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Original poster

Ridiculous comments about red hair

213 replies

SweetSouls · 18/11/2023 12:41

My child has a lot of fiery red hair. They are a year old.

They get lots of nice comments - old ladies in particular love him.

However I get some weird ones too. ‘Still ginger’, one of my friends comments whenever they see him.

Well this morning on the train, a woman came up to me to tell me my child would be very badly bullied at school because of the way they look.

They are one year old. Why would someone come and say that to me? It is absolutely bizarre.

OP posts:
Iwasafool · 18/11/2023 13:29

Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 12:57

Because your son will not be discriminated against when looking for a job.

Because he won’t be stopped and searched dozens of times.

Because he won’t be assumed to be a criminal or a terrorist.

Because people won’t campaign for him to be deported to where he came from based on his country of birth.

Don’t appropriate racism for him.

Show quote history

I'm a red head, my kids are mixed race. They have good jobs, never been stopped and searched, I don't think anyone has ever assumed they are criminals or terrorists but if they have they've kept it to themselves. They are in their country of birth so no mention of deportation.

On the other hand I've had lots of mickey taking, abuse about how ugly red heads are, what bad tempers we have etc. My black husband was shocked when he heard some of it.

Meemoos · 18/11/2023 13:28

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Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 13:28

WeeSleekitCowrinTimrousBeastie · 18/11/2023 13:25

@Coolhwip I can see where you are coming from and a few of your early posts were really helpful and informative.

But at the same time we should be able to discuss gingerism and anti-Celtic heritage prejudice.

All prejudice and bigotry is bad. It's not a competition.

Thanks. No issues with discussing gingerism and anti-Celtic heritage prejudice, which is deplorable, but I think people need to be responsible for what they say about people of colour.

I’m disappointed no one is challenging @Meemoos for her awful views.

WeeSleekitCowrinTimrousBeastie · 18/11/2023 13:27

@SweetSouls have you come up with any good retorts yet to the ginger bashers?

TooTiredTo · 18/11/2023 13:25

Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 12:51

Imagine if you commented on a baby’s skin colour in a negative way.

It’s not the same. I hate when this line is trotted out. Hmm

It’s discrimination. It’s the same

WeeSleekitCowrinTimrousBeastie · 18/11/2023 13:25

@Coolhwip I can see where you are coming from and a few of your early posts were really helpful and informative.

But at the same time we should be able to discuss gingerism and anti-Celtic heritage prejudice.

All prejudice and bigotry is bad. It's not a competition.

Sauvblanctime · 18/11/2023 13:24

I LOOOVEEE red hair! Ignore them, or make a comment about theirs back!

RonObvious · 18/11/2023 13:22

daliesque · 18/11/2023 12:51

I'm a fellow ginger. Have had the comments all my life too and, as I got older, especially the inexplicable fascination with the colour of,our pubes.

Red hair is gorgeous and as your child gets,older they will realise that lots and lots of women spend an absolutely fortune paying to have their hair dyed the same colour as they have got for free.

What is with the obsession with our pubes? And why was it acceptable for random adult men to ask me about my pubic hair from the age of about 12 or 13? And of course, any sign that you weren’t happy about this just showed that you “needed to get a sense of humour”. People are so weird about red hair.

Grimed · 18/11/2023 13:21

Coolhwip needs to coolit 🤣 Good lord imagine being that fragile. Let OP have her post back.

Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 13:21

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So what was the ‘it’ you were referring to then? Coz it’s pretty obvious to all.

mondaytosunday · 18/11/2023 13:20

My dd has auburn hair and though not a fiery red is often identified as a 'fellow ginger'. It is also long, thick and wavy, and it is inevitably the one thing everyone, but everyone, compliments her on. My father was thrilled - he had a soft spot for red heads!
It does make her stand out which is a mixed blessing.

Meemoos · 18/11/2023 13:19

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Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 13:19

MyopicBunny · 18/11/2023 13:16

Ok, I can see where the Coolwhip is coming from. It's because the OP compared mean comments about hair colour to mean comments about skin colour. It's fair enough to point out that racism really can't be compared with any teasing a white person might experience for whatever reason.

Thanks @MyopicBunny

Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 13:18

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You said:

It's [racism] just made up nonsense. It doesnt exist here. Everyone just trying so hard to be a victim and pretend to be oppressed all the time...so boring and pathetic. And pretty insulting to those who experience actual hardship.

Original poster
SweetSouls · 18/11/2023 13:16

anon2134 · 18/11/2023 13:09

Dd is a curly red head and I've never had any negative comments about her hair. This is very odd.

That is interesting!

I wonder if boys get more teasing about it than girls. I’ve had loads!

massively outweighed by adoring old ladies, but a surprising amount given they are literally insulting a babies appearance.

OP posts:
MyopicBunny · 18/11/2023 13:16

Ok, I can see where the Coolwhip is coming from. It's because the OP compared mean comments about hair colour to mean comments about skin colour. It's fair enough to point out that racism really can't be compared with any teasing a white person might experience for whatever reason.

Meemoos · 18/11/2023 13:16

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weleasewoderick23 · 18/11/2023 13:14

@SweetSouls

I agree. Why is it ok to demonise red hair and when you retaliate to be told you're too sensitive?

Although I wouldn't equate it with other ethnic colouring, there is still a stigma attached to having red hair.

And say red hair is gorgeous doesn't make me feel any better because, for every one person who loves it there will be 3 who hate it.
That's my experience anyway.

Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 13:13

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Stroopwaffels · 18/11/2023 13:13

Agree it's so weird. My redheaded DS is my third baby, the other two were reddish blonde when born and just blonde as they got older. When the third was born he had red hair from the start, and the number of people who said things like "never mind, he might still go blonde like his siblings". WTF?

Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 13:13

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sandrapinchedmysandwich · 18/11/2023 13:12

Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 12:51

Imagine if you commented on a baby’s skin colour in a negative way.

It’s not the same. I hate when this line is trotted out. Hmm

Stop hijacking this thread. It's so rude. No discrimination is right.

Op I can't believe how out of order that comment was about your lovely ds. What did you say?

Original poster
SweetSouls · 18/11/2023 13:12

@Coolhwip why bring minorities into it?

With red hair and blue eyes he’s probably one of the smallest minorities on earth by appearance!

OP posts:
Original poster
SweetSouls · 18/11/2023 13:10

weleasewoderick23 · 18/11/2023 13:06

I have red hair and I'm very sensitive to people thinking it's fair game to take the piss. I've had:

Collar and cuffs?

If your dc have red hair they'll get bullied ( one has and yes, he was bullied)

You can't go out in the sun, ginger hair and pale skin means you have to completely cover up or stay indoors.

And the worst: gingers have no soul.

I'm in my mid fifties and have had it all my life. I'm now bleached blonde so nobody could know I'm naturally ginger.

I wish I could shake it off like others, but it really does make me feel second class. That probably sounds a bit dramatic but it's how I feel.

I’ve had several people say in front of me ‘I hope I don’t have a ginger baby’.

It’s so weird. I wonder if they think I’ve got some kind of ‘booby prize’.

Because of his hair colour of all bloody things.

OP posts:
Stroopwaffels · 18/11/2023 13:10

Actually, @Coolhwip that was me. I posted that commenting negatively on someone's hair colour isn't acceptable in the same way commenting negatively on someone's skin colour or eye colour isn't acceptable.

It's you who started banging on about racism and discrimination which is a different point entirely.

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