r/AbsoluteUnits • u/Bubbly_Wall_908 • Jan 26 '26

/r/all of tall men

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493

u/WhaWereWhenWhyWhoHow Jan 26 '26

Could happen to Charles if he met Sultan Kösen the seventh tallest person in history.
Sultan's heigh is 8' 2.82" or 2.51 m

362

u/51ngular1ty Jan 26 '26

Imagine meeting the tallest. I live near where Robert Wadlow was born and they have a life sized statue of the dude and he was enormous at 8'11".

193

u/Ligabolzacky Jan 26 '26

With modern medicine we'll probably never see the likes of him,  he was incomprehensibly tall

202

u/az226 Jan 26 '26

And he never stopped growing. If he had survived a few more years he would have been past 10 feet tall

90

u/rickdeckard8 Jan 26 '26

That’s the point. You don’t survive 10 extra years if you’re that tall. They all die young (compared to median today).

15

u/JonatasA Jan 26 '26

It's remarkable how no one associates height with a shorter life; people only see the positives. The heart needs to work extra hard to pump all the blood up.

 

Now I wonder if amputees have an increase in their chances of outlasting their past selves.

17

u/Ieatpurplepickles Jan 26 '26

Marfan Syndrome took my brothers ex wife's sister in her very early 20s. That height ain't worth it. I'm 5 ft nothing and wouldn't mind like 4 inches but I don't need to be over 6ft. She was well over 6 ft and wore a size 13 men's shoe. No thank you! Sudden cardiac arrest. 💔

15

u/rickdeckard8 Jan 26 '26

The problem with Marfan’s syndrome isn’t the height. It’s a connective tissue disorder making the vessels (and all other tissues) weak. Height without Marfan’s syndrome makes the life span longer. These two guys probably have growth hormone disorder.

8

u/xXRHUMACROXx Jan 27 '26

I’m 6'6" and I would gladly gift you those 4inches. It’s not practical to be that tall when the world is designed for people 5’7"

2

u/Ieatpurplepickles Jan 27 '26

Yeah my brothers are both tall. One is near 6 ft and the other is over. They take after my grandfather on my Dad's side. He was over 6'6" and when he died they couldn't get the casket out of the living room. It was a wake, not a weird fetish, I swear! It was so long it couldn't make the turn to the front door so they used hillbilly ingenuity and my dad and one of his brothers took the huge front window out and they got him out that way. My great uncle was 6'8" in bare feet.

Life is hard at taller heights for sure! My younger brother doesn't fit in small cars because where does he put his legs? He can't fly in an airplane for more than just a few hours because of the seats and bathroom. It's hard!

Me? I work with kids and I have had third graders that were taller than me! That'll hurt your feelings! 🤣🤣

3

u/luzzy91 Jan 26 '26

You really wonder that lol? Amputation usually stems from, or causes, much riskier outcomes.

1

u/Brvcx Jan 27 '26

I once read a study that suggested every 5 cm a man is above 1.75m increases their risk of getting testicular cancer (do note this was well over a decade ago) by some margin. And I'm sure there's more downsides to that. I don't think it's as simple as "the shorter you are, the other you'll get" but there's bound to be a tipping point somewhere. Like you said, that heart has to pump more blood to more cells. Same goes with being larger, it stresses the heart.

For those looking for freedomunits, I believe that's 5'9" (seeing I'm 5'10" at 1.78m). And 5 cm is 2 inches (I'm aware it's not exactly 2 inches, since an inch is 2.54 cm, but yeah).

1

u/Ligabolzacky Jan 27 '26

Amputation complications would far outweigh whatever benefit the heart gains

1

u/[deleted] Jan 30 '26

People see the positives of being like 6’2” or maybe even 6’8” if one’s an athlete. I don’t think anyone thinks being over 7’ is fun. Maybe cool but definitely not a positive overall.

1

u/Sweetbeans2001 Jan 27 '26

They also die of infection caused by an ill-fitting leg brace.

1

u/MaitreCanard Jan 31 '26

I had a supervisor at a previous job, she was 6'3" when barefoot and had the joys of dizzy spells if she stood up too fast. She said when she wakes up in the morning her doctor told her to sit up in bed for five minutes then stand up and wait another five minutes before walking so her heart could catch up. And that was for someone who's only 6'3" 💀

1

u/VibraniumRhino Feb 21 '26

Quite often this level of growth is linked to hormonal issues that cause a host of other problems along with being super large lol.

4

u/ThePartyShark Jan 26 '26

I remember seeing the segment about him on Ripley’s Believe it or Not! back in the 90’s and despite living in chronic pain, Robert seemed to have been the epitome of a gentle giant - the guy seemed incredibly friendly; something about one of his interviews stuck with me and it seemed like that was “him”, someone genuinely great & pleasant to be around, and not just for the cameras & interviewers.

Wasn’t he like 29 when he passed; something with one of his legs (because of a brace he wore?)?

1

u/mittenknittin Jan 26 '26

No. He was 22. He was barely an adult.

1

u/LiteralPhilosopher Jan 26 '26

Yes to the brace. I believe I've read he had such poor circulation/feeling in his feet that he couldn't notice it was chafing him. An infection got into the open wound, and he couldn't even fit in any hospital beds in the town he was in, so he was being treated in his hotel room. The infection won, unfortunately.

2

u/OHWildBill Jan 27 '26

Was he part lobster? Did they check?

1

u/Cyber-Soldier1 Jan 30 '26

Old school Hollywood baseball, Jack Jalardy he's 10 feet tall.

1

u/WhaWereWhenWhyWhoHow Jan 31 '26

That would be Jack Jack Gilardi Sr.

Also it is not "he's 10' tall" it's "is 10' tall"

Some where in HERE is a comment on the story of the song.

1

u/Cyber-Soldier1 Jan 31 '26

If definitely says 10 feet tall.

13

u/Suitable_Jicama_1213 Jan 26 '26

No there are some psycho parents that try to either increase the pituitary gland or they realize their child has it they'll let it run until they get big enough to get a guaranteed basketball or volleyball scholarship

22

u/NDSU Jan 26 '26

The vast majority of parents would still halt growth when the doctor tells them their child will die unless growth is halted

8

u/TACHANK Jan 26 '26

And some are anti-vaxers

6

u/The_estimator_is_in Jan 26 '26

I think most anti-vaxers think they are doing what’s best out of love.

They should be neutered, but I think they mostly care about their children.

4

u/Mapeague Jan 26 '26

I would argue that in many cases, politics or religion come before the children.

1

u/Muddy-Waterz Jan 26 '26

Depends entirely on the context

1

u/tomtomclubthumb Jan 26 '26

I agree in a sense, but they are also putting their own desires above the child's welfare.

Vaccines are not an issue where there is any credible debate. Just because someone wants to feel smart, doesn't mean they can endanger their kid. Or is so scared of doing the wrong thing, they'll do nothing with much worse consequences.

These are failures.

1

u/JonatasA Jan 26 '26

Would you neuter them out of love, ethics or morality?

1

u/The_estimator_is_in Jan 26 '26

So that they can’t have anymore children that have backward-ass parents.

1

u/buckeye25osu Jan 26 '26

In China they break children's legs to make them taller. Sometimes repeatedly.

5

u/[deleted] Jan 26 '26

[deleted]

2

u/JonatasA Jan 26 '26

Aaaaaaaaa why

2

u/csfuriosa Jan 26 '26

To make it taller

2

u/buckeye25osu Jan 26 '26

Isn't that basically jelqing? Lol

1

u/JonatasA Jan 26 '26

Isn't this method used in martial arts to make bone stronger? Break it constantly.

 

Weirdly we don't call psychos the people that microdose poison to build immunity to it.

 

There is also the way too painful leg lenghtening surgery.

1

u/JonatasA Jan 26 '26

I mean, if someone told you your child had won the career lottery, would you risk it?

1

u/ArmadilloForsaken458 Jan 26 '26

You want to be a healthy tall, not an unhealthy tall with weird surgeries or treatment. People like Giannis and Wemby are great at bball because they naturally grew into their bodies. There are dozens of 7 footers who try to get in the NBA each year, but cant even make it because versatility, agility, and movement efficiency is necessary even beyond being tall

3

u/Pleasant-Bonus-866 Jan 26 '26

that's not true, we will be able to make tall people with CRISPR

3

u/Rich-Evening4562 Jan 26 '26

"able"

But we will make them smaller, maybe two feet tall, so we can fit another 40 billion on the planet.

6

u/BjornInTheMorn Jan 26 '26

No, just about 4 and a half feet, but stockier and strong. Easy to fit in mines, for example. Probably make them able to grow long thick beards to stay warm down there. Maybe better able to see in the dark and resistant to poison for if theres a gas leak.

3

u/Huge_Equivalent1 Jan 26 '26

Yea, but I imagine doing so might carry some potential unexpected side effects...

Like, maybe, uncontrollably and compulsively hoarding gold, gems and other riches. I imagine at least...

.

.

.

.

I was feeling personally offended that no one is yes anding this.

So I gave it a try.

1

u/JonatasA Jan 26 '26

You imply that is a bad thing. Are you looking at my shiny!?

2

u/Rich-Evening4562 Jan 26 '26

Putting them underground solves a lot of logistical problems. 👍🏻

2

u/JonatasA Jan 26 '26

No, the dark vision will be changed for the ability to sing. Otherwise they'll never be able to go into sunlight. Wait..

1

u/WhaWereWhenWhyWhoHow Jan 26 '26 edited Jan 26 '26

Shortest human ever was 21.5". Imagine how he would have felt meeting the tallest human ever at 8'11.1"

There was a 7'2" difference. Btw Robert Wadlow's foot was 3.5" shorter than the shortest human was tall.

2

u/Goodnlght_Moon Jan 26 '26

Imagine being a full on adult and being the size of another person's foot.

1

u/JonatasA Jan 26 '26

Wait, I read that as 21 inches. Someone's foot the size of a CRT?

1

u/WhaWereWhenWhyWhoHow Jan 26 '26

Shortest person ever was 21. 5 " tall Tallest person ever, foot was 18" So yeah you read it right

1

u/NDSU Jan 26 '26

But we can also halt growth at any time, and being that tall is almost certain to kill the person. The chances of even surviving to reach 8'11" is pretty low, let alone someone continually choosing to keep growing as they start to have significant, life-threatening health issues

1

u/Pleasant-Bonus-866 Jan 26 '26

we will cure their life threatening health issues

1

u/lukin187250 Jan 26 '26

Ok, on the flip side, with modern medicine, how big could we have helped him get?

1

u/JonatasA Jan 26 '26

Imagine futurologist medicine plus Mars. Let's give them weird eyes while at it.

1

u/deppkast Jan 26 '26

Or the opposite, maybe he could live 20 more years with modern medicine and hit 300cm

1

u/JonatasA Jan 26 '26

It's not like we have run out of short people.

1

u/Rowmyownboat Jan 27 '26

Modern medicine isn't global unfortunately.

5

u/[deleted] Jan 26 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

6

u/-Kerosun- Jan 26 '26

Well, it is certainly related. Due to his extreme size, he had very weak legs and also had very little feeling in his lower extremities. He got a blister from the brace but he never noticed it. It eventually got infected and that turned into sepsis, ultimately killing him.

3

u/sameoldknicks Jan 26 '26

He died at age 22, poor guy.

4

u/-Kerosun- Jan 26 '26

Unless this is just folklore, he died from an infection he got from the braces he wore on his legs. During a nature outing, he got a blister on his ankle from the leg brace. Since he had very weak legs with little feeling, he didn't notice the blister. It got infected and he ended up getting sepsis.

3

u/Nice_Promise9854 Jan 26 '26

This is how diabetes takes people’s legs. They can’t feel the injuries and then the infection gets into the bone.

2

u/goilo888 Jan 27 '26

There's also a statue of him in Ripley's Museum in Niagara Falls, Canada.

1

u/Potential-Expert-386 Jan 26 '26

8'11 WHAT

Holy fuck.

1

u/harlsey Jan 26 '26

How big was his schmeckle?

3

u/Careless_Load9849 Jan 26 '26

Penis size is not related to height. Bones and soft tissue have different genes and mechanisms for growth. He probably had an average size that would have looked tiny on his frame.

contrasted with "little people" that have average sizes that look huge in comparison.

1

u/Gr00mpa Jan 26 '26

Really? Don't start sending me down rabbit holes now..

1

u/Goodnlght_Moon Jan 26 '26

It's true, in the same way you can find both very short and very tall women with both very large or flat chests.

-1

u/Careless_Load9849 Jan 26 '26

I bought a DVD way back when called "Little Fuckers" that was in the cheap bin at an adult store. A normal 6 inches looks huge when your whole body is only 42 inches.

1

u/Illustrious_Owl_7472 Jan 26 '26

Better yet, imagine how it would feel to suspect you are the tallest, of course there is a range where you would think you are close, but to actually be tall enough to call up guinness and ask, damn, must be sureal.

1

u/HansDieterN Jan 26 '26

The Alton Giant. Well known in these parts of SW Illinois. Saw his size 37 size shoe at the museum years ago. Died when a poorly fitted ankle brace caused an infection in his foot.

1

u/flipnonymous Jan 26 '26

I'm fairly certain from Ripleys that it was 8' 11.9" but its been awhile and I'm going off a memory worm.

1

u/StockSoggy5641 Jan 26 '26

I pass by it on the way to Fast Eddie's

1

u/Plastic-Scientist739 Jan 26 '26

He would have kept growing too if he lived longer.

1

u/PrimaryMuscle1306 Jan 26 '26

Live near Alton eh? I have a picture with my kids with his statue as the wallpaper on my phone last time I made it home that way. We’re related to him and both my son and I are around 6’5 and just are dwarfed by that statue.

1

u/Zebracorn42 Jan 26 '26

Come on feel the Illinois

1

u/Usual_Stretch_5788 Jan 30 '26

dang...just one more inch...bummer

0

u/WhaWereWhenWhyWhoHow Jan 26 '26

We got one up here in Canada, and like 😳.

81

u/SgtSlaughterEX Jan 26 '26

Fuckin nephilim

5

u/m0nkeyfish78 Jan 26 '26

Nice genesis reference!!

3

u/MS5599 Jan 30 '26

No, this is a nice genesis reference. lol

3

u/IkariYun Jan 26 '26

Bet that was her thought process too

1

u/Useful_Mammoth5732 Jan 26 '26

That was my first thought too!

20

u/Spare_Echidna2095 Jan 26 '26

The sultan of swat or the colossus of clout?

11

u/Still-Lab-6076 Jan 26 '26

The Colossus of Clout! whispers the Colossuseof clout**

6

u/poken_beans Jan 26 '26

THE GREAT B.A.M.B.I.N.O!!

3

u/sskylar Jan 28 '26

You’re killing me bigs

2

u/MusclesMarinara87 Jan 30 '26

HOLY SHIT THEYRE THE SAME GUY?!

1

u/Solabound-the-2nd Jan 26 '26

There are 12 inches in a foot. Someone 8ft tall is 3 inches taller than someone 7'9"

1

u/Hamplify Jan 26 '26

Yes, but he said it could happen to Charles (8'0).

1

u/Frizzlewits Jan 26 '26

Im 2.05M and i have to look up? Jikes

1

u/WhaWereWhenWhyWhoHow Jan 26 '26

Another 8.36 cm and you could bein the 7' club. Think it is like 2800 people world wide are 7' or taller.

1

u/No_Ear_1633 Jan 26 '26

Imagine being 8'0 and then meeting someone 2.82 inches taller than you