I'm a 6'6" mesomorph, and never been in a fight in my life, not even in the schoolyard. I'm used to people being a bit apprehensive of me on a lonely street, and sometimes if I'm behind a woman and we're walking about the same pace, I'll cross the road to avoid potentially stressing them out. When people meet me and make some reference to me being someone 'not to mess with' because I'm big, I tell them that most big guys are teddybears, and to think of other big guys they know (I stress most, but not all). Almost invariably, their face shows that the light-bulb clicks, as they can't think of any aggressive big guys amongst their friends.

So I'm used to one of the things listed in this article. I'm fine with this preconception people have, as it's not that much of a problem on it's own, and it's easy to take it in my stride. However, it's the gestalt of all those things that the author is talking about that is the problem. They all work together, and if I experienced all of those working against me, I'd feel unfairly treated as well. "People fear me unfairly on the street? No worries, I'll be at work soon, and I don't have to deal with that shit there..."

I may not have been clear. I don't feel particularly discriminated and don't really care in any case. It's incredibly minor.

However, I strongly object to the idea that it's okay to discriminate based on unalterable characteristics as long as you're not discriminating against a member of a legally protected group.

Having rights doesn't stop you being morally and factually wrong, which is the point of this piece: while you are allowed to cross the road when you see a black man, doing so is a dick move, because it upsets the man in question.

I never demanded you stop crossing the road because you're scared of specific groups, and for that matter neither did the author of the article, although our situations are obviously very different. It has merely been pointed out that doing certain legal things can have a negative impact on other people. In my case, I am pointing out that crossing the street to avoid someone has a negative impact on whoever is being avoided, regardless of race. This is clearly not the same as calling for legislation to prevent unlawful street crossing.

As you have noted, the government won't stop anyone from calling you a dick. If you don't like being called a dick, well, that's too bad.

It likely is a genetic mechanism rather than "discrimination." Fact is that in an adverse encounter, the big (tall) fellow is more dangerous. So its wise for smaller persons, and especially women and children to minimize encounters with taller/bigger persons, and strangers also.

So they're doing the right thing.