NationStates Jolt Archive

CNN currently has a video on their site about the new trend of parents spending money on growth hormone to make thier children taller. I've heard of this before, a guy I went to highschool with was using growth hormone (if I was on my knees I was the same height as him). Being 6'4 it's never been an issue with me about my height, other than the fact the whole world is designed for short people (I'd like to see a sink that's not at crotch level!).

Would you pay to make your child taller? Roughly $50k per inch of growth, not guarenteed either, and there may be side-effects.

Not when I could simply give them 3 Shredded Wheat every morning for the same effect :p

And what's the need, anyway?

CNN currently has a video on their site about the new trend of parents spending money on growth hormone to make thier children taller. I've heard of this before, a guy I went to highschool with was using growth hormone (if I was on my knees I was the same height as him). Being 6'4 it's never been an issue with me about my height, other than the fact the whole world is designed for short people (I'd like to see a sink that's not at crotch level!).

Would you pay to make your child taller? Roughly $50k per inch of growth, not guarenteed either, and there may be side-effects.

Or a bathroom mirror at a level where I don't have to kneel down to have a shave.

Absolutely not. Not because I have an ethical or religious problem with it, but because that's the most ridiculous waste of money I've ever seen in my life. Even something stupid like a gold-plated bathtub would be more useful.

@ The poll

Why not add "no, that's just ridiculous".

I have no moral scruples about it, it's just a stupendous waste.

Absolutely not. Not because I have an ethical or religious problem with it, but because that's the most ridiculous waste of money I've ever seen in my life.
Indeed. I guess in a really extreme case of height having huge impacts on daily life, or being abused for it or something, I might understand.

No. I hit my head on things like door frames etc. too often as it is. Why would I want my son to have the same or worse problem?

Or a bathroom mirror at a level where I don't have to kneel down to have a shave.

I have a large bathroom mirror, I use the top 10% of it, maybe. Have to stand back a bit to comb my hair.

Indeed. I guess in a really extreme case of height having huge impacts on daily life, or being abused for it or something, I might understand.
Well, if you're short enough for your height to have an impact on your daily life, you'd need to splash out more than a million to remedy it. Maybe I'd use it if it was 50k for a foot of height, and the effects were cumulative. That would be rather amusing, at least.

In China, they use a Russian technique to help adults grow.
It involves breaking your legs and stretching them. Eventually (after 6-9 months) the bones grow into the gaps. A person can 'grow' another 2 or 3 inches apparently.
It is very painful by all accounts. (though it is much cheaper than $50k an inch - but whether you could trust a doctor in mainland China is another thing entirely)

Parents should love their kids for how they are, without having to put them under the knife / use drugs.

*imagines 7ft tall 12 year old*

hahahaha


and no i wouldnt spen 50K on a few pills which may not work, id rather have a car thenk you very much

Actually they're injections.

Not for those unhappy with needles. I figure in the unlikely chance I'd have biological kids they'd be plenty tall.

We do have the technology, and there's no great reason not to, other than of course that rich folks will be taller than the poor.

Heh, I know I'd be really pissed off if I ever found out that my parents paid thousands of dollars to make me slightly taller. Spend it on putting your kid through college or buying them a house, ffs.

I'd like to see a sink that's not at crotch level!
But think of the advantages: if you need to urinate urgently and the toliets are all in use...

No. Seems like a colossal waste of money to me.

No. Being short has it's advantages.

I'll spend the 50k per inch towards college tuition, that'll serve them better in the long run than being a couple inches taller anyway.

CNN currently has a video on their site about the new trend of parents spending money on growth hormone to make thier children taller. I've heard of this before, a guy I went to highschool with was using growth hormone (if I was on my knees I was the same height as him). Being 6'4 it's never been an issue with me about my height, other than the fact the whole world is designed for short people (I'd like to see a sink that's not at crotch level!).

Would you pay to make your child taller? Roughly $50k per inch of growth, not guarenteed either, and there may be side-effects.

IF you are incapable of having 'naturally' tall children with your partner... and IF height is going to be so earthshattering in your future that you MUST have taller children... use IVF, or a surrogate, or have children with someone else... or even adopt.


On the other hand - having been the 'tall kid' in class... easily half a foot taller than most of the othrs, I can tell you that it is the tall kid who ends up in all the fights, and it is the tall kid that gets blamed by the teachers/school, etc. You really aren't doing your kids any favours by paying for (potentially very risky) hormone treatments to give them that extra inch or two. If it even works. And, if you don't sterilise/blind/injure them in the process.

Not unless they really needed it. Personally I wouldn't mind being taller myself as I am only 5ft 3". I know I'm not a midgit but its quite annoying being short. I'm always the last to know when it rains, every pants I buy has to be taken up. Unfair:gundge:

it all depends upon the reason. if you want it done for the sake of vanity....that's just silly......if you do it so your son or daughter can be tall enough to reach their goal of being an air force pilot....well that's an entirely different matter.

No. If society has a problem with short people, society should change, not short people.

Being 6'4 <Swoon>

Why is there a need to? Being tall ain't all it's cracked up to be.

No. Being short has it's advantages.

Am I dirty minded, or....? :D

-snnnnnnnnnnnip-

On the other hand - having been the 'tall kid' in class... easily half a foot taller than most of the othrs, I can tell you that it is the tall kid who ends up in all the fights, and it is the tall kid that gets blamed by the teachers/school, etc. You really aren't doing your kids any favours by paying for (potentially very risky) hormone treatments to give them that extra inch or two. If it even works. And, if you don't sterilise/blind/injure them in the process.

LIES! ALL LIES!

Honestly, the tallest person in my class is the goody good. In fact its crazy how well he does. We're in the "top class" and he always get excellence and stuff in on time:eek:

I myself would hate to be small or even average picking up people and holding people back by there forehead is always fun

Wouldn’t use it on my kids but I’d make damn sure they don’t smoke

Screw HGH. Go straight to engineering them right after conception! 6 feet tall! Perfect vision! Capable of running a marathon by 10, getting a Nobel by 15!

What about shorter? Can I make my kids midgets?

Screw HGH. Go straight to engineering them right after conception! 6 feet tall! Perfect vision! Capable of running a marathon by 10, getting a Nobel by 15!

Running a marathon by 10? That sounds like more trouble than its worth to me

And what about a getting a job gene:p

What about shorter? Can I make my kids midgets?Good question; I wonder if they can extract HGH in this way. Ooh you could sell their HGH to other people - it would be a double win for you.

Actually, I could understand someone doing this if <i>they</i> wanted to do it. I mean, I've been told by my parents most of my life that I'll end up very tall (my grandfather is quite tall) but I'm only average height. That's the kind of thing that could piss someone off.

Then again, the tall people may be right - it's not that great. It could be good for less height difference between male and female though - it would mean women wouldn't have to wear high heels to be as tall as us.

Unless the woman's taller. Then the man has to jump.

Then again, the tall people may be right - it's not that great. It could be good for less height difference between male and female though - it would mean women wouldn't have to wear high heels to be as tall as us.

Unless the woman's taller. Then the man has to jump.<Brainstorm> High heels for men! <Runs off to patent office.>

it would mean women wouldn't have to wear high heels to be as tall as us.

so that’s what high heels are for I thought there supposed to make the woman look taller which for some reason = sexy

Why would two decent, loving parents have such a big problem with their kid's hieght? Can't they just love the kid for how big they are? How old ar ethese kids anyway, 12? If they're short at 12 they won't be for long... it's a little thing called PUBERTY. And 50k per *possible* inch? I'd liek to see where the 50k comes from! Really, those kids aren't getting favors. Wow, they're taller, BIG EFFING DEAL! The world is designed for your shorty of a kid! To be honest that would be a horrible situation for the kid to be in "yeah Billy you're too short, so we will make you taller with hormones" WHY DON'T YOU HAVE AN EFFING SPINE AND TELL YOUR KID THOSE HORMONES WILL COME NATURALLY DURING EFFING PUBERTY???????? I'm fairly short too (5'3 and age 14) and I never knew about growth hormones until about 2 years ago, and by that time, I'd grown!! Before then my parents told me to suck it up and let it happen naturally. :mad:

Why would two decent, loving parents have such a big problem with their kid's hieght? Can't they just love the kid for how big they are?

your forgetting about the parents who force there kids to win competitions I'm guessing there the same folk who do this

well I guess it must work because those families always tend to be the doctors of the world but then again since when does your achievements make you happy? (where did this rant come from?!)

your forgetting about the parents who force there kids to win competitions I'm guessing there the same folk who do this

well I guess it must work because those families always tend to be the doctors of the world but then again since when does your achievements make you happy? (where did this rant come from?!)

Yeah, didn't think about that. The rant didn't come from personal experience I was just appalled at the idea that somebody would force their kid to take growth hormones.

you know a lot of kids that are shorter than "average" are because they have some sort of health problem. I worry that parents are looking for the quick fix at the expense of their children's long term health. :(

Absolutely not. Not because I have an ethical or religious problem with it, but because that's the most ridiculous waste of money I've ever seen in my life. Even something stupid like a gold-plated bathtub would be more useful.

3 better ways to spend that $$$:

1) Gold toilet
2) Useless Ebay junk
3) Buy a ton of manure at the waste processing... place

If I do have kids in the future, I might, depending on his/her wishes and judging whether or not it is worth the cost.

LIES! ALL LIES!

Honestly, the tallest person in my class is the goody good. In fact its crazy how well he does. We're in the "top class" and he always get excellence and stuff in on time:eek:

I was also the 'goody goody', academically. However, that isn't connected with who is perceived as the best target, or who is perceived as 'responsible' by the powers-that-be.

so that’s what high heels are for I thought there supposed to make the woman look taller which for some reason = sexy

No - actually it is mainly designed to make her hips sway as she moves, and to change the alignment of her calves and thighs to make her more receptive to breeding. At least - if you look at it in purely 'trigger' terms.

I say just engineer the genes in the cells before the child grows in the womb. It's safer, as HGH has too many (possible) side effects for those who don't need it.

$50,000 an inch? Not guaranteed?

Why not just buy your kid a bunch of nice stuff and a great car? The kind of people who are going to judge them on their height will be just as impressed by a bunch of nice and expensive stuff.

(Plus, if it's a boy he might be 5' tall but have a 10'' wang...)

$50,000 an inch? Not guaranteed?

Why not just buy your kid a bunch of nice stuff and a great car? The kind of people who are going to judge them on their height will be just as impressed by a bunch of nice and expensive stuff.

(Plus, if it's a boy he might be 5' tall but have a 10'' wang...)

Wow. Can you say "slouch"?

Roughly $50k per inch of growth, not guarenteed either, and there may be side-effects.
That sounds familiar, albeit more expensive than what I remember...

Damn you HeRbaLgr0wth!

Wow. Can you say "slouch"?

I always wondered how they coped with their size...I mean, there are guys who are (rumored) to push 13 or 14 inches. :confused:

Even so, we all know that girth is more important than length...what good is it if the 14' dick is as wide as a pool cue?

I always wondered how they coped with their size...I mean, there are guys who are (rumored) to push 13 or 14 inches. :confused:

Even so, we all know that girth is more important than length...what good is it if the 14' dick is as wide as a pool cue?
You could play pool with it as a party trick...

You could play pool with it as a party trick...

I'm not sure if that would be something to be proud of or something to be ashamed of. I mean, we're talking 0.5 inches here...

I'm not sure if that would be something to be proud of or something to be ashamed of. I mean, we're talking 0.5 inches here...

I know, I know!

...They could learn to play the piano with them!

What a total waste of money.

You guys forget tho. Pie is VERY good. Speaking as a member of the pie is good vote, I must say that short or tall, wide or skinny, everyone likes pie *nods*

If it hasn't already, I'm willing to bet this takes off in China.

What a total waste of money.

Pie on the other hand, is NOT a total waste of money, which is why everyone loves pie.

I know, I know!

...They could learn to play the piano with them!

"Chopsticks" is a rather appropriate song since that's what the penis is going to look like.

"Chopsticks" is a rather appropriate song since that's what the penis is going to look like.

But that begs the question: What's better?

A chopstick (10" long, half an inch wide), or a chode (3" long, 2" wide at least)?

I wouldn't want to raise a child to believe that height is such an important thing.

*slowly backs away from turn this thread has taken.... to hide her intruigedness*

*slowly backs away from turn this thread has taken.... to hide her intruigedness*
HEY EVERYBODY, LOOK OVER THERE! A GIRL INTERESTED IN DISCUSSION ABOUT PENISES. LETS POINT AND LAUGH.

POINT AND LAUGH!

HEY EVERYBODY, LOOK OVER THERE! A GIRL INTERESTED IN DISCUSSION ABOUT PENISES. LETS POINT AND LAUGH.

POINT AND LAUGH!

*points and laughs*





Glitz likes chodes

HEY EVERYBODY, LOOK OVER THERE! A GIRL INTERESTED IN DISCUSSION ABOUT PENISES. LETS POINT AND LAUGH.

POINT AND LAUGH!
Point and laugh? Wouldn't a girl's opinion be rather valueable in a discussion of penises? (is it penises or peni?)

*points and laughs*





Glitz likes chodes
:eek:
How did you know??
:p

:eek:
How did you know??
:p

*stares*

*stares*
*wonders why she's being stared at*

Point and laugh? Wouldn't a girl's opinion be rather valueable in a discussion of penises? (is it penises or peni?)
In a sane, adult world your opinion would be most valued.

As this is the internet, I'll stick with the GIRL PENIS LOL approach.

In a sane, adult world your opinion would be most valued.

As this is the internet, I'll stick with the GIRL PENIS LOL approach.
Makes sense to me *nods*

Pie Lovers Of The World Do Not Be Silent, Speak Out, And Express Your Love Of One Of The Greatest Substances Known To Man... Pie!

Pie Lovers Of The World Do Not Be Silent, Speak Out, And Express Your Love Of One Of The Greatest Substances Known To Man... Pie!
We get it, you like pie. Put the coke down, step away from the boiled sweets.

We get it, you like pie. Put the coke down, step away from the boiled sweets.

Then there would be no one left to speak out for the pie :(

Everyone who has posted so far seems to be saying that growth hormone is sick or a waste of money (or discussing pie or penis sizes).

I'm just under 5' and have had little trouble with my height - I can't reach the top shelf and my friends call me shorty. On the other hand, my grandmother is 4'8", which is also my sister's predicted height without growth hormone. She can't drive a car, for example, because she needs to sit on a cushion to see over the steering wheel and then she can't reach the pedals.

So, my mom and sister decided she should have HGH (I wouldn't have agreed because of the ridiculous cost, but nobody asked me).

Everyone who has posted so far seems to be saying that growth hormone is sick or a waste of money (or discussing pie or penis sizes).

I'm just under 5' and have had little trouble with my height - I can't reach the top shelf and my friends call me shorty. On the other hand, my grandmother is 4'8", which is also my sister's predicted height without growth hormone. She can't drive a car, for example, because she needs to sit on a cushion to see over the steering wheel and then she can't reach the pedals.

So, my mom and sister decided she should have HGH (I wouldn't have agreed because of the ridiculous cost, but nobody asked me).

HGH doesn't have hideous (and terrible) side effects on people who actually need it. In your (and your sister's) case, HGH should be fine... Unless your family is full of naturally small people.

Hell yes I would pay to make myself taller!

Hell yes I would pay to make myself taller!

But I thought you were huge already.

But I thought you were huge already.

5'10. Almost 14. I think my "height" part of puberty has stopped.

But that begs the question: What's better?

A chopstick (10" long, half an inch wide), or a chode (3" long, 2" wide at least)?

Well, do you want stretch marks around your mouth or do you want to throw up on the guy? I mean, we're talking well past deep throat with 14'' and we're talking cueball with 3''x2''. But then again, a 3x2 probably wouldn't be very useful; IIRC you need at least 4'' to be able to give your partner an orgasm. But then again, you have to deal with the whole cervix-ramming thing...

This is a real tossup, but I don't feel like going in to anal yet (no pun intended); just think "Goatse vs. Colonoscopy" for a fairly accurate mental picture.

Well, do you want stretch marks around your mouth or do you want to throw up on the guy? I mean, we're talking well past deep throat with 14'' and we're talking cueball with 3''x2''. But then again, a 3x2 probably wouldn't be very useful; IIRC you need at least 4'' to be able to give your partner an orgasm. But then again, you have to deal with the whole cervix-ramming thing...

This is a real tossup, but I don't feel like going in to anal yet (no pun intended); just think "Goatse vs. Colonoscopy" for a fairly accurate mental picture.

Whoa whoa whoa whoa WHOA! Where did this come from?

Whoa whoa whoa whoa WHOA! Where did this come from?

A very intensive discussion of inconcievable scientific merit. I think it was on page 3.

This isn't that difficult of a choice for me. Being 5' 4" tall (actually, just shy of that), being short is a little disadvantageous for a male. It's less so for women. In the dating scene, women just aren't interested in short guys. Even women who are shorter than I am have a thing for guys who are really, really tall. I can understand why tall women don't want to date short guys... I get that. But the desire for short women to go out with towering giants? I don't know.

At any rate, aside from my height-challenged griping, I don't see any problem with helping your children out. Part of choosing a 'mate' is a subconscious strategy to produce successful offspring anyway (which is probably why girls tend to like taller men in the first place... they're more likely to reproduce).

Nope. I'm 4'11 and there's really no height I would rather be. Personally, I don't really understand this 'bigger is better' mentality. Unless we are members of the Irken Empire, height does not define rank, and while there may be fewer women who want to mate with a short male, there's enough straight females that I'm sure they could find a hobbit fancier somewhere. Besides, it isn't as if though short men never get married or have kids, so it doesn't completely erase their chances of finding a mate. In other words, the growth hormone is a complete waste of money that, except in extreme cases where the person could not drive a car in America, the home of the crappy public transportation, gives a person very little advantage. Who could afford to do more than make them a couple inches taller anyway? And what would they have to sacrifice to do so?

I certainly wouldn't pay for the growth hormones, though I might be tempted by robotic limbs as a means of adding height.