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[The Mad Engineer]

Everyone has that little quirk about themselves that they hate.  In some cases, it could be that they are too chubby, or simply that their hair looks like a dead animal.  In any case, that wouldn't be much of a problem, but my "quirk" is starting to really affect my everyday life.  You see, I am a big person.  That doesn't mean I'm fat or obese.  I am just really really tall (A bit over 6 feet), and have long limbs.  Its supposed to be great, right?  Every guy wants to be tall.
I am not a jock, and sports have no interest to me.  However, thanks to the fact that I am always compliant with people, and the fact that my parents INSIST that I don't become some fat blob, I have become a gymnast over these three years.  It was quite gradual, really.  I joined a gymn so that I wouldn't become unfit, and after a couple of months the coach wanted me to join the team.  I said yes, I guess, not really committed.  Then the "fun" began.  He pestered me for more practice times, and eventually I was logging around eight hours intense practice a week.  Next thing I know, people at school start referring to me as the "gymnast", I get a lot stronger, and I don't have as much time to spend doing art and science, two things I'm really passionate about.
Still, it's nice not being the wimpy nerd anymore.  But my social standing actually started getting worse.  My friends don't really want to hang out with me anymore, since I don't have time to do physics projects with them and such.  I absolutely HATE the sport guys at my school, and I'm not exactly "passionate" about gymnastics.
But that's not the point I was trying to get at.  The point is that my height just compounds the issue.  I live in a mostly asian community, so I'm easily one of the biggest people in my school.  Everyone assumes that I'm slow and stupid, and I admit, my reaction times are absolutely crap.  Since I have a submissive personality, people have realized that they can push me around (especially my coach and some of the guys at the gymn), and ever more recently I've been felling less like a human and more like a freakishly tall MACHINE that just does what everyone tells it to do.  Also, It has dawned on me that the reason I was asked to join the team was probably because of my height; it makes doing the skills that much easier, and nets more points for my coach.  I don't want to quit the gym, since I have made a lot of friends since joining, something I didn't have a lot of before.  And my parents are SO proud of me, that they probably won't let me quit.  And nothing's more pathetic than a 6 foot guy crying whilst trying to argue a case (I swear, every time I get angry, it all just reverts into tears.
  That, along with my name and accent (which makes people assume I'm french or british, which I am neither) just makes it all the worse.

So, what's a guy to do?

[Cthulhu]

Stop submitting.  Be assertive.  Use your gymnastics to kick someone in the face.

[The Mad Engineer]

I am filled with an intense fear and adrenaline rush when I am in a confrontation scenario.  Even a conversation with someone I have never met before makes me sweat.  But then, when I am alone, I like to think about how I could be all superman and PUNCH SOCIETY!

As for kicking people, I would probably seriously hurt them with the momentum unless I give them a light tap with my foot.  And then I would be ostracised as a pariah for breaking the nose of someone smaller than me.

[JoshuaFH]

Dude, you're BIG! You NEVER have to get into fights, you just have to start practicing one thing: Sounding mean.

If you can sound genuinely angry, not break into tears, and sound like someone that's ABOUT to start throwing punches, then you can get what you want without ever having to actually hurt anyone, because most of these guys will instinctively back down from fighting a guy bigger than themselves.

Learning to yell at people in an intimidating way is vital as well. Don't yell with your emotions, yell with your voice. It's important that you do that so you don't let out tears, and you have to learn it by yourself.

Now, it's actually sort've easy for me since I was raised by a nasty, mean Mom. Over the years growing up, I've naturally learned to become a nasty and mean person at the drop of a hat, even when I'm not angry. I'm not a muscular guy, but it's very obvious that people avoid conflict with me just because I put up such a good front.

That, and I really do have intense anger problems, but that's another story altogether.

[Os Q]

I wouldn't know what to suggest. But I can tell you that I was the tallest kid in class throughout middle school, nowadays (adulthood) I'm only about 3-4 inches taller than the average guy. I miss being tall once in a while (but then I remember the disadvantages you mentioned, as well as being goofy as hell and a frequent patsy for some of my "friends")

Actually, I would at least let my parents know I wouldn't want to do gymnastics as much anymore. (please take this advice with a grain of salt, since I don't know your parents)

[Armok]

If you are prepared to do something of questionable honesty, then start sucking. "forget" practice, start failing and getting bad points. Stay up late at night reading physics so you become tired and cant gymnastic properly, etc.
Also, get a goofy laugh, glasses, and paint your hair orange.
Finaly, top it out with "mistakenly" saying something really, really insulting and hurtfull abaut your coach, something so bad he attacks you, then kick his ass.

Seriusly thou, I agree that you shuld stop taking crap from peaple. If you don't like gynastics, don't do gymnastics. Stay at home and just read for a month, and throw stuff at evryone who dares enter your room and roar like a wild animal.

Ok, I'm not very good at staying serius for long.

[Heron TSG]

Here's an idea. You could tell your coach that your grades are slipping (assuming they are) and that you need more time for study. Unless he's a win-centric tool, he probably won't mind you doing more schoolwork.

[DJ]

If you don't like it, don't do it. Just straight out tell your parents and your coach what you told us (well, maybe not with so many details). They may disapprove, but you have to learn to stand up for yourself or you'll never get anywhere in life.

[The Mad Engineer]

You know what?  I already talked with my parents, and they absolutely will not let me quit.  I cannot drive, and although I can argue my case further, its only a couple of months till I go out of state to college, where my parents cannot touch me anymore.


Thanks for your advice, and I've been trying to be more assertive lately.  I snapped at the coach because I was really tired, and he left me alone for the whole practice.  I think I might be on to something here.

[DJ]

You're of college age? How is 6' freakishly tall? Isn't that like the average height for a male?

[Enzo]

Dude, you're BIG! You NEVER have to get into fights, you just have to start practicing one thing: Sounding mean.

If you can sound genuinely angry, not break into tears, and sound like someone that's ABOUT to start throwing punches, then you can get what you want without ever having to actually hurt anyone, because most of these guys will instinctively back down from fighting a guy bigger than themselves.

This can be sort of dangerous advice. Most guys won't start a fight with someone bigger than them, but the ones who will are usually crazy, experienced fighters, or carrying a knife.

[JoshuaFH]

Dude, you're BIG! You NEVER have to get into fights, you just have to start practicing one thing: Sounding mean.

If you can sound genuinely angry, not break into tears, and sound like someone that's ABOUT to start throwing punches, then you can get what you want without ever having to actually hurt anyone, because most of these guys will instinctively back down from fighting a guy bigger than themselves.

This can be sort of dangerous advice. Most guys won't start a fight with someone bigger than them, but the ones who will are usually crazy, experienced fighters, or carrying a knife.

Or homeless, jobless, and desperate. Not unlikely in this day and age.

But by my advice, I should probably clarify to say that you should stick very close to your manners, and only become mean when it's absolutely necessary. Don't snap at everyone, by any means.

EDIT: But to clarify EVEN MORE, I think that it's better to be firm than mean. It's possible to be a perfectly nice and polite person, but have everyone still respect you by being firm with your words. This is hard to describe.

[Cthulhu]

The average for white men in America is 5'10 or so.  He's above average but isn't a monstrosity.

[The Mad Engineer]

It all depends upon the community you're in.  Where I'm at, 5" is about the average height.  That's why I can't wait to get out of here.

[Cthulhu]

Where do you live, the Shire?

Wow, I would be a god to them.

Don't leave, stay there.  You could rule them.