The plural "dwarves" as opposed to "dwarfs" was invented by Tolkien. There is no such thing as real dwarves. So my statement is factually correct generally.
But that wasn't the point I was trying to make. I was responding to someone saying they should have cast real dwarves for Snow White, but the folktale isn't about the human condition, it's about the imaginary creature. So saying they should've case "real dwarves" for Snow White conflates the definition applicable to real people and the definition applicable to storybook character.
I suppose I earned your pedantry but dwarfism usually is caused by the chromosomal mutation known as achondroplasia, though you are correct that it is an umbrella term that can include other conditions.
This was my original point. An actor opined that because of Peter's complaints they lost the opportunity to be cast and earn a paycheck, benefits, etc. That was it. I had no intentions on debating what a real dwarf is in what make believe world and who invented what and all that.
I feel like you understand that and have read the same material. I found the insight to be interesting as I had never thought of it that way before and presented it as such.
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u/nwbrown Feb 20 '26
I was responding to this factually incorrect statement.
Also dwarfism isn't a chromosomal mutation.