X Dont body-shame people because of their height JIN: » It’s as rude as asking someone their weight Jessica Berget Opinions Editor ere’s a depressing trend I’ve noticed on Tinder and other dating sites: People, especially men, including their height in their bios and following it with a “because apparently that matters,” or “since so many people care.” I think it’s sad that so many people are asked about their heights often enough that they have opted to just put it in their bios. Most of us are aware of how rude it is to ask about or judge people based on their weight, so why is it okay to do the same in the case of someone's height? It’s body-shaming—plain and simple. In both cases you're judging someone based off of physical attributes, often entirely outside of their control, and deeming them unattractive because they are not a desirable height or weight. Obviously, you have to be attracted to the person to want to go out with them, but I don't think it’s right that some people should reject potential suitors outright just because they aren’t taller than them. Judging people so quickly on their physical features is rude and shallow no matter who you are. In particular, short men often literally get the short end of the stick in the hetero dating scene as most women claim to prefer men who are taller than them. Some even go as far as to say they won't date anyone shorter than six feet. Because of this partiality to tall men, shorter men will sometimes add a couple of inches to their profile descriptions to have better luck with online dating. I know it’s just a product of our shallow dating culture, but I think it’s horrible that anyone should have to lie about something as insignificant as their height to get any attention. Isn't this height selectiveness a weird standard to hold? Height isn’t something that you can change or control, and it can make anyone feel inadequate or undesirable just because they weren't born of average or even above average height. I’ve even heard some say that shorter men are less manly, which is a ridiculous generalization. Since when does height determine manliness? Like I said, being physically attracted to someone is important and being tall is often a characteristic attributed to attractiveness. However, if you're attracted to them and they have the same interests and values as you, so what if they’re New tax further complicates housing situation » BC’s speculation and vacancy tax doesn’t tackle the province’s housing crisis Naomi Ambrose Staff Writer I light of the new BC speculation and vacancy tax that was introduced to address concerns about the proliferation of empty houses in BC, I'd like to offer the opinion that this tax won't solve our housing crisis. Before delving into the reasons, let’s take a moment to reflect upon the housing dilemma. One of the issues in the housing market is the high numbers of homes and condominiums in BC owned by non- residents. According to Statistics Canada, condo ownership by non-residents in particular makes up a significant share of the market: While about a third of all residential properties in Vancouver are condo apartments, over half of all properties owned by non-residents are condos. The realities of this situation suggest that the high percentage of homes owned by non-residents may increase the difficulty of finda place to live in BC. Now we welcome the speculation and housing tax asa possible solution. According to the BC government website, the speculation and vacancy tax is a yearly tax residential property owners pay in certain taxable regions within the province. The site claims this tax is “designed to discourage housing speculation and people from leaving homes vacant in BC’s major urban centres.” The Vancouver Sun reported that in 2018, Vancouver deemed that there were almost 8,000 unoccupied or vacant homes, so having a tax to prevent people from buying homes only to leave them uninhabited seems like a good idea. The BC government’s site explains that everyone who owned applicable properties on December 31, 2018 pays the same tax Have an idea for a story? M opinions@theotherpress.ca not taller? A potential partner's height shouldn't be the be-all and end- all when you're considering a potential mate. You may end up having a great time with them or they could even be your soulmate for all you know. However, because some people have this obsession with only dating tall people , they may never know. Women being attracted to taller men is nothing new. One 2008 study by the journal of Personality and Individual Differences states that, in early civilizations, height may have been an evolutionarily or biologically attractive feature; ancestral women may have preferred men taller than them because it meant they could protect and provide for them. However, in our present-day society our requirements for success have clearly changed. The study then states that social norms play a significant part in shaping what is considered desirable in a partner—so we = | ie a fal = a ir ic m he t i | 5 2 “ - rate of 0.5 percent of the assessed value of the individual’s residential property. As of 2019 the tax will vary depending on residency and where one pays their income tax. Foreign owners and satellite families are to pay a two percent tax rate, while British Columbians and other Canadian citizens or permanent residents will continue to pay 0.5 percent. This tax only applies to properties that are not primary residences or being rented out, so the government claims it expects over 99 percent of British Columbians to be exempt from this new tax. Considering the low tax rate, I question the effectiveness of the speculation and vacancy tax. Will a mere ¢ Don't body-shame people for their height e Freud is void ¢ What gets your goat? ..and more have no excuse to abide by and continue to perpetuate the notion that taller men are inherently more attractive or better partners. There are a lot of attractive and great short men in the world (Bruno Mars, Prince, and Danny DeVito to name a few) and it’s not fair to deem them, or any man for that matter, unattractive simply because society has some absurd expectation for them to be taller. Asking about someone's height or weight perpetuates the idea that certain weights and heights are more desirable. It’s rude and shallow to put so much emphasis on someone's physical features. If things like height or weight matter a great deal to you, you may want to reconsider your values. Photo by Billy Bui PERE Oh beats Bd ——_—= 0.5 percent cause a homeowner who owns a $800, 00 vacant condo or a $3 million mansion to become overly worried about paying for their housing? Maybe a different tax rate with a higher single or double digit might cause the homeowners who participate in the empty home trade to change their mind about holding onto their vacant properties. Addressing BC’s housing crisis requires a multidisciplinary approach. This approach isn’t evident with the speculation and vacancy tax. The consequences need to be greater consequences for all homeowners contributing to the empty home trade in BC; otherwise there will be no change.