Hi there :) I think this image says it all: http://funkyimg.com/i/2nKFf.png
The only way to "shorten" them would be to cut off some of the content from the middle or the end. This doesn't seem desirable. If you're willing to have your filenames but off, you might try using Details or Detailed Tree views.
Of course is it desirable, since I distinguish my pictures based on the previews, rather than ksadgjlaölgjaögn and akljasgjaireöag
*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 310790 ***