Through this and last year I have been getting over my social anxiety and shyness and found that I really really like being around people, but I noticed that when I meet new people some of them want to pick me up? There have been 5 or 6 people in the last half a year and they were mostly people I met on campus and there was also two people in my gf's family. I'm kind of short and thin and I'm wondering if this is a thing for others who are on the small side.... like is this a common thing that larger people do to shorter people?

kemonophonic said:
Picked up as in people lifting you up off the ground?

Yes

That seems rather odd. Wanting to lift a kid is one thing, but I wouldn't want to lift any adults even if they were rather small.

Well that depends on the level of confidence between people, culture, age and gender.
I'm a smol bean and since i'm an adult I only my allow my bf pick me up xD, but when I was at school it was pretty common, people just thought I was too adorable.

Friendly neighborhood physiologist here. I tried to search the litterateur but could not find anything on people literally lifting others. I can say with confident speculation that if people are lifting you they would do it for the same reason they would want to pick up and hold a puppy or cat, but they are doing so despite there being social norms against such actions. In short, they are likely picking you up because they see you as cute, and this impulse they have to lift up the cute thing outweighs the social component to not lift others off the ground.

It can also be considered assault and/or battery if done against one's will, much like touching a pregnant woman's stomach without her permission is considered assault and/or battery. They're people, not pets.

I will only lift someone if asked to.

blitzdrachin said:
Well that depends on the level of confidence between people, culture, age and gender.
I'm a smol bean and since i'm an adult I only my allow my bf pick me up xD, but when I was at school it was pretty common, people just thought I was too adorable.

do others ask u if they can tho?

I was never cute enough to get picked up.

Cheek-pinching, on the other hand...

If a fucker picks you up without consent, run away, they are a potential rapist.

leon_neon said:
run away

🤔 how do you plan to run when your feet are hovering above the ground?

bipface said:
🤔 how do you plan to run when your feet are hovering above the ground?

Scream and holler for help, or run away before you get picked up. Don't hang around them any longer.

bipface said:
🤔 how do you plan to run when your feet are hovering above the ground?

Don't forget, your kicking feet and knees are a lot closer to their groin and other soft, vulnerable parts. :p

odisaodi said:
do others ask u if they can tho?

Not anymore :3

Where I'm from, the only time someone gets picked up is from a hug, a fight, or by car to go out somewhere :V

Clawstripe said:
It can also be considered assault and/or battery if done against one's will, much like touching a pregnant woman's stomach without her permission is considered assault and/or battery. They're people, not pets.

Leon_Neon said:
If a fucker picks you up without consent, run away, they are a potential rapist.

Odisaodi said:
do others ask u if they can tho?

blitzdrachin said:
Not anymore :3

Everyone who has picked me up asked if they could, except for the two that I hugged and they must have thought to themselves... "I bet I could lift this" and one of those lifted from the hug and the other picked me up then hugged when I was saying goodbye. I don't mind being lifted but it's just...idk, odd that it keeps happening

TheHuskyK9 said:
Where I'm from, the only time someone gets picked up is from a hug, a fight, or by car to go out somewhere :V

Who gets picked up in a fight?? Why are ppl fighting ppl who can pick them up?

odisaodi said:
Who gets picked up in a fight?? Why are ppl fighting ppl who can pick them up?

Lift with your legs &/or momentum. Arms are rarely used alone; they anchor the opponent to your body (see bear hugs). Happens all the time in sport wrestling. Very easy to do (again, bear hugs).

odisaodi said:

Who gets picked up in a fight?? Why are ppl fighting ppl who can pick them up?

sometimes you don't get to choose who to fight

My old roommate could pick me up by my pockets.

Yeah