Popularized by Kid Rock and the WWF

January 14, 2005 6:19 PM

Rent-a-Midget. "Think about the best party you've ever been to, wouldn't it have been better if there was a midget there? Another boring day at the office, why not have one of our little people go down and bring some life in there!"
posted by cedar (15 comments total)

I have been curious for years now to hear a first person account of what life is like for a little person. Do any mefi-types know of a good place for me to look. I am constantly wondering what would be considered offensive, what is most inconvenient, is there some kind of "community," etc.?
posted by SkinnerSan at 6:26 PM on January 14, 2005

There are quite a few places you could look, SkinnerSan. One of them would be the Centralized Dwarfism Resources site. (See especially: Library) Otherwise, Google turns up a number of good resources on the first page.

I'm sure there are a number of sites and organizations that are not associated with dwarfism, specifically, that could also give you the information you're looking for, but it's the term I'm most familiar with, as I have a friend who's at least somewhat involved in their community.
posted by abiku at 6:44 PM on January 14, 2005

SkinnerSan: Check out the Little People of America. As kind of an aside, Warwick Davis also started Warwick Managment, a casting agency just for short actors.
posted by PantsOfSCIENCE at 6:46 PM on January 14, 2005

huh. i thought peter dinklage was doing really well for himself, too.
posted by pxe2000 at 6:50 PM on January 14, 2005

Bridget is best known for her work in film

Heh, heh. Film, indeed.

At least Phil Fondacaro has more self-respect.
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:13 PM on January 14, 2005

Doctor Who should rent these midgets:

A report in today's Daily Mirror (echoed by other services) say that the new series has been hit by a shortage of dwarf actors because of the filming of two films, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and the next Harry Potter film. "It's very difficult to employ persons of restricted growth when, as our producer Phil Collinson says, `Bloody Gringotts and the Chocolate Factory are filming at the same time'," executive producer Russell T Davies has been quoted by the Mirror as saying.

posted by NickDouglas at 7:48 PM on January 14, 2005

At least Phil Fondacaro has more self-respect.

I guess you haven't seen Blood Dolls, hmmm?
posted by puke & cry at 8:11 PM on January 14, 2005

A week after her birth in 1992, Dan Kennedy’s firstborn daughter, Rebecca, was diagnosed with achondroplasia, the most common type of dwarfism. Reassured by doctors that Becky would have normal intelligence and a normal life span, Dan and his wife, Barbara, quickly adjusted to the reality of her condition. Not so easy was grasping people’s attitudes toward those with physical differences.

Dan Kennedy, the media writer for the Boston Phoenix, is the editor of the LPA Online, the mag for the Little People of America. The above quote is from his book, Little People: Learning to See the World Through My Daughter's Eyes.

Seems like an excellent source. I haven't read his book yet, but it's on my list.
posted by mudpuppie at 8:39 PM on January 14, 2005

Why not just create Dwarf Eye For The Queer Guy and call it a fully rounded bigot season.
posted by HTuttle at 10:43 PM on January 14, 2005

Third link today from memepool.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 11:44 PM on January 14, 2005

Whoops ... I meant, memepool.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 11:45 PM on January 14, 2005

I have been curious for years now to hear a first person account of what life is like for a little person.

So rent one and ask him. *shrug*
posted by webmutant at 12:38 AM on January 15, 2005

I guess you haven't seen Blood Dolls, hmmm?

I think being in a Full Moon movie degrades everyone equally. Then again, watch Creeps. Phil Fondacaro is one of my favorite Draculas. I can't think of any actor under four feet tall who could play the role better.
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:22 AM on January 15, 2005

Why not just create Dwarf Eye For The Queer Guy and call it a fully rounded bigot season.

Well, being a queer dwarf would make certain things more convenient. I'm just saying.
posted by jonmc at 9:04 AM on January 15, 2005

why not have one of our little people go down

Is it just me, or is that a very unfortunate way of wording that, especially in conjunction with the concept of renting a little person?
posted by orange swan at 3:51 PM on January 15, 2005