The Bar Stool Dilemma: A Short Person's Plight
For many of us, the simple act of finding a seat in a cafe, pub, or restaurant has become an unexpected source of daily frustration. The culprit? The ubiquitous bar stool, a seating arrangement that seems designed to maximise discomfort and humiliation, particularly for those of shorter stature.
A Fashion Week Awakening
The issue was thrown into sharp relief during this year's Melbourne Fashion Week, where one attendee arrived to find only bar stools available behind the front row. Wearing platforms and a short dress, she faced two equally undignified options: flashing her underwear to those behind her or risking a twisted ankle in the attempt to mount the impossibly high seat. She ultimately chose to lean against it, hoping to appear nonchalant rather than pathetically defeated by furniture.
More Than Just an Inconvenience
This isn't merely about temporary discomfort. For shorter individuals, bar stools represent a constant reminder that the world isn't built with them in mind. They're forced to dangle their feet like children while trying to enjoy a simple chai latte, enduring what feels like a modern version of the high chair. The experience is often compounded by condescending labels like "fun-sized" that they've dealt with for years.
The problems extend beyond mere height inconvenience. The typical bar stool offers little to no back support, creating what can only be described as a bona fide torture device specialising in both humiliation and physical pain. Patrons are forced to contort their spines until they resemble overcooked prawns—hunched over and completely undignified.
As the author pointedly asks: "I want to sit down at a table when I eat. I shouldn't have to do a high jump or flow through a yoga sequence to scoff down an overpriced burger." The frustration is palpable and shared by many across the UK's hospitality scene.
Time for Change?
The question remains: why has society, as a collective species, not rid itself of this agonising apparatus? With accessibility becoming an increasingly important consideration in public spaces, perhaps it's time for venues to reconsider their seating arrangements. After all, as the author wryly notes, "stool is just another word for shit"—and many would agree it's time for this particular variety to be flushed away for good.
