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AIBU?

To complain to Tesco about this advert?

68 replies

Pacific · 23/04/2011 13:20

I have ranted about this topic before, see www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/975424-Why-is-39-gingerism-39-an-acceptable-form-of-prejudiceThisThreadso when I went to Tesco this morning and saw a big advert for a ginger flavoured drink with the slogan 'Ginger, always the best man - never the bridegroom', I saw red.

Anyway, I started ranting as soon as I saw it and gathered quite a crowd all agreeing with me while I was trying to persuade teenage DD to take a photo of the offending advert (can't work my own camera phone [bublush] ). At this point, red-haired DD rolled her eyes and said 'Mum, you are sooooo embarrassing' and cleared off to look at the toiletries. [bugrin]

Now I know it is supposed to be funny, and I know it is a reference to Prince Harry but AIBU?

PS the tesco manager just looked at me as if I was a nutter and more or less said 'calm down dear' [bugrin]

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Vallhala · 23/04/2011 13:58

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8414214.stm Christmas card advert.

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BeakerTheMuppetMuppet · 23/04/2011 13:58

Moongirl

ok, blondes have more fun V red heads have vile tempers


it's just not funny

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starkadder · 23/04/2011 13:58

YANBU. Totally agree that this kind of casual offensiveness is unacceptable.

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WorkingItOutAsIGo · 23/04/2011 14:05

Yanbu

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Chil1234 · 23/04/2011 14:09

Don't complain to a retailer about an advert. Complain to the Advertising Standards Authority

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stream · 23/04/2011 14:14

YANBU, but arf at 'seeing red'. [bugrin]

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Pacific · 23/04/2011 14:26

Didn't notice my own 'seeing red' comment!

Thanks all. My opinion is that the 'casual offensiveness' referred to by starkadder is the problem.

I am not going storming into Tesco about it but I think these little things need challenged, otherwise it becomes normalised.

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supadupacreameggscupa · 23/04/2011 14:27

I was going to say YABU but as I have just watched tim minchin again (thanks for that haha) I think you are most definitely NOT being unreasonable.

I don't mean that at all, but as a member of a red headed family I have learned to laugh at such matters. Tim sums it up perfectly.

Have a lovely day.

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vbn123 · 23/04/2011 14:52

It's not advertising a tesco product though, it's for brothers cider.

There is another one at my local asda about "Kate can't chose her family but can choose her in-laws/drink" or something.

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princessparty · 23/04/2011 16:45

But it's about price Harry??? I think you need to chillax and stop taking everything so seriously!

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Katisha · 23/04/2011 16:49

Nope sorry princessparty. It's not something to chillax about when you have seen your little boy being made fun of for the colour of his hair, People with no experience of this think it's amusing.

But I don't think a 9 yr old telling you that he wants to dye his hair blond is chillaxing.

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NorfolkNChanceOfAnEgg · 23/04/2011 16:56

YANBU I am a very proud red head but I remember begging my Mum to dye my hair to stop the teasing at school about it.

DD has inherited my hair and I hope that she will not suffer the same insults.

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SkinittingFluffyBunnyBonnets · 23/04/2011 16:57

Blondes DO get abuse! Being called a "Dumb blonde" is bad....as is the phrase "Don't be so blonde" in ref to how bright/stupid people are

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Loshad · 23/04/2011 17:02

YABa littleU - proud ginger here, but everyone gets the mickey taken out of them for something.
Even my pupils make little jokes about my ginger hair Grin
YABVU to go to Tescos - how did you have vouchers anyway if you don't normally shop there Hmm (miss marple super detective out again Wink)

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southmum · 23/04/2011 17:07

yabu

You have to help yuor son realise that people will always pick on others for something. if he wasnt ginger it would be his heigh / weight / glasses etc

unfortunately gingers being ribbed will never stop, and IMO hoo-hahs like this just make the piss taking even funnier for others.

I speak as someone who was bullied most of her school life for being a ginge. Infact if I was there id have told you to pipe down and stop being embarassing.

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WannabeNigella · 23/04/2011 17:08

YABU! I have a ginger haired sister and friend. They wouldn't be offended by this.

Sense of humour required!

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WannabeNigella · 23/04/2011 17:10

Southmum that is a really well made point.

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OmniaParatus · 23/04/2011 17:19

YANBU. I've just had my second ginger child, thankfully both are too young atm to suffer any discrimination but my nephew has been bullied by both pupils and even a teacher when at school for the colour of his hair Sad.

Complain to Tesco's to get them to take it down, and then to the Advertising Standards Authority to have it withdrawn. Good luck!

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BeakerTheMuppetMuppet · 23/04/2011 17:25

i can't fully agree with you southmum, as long as we accept bullying as a bit of a joke, arseholes will always take it too far.

kids have had bleach thrown at them, ostracised from football teams, excluded from birthday parties....

my own 9mth old was discussed, at great lengths and insult, by 2 complete strangers on a bus.

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WannabeNigella · 23/04/2011 17:26

Pacific you have obviously raised a daughter who is confident in her own skin and you should be proud. Southmum is right, there is always something people can see as a weakness and pick on others for, kids can be cruel. But this is some harmless fun around the Royal Wedding and it's all about empowering people to be confident about themselves.

I was a bit thoughtless by saying "sense of humour required" in my earlier post, I was just trying to make the point that it was something with potential to make people smile. It did me.

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houseworkwhore · 23/04/2011 17:35

yabu

it is rather funny imo

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balia · 23/04/2011 17:44

YANBU vote from me - redhaired DD dyes her hair because of the name calling and vicious comments she used to get.

You might like to check out the ginger massive on (sorry) Facebook or Youtube. Started by Richard McCann of Icaninspire (you can google that one) every school should have him in.

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lazarusb · 23/04/2011 17:45

I have some natural red in my hair (thanks to my very ginger Granddad Smile) and I dye it to make it redder....I love it. I used to get picked on because it is curly. If you were offended by it, by all means complain.

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Pacific · 23/04/2011 18:05

Hi, I'm back. Thank you for all your comments and I think it is good that we are having this wee discussion about it.

I have a red headed DD who glories in her locks but has had a bit of stick over the years about it. My rugby playing DS has had it worse (why is it worse for red haired boys?) but after a few well placed defensive punches a year or so ago, no-one dares take the mickey anymore.

Anyway, I feel better having had my wee rant about it and know I am not alone in my frustration!

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