'That is highly offensive to me': Woman refuses to help fellow grocery shopper retrieve item from shelf, starts discourse about helping people with height differences

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jan 6, 2025 6:00 PM EST

Being an average height is a privilege that many don't really think about unless it is brought to their attention. When most things in this world seem more or less the right size for you, it generally doesn't come up in discussion—a far cry from those who are either vertically blessed or vertically challenged. 

If you belong to one of these groups, not only do you face constant annoying comments about your height but you also have to deal with the fact that certain normal experiences are going to be that little bit more difficult. There are plenty of things in this life that just aren't going to work for you without some modification, or indeed a helping hand from others. However, while these kind deeds might be a necessity, it does not mean that everybody who can help is willing to give them. It can make things complicated.

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    via Allef Vinicius

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  • One grocery shopper was so incensed that a woman shorter than her asked her to retrieve an item from a shelf that she couldn't reach that she ended up posting about it on social media. Reasoning that it was a form of entitlement to expect her to do such an act when her fellow shopper could find a member of staff, she sparked a heated debate.

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    VERDURAS ONDAS ONDAS JEAND PRIVAL 2.25 BARRA 1,30 Прод Yous 2,35 Maiz Dulce Malz Dulce
    via Victoriano Izquierdo

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    Jennifer Gingrich ✡ @fem_mb Follow I'm tall and almost every time I'm at the grocery store, short older women ask me to get things down for them from the top shelf. I say 'sure' and get them. Once I couldn't reach to the back of a bottom shelf to get something, and I asked a younger man who was shopping for help. He said "of course" and got down and got it for me. Why be a j ? Helping other people like that takes five seconds.
    via fem_mb
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    oshacerese 1d Follow A woman approached me in the produce section while I was shopping & minding my business. "Can I get you to come do me a favor because you're tall?" I looked at her with a straight face & said, "no, I'd rather you get someone who works here." She got assistance & when I tell you she would've wanted me to walk to the other side of the section to gather something from the top shelf for her. That is highly offensive to me. And yes she was and this is not the first time I've expe
    via oshacerese
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    Opinions on the shopper's actions varied, but many people didn't approve of her behavior.

    Jo Bartosch @jo_bartosch Replying to @fem_mb I regularly make people who think they're short feel tall when my 4'7" self asks for help reaching stuff. In return, I'm helping collect keys from the floor! quick at
    via jo_bartosch
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    Gray Ol' Man Gaming @GrayOlManGaming Replying to @fem_mb I agree with oshacerse, not because it's offensive, or time wasting, or just not wanting to do nice things, but employees at stores are there for a reason: customers. The more customers help customers, the less the companies expect their employees to help customers.
    via GrayOlManGaming
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    Jennifer Gingrich ✡@fem_mb There is almost never an employee in the aisle where you are trying to reach something. Expecting people to go searching for an employee, which could take a while, rather than just ask the person standing next to them, isn't reasonable.
    via fem_mb
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    CREAT AG inaccessible cardinal... ❤ @omegaXeiroe Replying to @fem_mb im not obligated to help just because im 6'2"
    via omegaXeiroe
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    girl @AlexisP64491389 Replying to @fem_mb And as a completely medium height woman, I've happily assisted shorter women & asked & received assistance reaching things off high shelves from taller women. It's just being a decent and civil person.
    via AlexisP64491389
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    No. @NotTodaySaytan Replying to @fem_mb Same. It's so unecessary to be rode and mean. That's a person on a lame power trip.
    via NotTodaySaytan
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    mamazilla ❤ @mamazilla Replying to @fem_mb Thank you! Signed, Short person
    via mamazilla
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    Mara Smith @marasmith7 Replying to @fem_mb I'm average height, but I help people reach things, I have helped people up that have fallen, I hold the door for people, regardless of who they are. If I were this woman, the last thing I would do is post about her selfishness.
    via marasmith7
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    TomPaulie FXX @Tom PaulieF Replying to @fem_mb A lady once asked my son to get something from a high shelf for her. He was disappointed when a staff member stepped in to get it instead. He wanted to do a good deed.
    via TomPaulieF
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    Julia @nejafeja Replying to @fem_mb I do refuse doing things that I know might negatively impact my back/ neck
    via nejafeja
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    littlebillie@littlebillie I'm average and will literally scale a shelving unit before asking for help.
    via littlebillie
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    Gee @GeeGee11224 Oshacerese is petty...helping people isn't offensive...I'm not tall but have slightly longer arms lol and always help others when shopping if I can...even without being asked.
    via GeeGee11224
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    Compodulator (former... @compodulator I... Am confused... Why waste both your time and the worker's? You're off the lady and possibly the worker's, and on top of that, building yourself a bad rapport.
    via compodulator
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    Katie @swiftlykatie If I notice a stranger struggling with a minor inconvenience that I can assist with I will help them without being asked. Its literally FREE and it feels good to help people so it's not even completely altruistic to be a nice, helpful person O some of y'all are miserable
    via swiftlykatie
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    Atropha Belladona @twigblu I am short. The idea that I could be shamed because I can't reach a shelve is annoying
    via twigblu
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    Becki Marsh @beckimarshRA Okay people. Don't be a d*ck. For the vertically challenged amongst us, it's sometimes impossible to do things. I've actually changed my shopping list because I can't reach a product. It's not a lot to ask to show a bit of kindness.
    via beckimarshRA
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    Raphael Levy & @RaphaelLLevy I actually love being asked. "The greatest gift you could give me is the opportunity to be kind to you" but also it makes me feel all tall and useful.
    via RaphaelLLevy
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    sarah (sally) @tortur3d_p03t People just like to be a h_les going like "I don't owe anyone anything" and they apply to that EVERY aspect of their life. When someone asks me a small task like that, I help in a heartbeat, because you can literally make someone's day like that.
    via t0rtur3d_p03t
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    Atticus @ItsSoMild As a short person I can confirm that we are sometimes asked to grab things on lower shelves, especially for folks with back/hip/ knee issues. The victim complexes that people have these days is just sad!
    via ItsSoMild

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groceries twitter tall Twitter Thread grocery shopping discourse entitled people short
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