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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:
Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 13:09

SweetSouls · 18/11/2023 13:08

Well that escalated quickly.

I don’t expect my child will experience racial discrimination in employment, housing etc. I never said they would. That’s not what the thread is about.

But people insulting his appearance because of his red hair, is no different surely to insulting anyone for a genetic ethnic trait.

Why is it so acceptable to bully those with red hair?

Maybe ask the people bullying him? Why bring minorities into it?

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.

Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 13:09

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My bingo card is complete 🙄

MyopicBunny · 18/11/2023 13:09

Red hair is beautiful. People are so nasty.

Original poster
SweetSouls · 18/11/2023 13:08

Well that escalated quickly.

I don’t expect my child will experience racial discrimination in employment, housing etc. I never said they would. That’s not what the thread is about.

But people insulting his appearance because of his red hair, is no different surely to insulting anyone for a genetic ethnic trait.

Why is it so acceptable to bully those with red hair?

OP posts:
Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 13:07

Grimed · 18/11/2023 13:06

Coolhwip you've completely derailed OP's post. We get it. Move along.

She derailed her own post by bringing in people of colour into it. Maybe it’s time yours and OP’s attitudes moved along.

Meemoos · 18/11/2023 13:07

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Grimed · 18/11/2023 13:06

Coolhwip you've completely derailed OP's post. We get it. Move along.

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.

Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 13:04

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Thanks for confirming you give zero shits about minorities.

Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 13:04

Stroopwaffels · 18/11/2023 13:02

And anyway @Coolhwip, this is not a thread about Top Trumps about who is the most discriminated against. It's about whether the OP's "friends" have any right to comment negatively on an aspect of her child's appearance, and it's clearly not.

It was, until OP’s second post, which made it about race.

Meemoos · 18/11/2023 13:03

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Bivarb · 18/11/2023 13:03

Unacceptable. Red hair = celtic ancestry. It's very anti irish/scottish and rooted in bigotry.

I agree with the poster who suggested you ask if your friend is she's still a cunt 😆. Defend your baby. People have to be called out for this kind of thing

wokbun · 18/11/2023 13:02

Look them in the eye and ask if they intended to be so rude

Stroopwaffels · 18/11/2023 13:02

And anyway @Coolhwip, this is not a thread about Top Trumps about who is the most discriminated against. It's about whether the OP's "friends" have any right to comment negatively on an aspect of her child's appearance, and it's clearly not.

Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 13:01

Butchyrestingface · 18/11/2023 13:00

She's not talking about eventualities though. She's talking about what her one year old child is experiencing in the here and now, and will possibly continue to experience throughout his childhood.

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But she is equating this what people of colour experience. Which is wrong and minimises their experiences.

Jasmin1971 · 18/11/2023 13:01

Ignore unkind comments red hair is gorgeous and rare.

If anyone is particularly nasty I would say;

" He can die his hair if he wants, but you are stuck with your face"

Butchyrestingface · 18/11/2023 13:00

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.

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She's not talking about eventualities though. She's talking about what her one year old child is experiencing in the here and now, and will possibly continue to experience throughout his childhood.

Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 13:00

Bellyblueboy · 18/11/2023 12:59

I have red hair. I occasionally got nasty comments as a child. But it hasn’t impacted my educational, life or health outcomes.

it’s not the same.

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Well said.

Stroopwaffels · 18/11/2023 13:00

I have read plenty of books and am not denying racism is a thing. The reason so many people think poking fun at redheads or bullying them is fair game is because of anti-Irish sentiment, and red hair is associated with being Irish.

Racism is not OK. Neither is bullying redheads.

Meemoos · 18/11/2023 12:59

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Bellyblueboy · 18/11/2023 12:59

Stroopwaffels · 18/11/2023 12:58

How is it not the same.

Hair colour and skin colour are genetically determined, not a choice of the individual, uncontrollable. It's part of who you are.

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I have red hair. I occasionally got nasty comments as a child. But it hasn’t impacted my educational, life or health outcomes.

it’s not the same.

Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 12:58

Stroopwaffels · 18/11/2023 12:58

How is it not the same.

Hair colour and skin colour are genetically determined, not a choice of the individual, uncontrollable. It's part of who you are.

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Another one who needs to read a book.

Stroopwaffels · 18/11/2023 12:58

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

How is it not the same.

Hair colour and skin colour are genetically determined, not a choice of the individual, uncontrollable. It's part of who you are.

Coolhwip · 18/11/2023 12:58

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Seriously, get an education.

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