User blog comment:Zippertrain85/Why the Stormcloaks are right./@comment-6336669-20130507202240/@comment-80.216.216.3-20130518085710

And it looks like you are saying the Altmer are tall because of racism, which doesn't make sense.

We know from lore that elves/mer in general and Altmer in particular practice eugenics, magical eugenics.

Which would have influence on their genetics, and since we know from the creation of the Manmer that magic is highly useful and seemingly safe in a eugenic regard is safe to bet they use it on most if not all their pregnant females.

I'm not particularly saying "racism" doesn't exist as much as saying that for the most part any of it coming to play is largely irrelevant and besides the point unless taken too far like for instance Mer do.

Their whole schtick is to claim superiority to non-elves, that's what they do and sometimes that gets some of them wiped out.

All I am trying to say is that that is a-ok.

No, humans shouldn't all willy nilly call Khajiits rugs or or Argonians boots but in a combat situation with adrenaline flowing and blood pumping...

Yes such comments are to be expected.

As for bragging afterwards well...

And also, all soldiers in all times made up or real have taken trophies from fallen enemies.

What would be the functional difference between taken an enemies ear as opposed to making a pair of boots from an enemy.

Some cultures (your favorite word, perhaps?) have it that one is honouring ones enemy if one for instance eats their heart.

Maybe Nords believe something similar, who knows?