By Jiminy, Short Jokes Are Worse Than Fat Jokes

Regarding the commentary by Carla Kucinski lamenting the increased use of “fat suits” by actors and comedians (“Hollywood Beefs Up for a Good Laugh,” June 27):

If any obese people are upset by the humor generated by actors in fat costumes, they should either develop thicker skins or eat less and exercise more. Forgive my callous attitude, but as a short man (5-feet-4), I have always had to put up with Hollywood’s endless stereotyping of short men as either buffoons or psychos.

From the torrent of short jokes in movies like “Shrek” to a TV show like “ER,” in which each male character’s level of decency and competency corresponds directly to how tall he is (if you’ve never noticed this, pay attention the next time you watch), short men have it much worse than obese people, because we can never become taller (elevator shoes add only two inches at most).

So, my advice to any self-pitying obese people is to stop blubbering in your Haagen-Dazs and count your blessings that you at least have the option not to resemble Jiminy Glick if you don’t want to.

MAX J. WERTHAM

Los Angeles