion on this, but two disagreements are good. Will leave the job to someone who is three hundred years younger than me. Arya 22:14, 5 September 2015 (UTC)