User:RM395/Course/Edit wars/André the Giant

Exactly how "giant" was André the Giant?

Height can be a sensitive subject, especially when talking about celebrities and athletes. Wrestlers are no exception to this, especially those who are known specifically for their towering height. It should come as no surprise that André the Giant's height has been widely debated, and that the center of this debate has found a new home on Wikipedia.--Tabbboooo (talk) 07:20, 18 March 2013 (UTC)

With over 3,766 page edits, André's height has sparked quite the controversy. Users have argued André's height to be anything from 6ft 8in to over 7ft 5in. Users cite surgeries, gigantisim, epiphyseal fusion, acromegaly, lifts, "poofy hair" and many other factors when supplying figures in the debate. Many users have argued about the factors themselves, whether they exist and how they should be weighed. Others heatedly debate over the sources of such figures, which is where the debate really gets interesting. Some users swear by personal observations while others cite the observations of friends or other authors. Quite a number of users argue their figures over photographs taken of the wrestler, specifically when he is standing next to other notably tall celebrities or wrestlers. André has been compared to Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Wilt Chamberlain, and Hulk Hogan, to name a few. André's height has also been compared to photographs of others with specifically known heights. Quotes from family members, celebrity and non-celebrity friends, various wrestling magazines and fans cover the talk page. One user even cited a cardboard cutout as a reliable source. --Tabbboooo (talk) 07:20, 18 March 2013 (UTC)

Arguments abound about credibility, figures, factors, sources, periods of time, health issues and wrestling matches. Eventually one user noted that per Wikipedia policy, the wrestler's height should match the height he was "billed" by, and should be listed as such. However, many users disagree with André's billed height, citing inflated figures and unreliable reporting because of entertainment purposes. Some users claim the height was billed higher to garner more publicity. Others claim the billed height fits when taking into account his inches of hair and lifts in his shoes. Every user has their own specific viewpoint.--Tabbboooo (talk) 07:20, 18 March 2013 (UTC)

As it stands now, André's billed height of 7 ft 4 in. is listed on his wikipedia page. Regardless of the ongoing height debate, everyone can agree that André the giant was very, very tall.--Tabbboooo (talk) 07:20, 18 March 2013 (UTC)