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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to be so offended by this?

76 replies

Pumpernickel10 · 10/06/2011 17:06

This article as been in several newspapers today
Ross Wajtknecht, 11 who was described as a 'Ginger Kid' on a receipt given to him at Domino's Pizza
A RED-haired boy burst into tears when hurtful Domino?s Pizza workers called him Ginger Kid on his receipt.

Ross Wajgtknecht, 11, has endured bullying because of his hair and is horrified that staff at the fast food chain also poked fun at him.

He was at the takeaway with two pals and they all gave their full names when they ordered.

When they collected their pizzas, his friends had their first names on their receipts ? but Ross couldn?t believe his eyes when he saw what was on his.

He said: ?I was really sad. I get bullied at school about my hair but you don?t expect it from an adult. I couldn?t stop thinking about it and brought the packet home because I wanted to show my mum.?

Furious mum Evette, 43, said: ?He is usually quite a strong and confident lad who doesn?t let comments upset him but reading that has really knocked him.? Ross? dad, Andrew, 45, called the Domino?s blunder ?totally disgusting?.

The builder added: ?You would not describe someone by the colour of their skin or by calling them fat so why is it OK to call Ross ginger? I think they picked on him because he is just a lad and they knew he wouldn?t defend himself. It is prejudice.

?They offered him a free pizza but the damage has been done and he doesn?t want to go back in case it happens again.?

Ross, of Peasedown, Somerset, bought the pizza from the Domino?s branch in nearby Midsomer Norton.

Manager Pat Bennet said: ?It was for the benefit of the person who took the order. It wasn?t meant to cause offence.

?I have apologised to the family over the phone and the member of staff concerned has written an apology to the boy. We will ensure nothing like this happens again.?

But Ross? family are demanding a full apology from Domino?s head office.

*
I was very offended by this so was DH who as ginger hair and so does our DH
Whats your views?

OP posts:
PamBeesly · 10/06/2011 17:10

Its discrimination, I feel for that boy, especially as he had been bullied about his hair colour. I honestly do not get the ginger jokes and I have always wanted to have long flowing ginger hair, its so beautiful and different.
Some people may think its ok because its just a bit of fun but its not, its actually quite hurtful
YANBU

MilkandWine · 10/06/2011 17:11

It is awful and I feel so sorry for the young lad involved. Would they have put 'black kid' on it or 'Boy in wheelchair'? I think not.

He is fully entitled to a written apology at the very least imo.

I don't get the red hair prejudice at all, I love a man with red hair, pale skin and blue eyes, yummy!

ShushBaby · 10/06/2011 17:12

YANBU. Immature and unacceptable.

Free pizza for life is least they can do.

JoySzasz · 10/06/2011 17:15

I think it is dreadful for that boy to hear that :(

I use the term 'red hair' anyway.

I hate all this gingers crap.

Tolalola · 10/06/2011 17:17

Yes I saw this as well. It's horrible and it was really poor of the Manager to try to defend it at all. I don't understand the red hair hatred in the UK.

MissPenteuth · 10/06/2011 17:20

If his friends' receipts had had 'blonde kid' or 'brown-haired kid' on then I could possibly understand the manager's reasoning (although the term 'ginger' in itself isn't pleasant). Singling one child out because of his hair colour is horrible though Angry

baguettecut · 10/06/2011 17:20

It was very wrong of Domino's. No doubt about that. However, I can't help thinking they've just made things ten times worse for the boy by going to the press with this story.

PrincessTamTam · 10/06/2011 17:21

I think it's terrible. People always say it's a 'bit of fun' but it wouldn't be acceptable if he were black/asian/fat/gay/disabled so why is it still ok for redheads? My best friend's son was bullied all the way through school for his gorgeous red hair, sometimes even by his teachers. He did not find any of it fun.
BTW ditto men with red hair, pale skin, blue eyes, green eyes, brown eyes, hell - just eyes! ... very yummy!

WriterofDreams · 10/06/2011 17:21

YANBU. I only became aware of the whole anti-ginger thing a few years ago and it's always struck me as really odd that people will quite openly take the piss of people for the colour of their hair whereas they wouldn't dare do it in relation to their skin colour. I feel very sorry for that boy and I do think he deserves an apology.

I've even heard parents lamenting the fact that their children are ginger as though it's a terrible thing - horrible IMO.

StewieGriffinsMom · 10/06/2011 17:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

komondor · 10/06/2011 17:23

YANBU.

Regard · 10/06/2011 17:29

YANBU. Horrible.

Yukana · 10/06/2011 17:29

I don't know what people see wrong with people with red/ginger hair. Is it because they are different, seen just as another innocent target to poke fun at?

I personally find ginger hair stunning, it's a gorgeous and rare color. Red/ginger-haired people usually have fair skin too, and I guess part of the reason people pick on them might be because of jealousy?

Either way, it's discrimination and unacceptable. Being ginger is something the individual should take pride in. :) And this is coming from a brunette!

Original poster
Pumpernickel10 · 10/06/2011 17:30

Same as me milk my DH is red haired and pale and so it DD.
They are both gorgeous. I refer to it as strawberry blond

OP posts:
Salmotrutta · 10/06/2011 17:31

I love red hair - we have some red-heads in our family and up here in Scotland it's very common. I don't understand either why it's supposedly OK to make fun of people like this. Similar to the "dumb blonde" idea which is also very ofensive.

Salmotrutta · 10/06/2011 17:32

offensive!!

zukiecat · 10/06/2011 17:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LittleMissFlustered · 10/06/2011 17:33

That branch of Domino needs to have a look at Tim Minchin's Taboo. As we all know "only a ginger can call another ginger ginger".

Seriously, the member of staff needs a kipper slap, and perhaps to have somebody get him with a bad bleach job and be forced to be a redhead for a few days, see how he likes how it can be perceived.

Personally I love ginger hair.

flamegirl77 · 10/06/2011 17:34

YANBU

zukiecat · 10/06/2011 17:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Salmotrutta · 10/06/2011 17:37

Oh I know zukie - but you'd think when it's not exactly rare up here that people would be less inclined to poke fun!

TheFlyingOnion · 10/06/2011 17:39

what was his mother doing going to the national papers?

Now he'll be a laughing stock - hungry for publicity or what?

Salmotrutta · 10/06/2011 17:40

Well, maybe the straw that broke the camel's back TheFlyingOnion?

Salmotrutta · 10/06/2011 17:41

Not saying it was the wisest decision mind you - but maybe it'll at least make Domino's train their staff to be better behaved!

jester68 · 10/06/2011 17:41

YANBU.

Pees me off big style when people think it is OK to discriminate anyone. Be it hair colour, skin colour, weight etc.

My niece is ginger and absolutely beautiful.

ZUKIECAT- My brother has the same with his children. 2 eldest (twins) one was dark brown, one light brown. Big brown eyes. Sadly his baby girl twin died of cot death.

Second daughter- ginger hair, green eyes

Second son- Blonde hair, blue eyes

Third son- Black hair and deep blue eyes (only 3 weeks old at moment so time will tell his definite colours

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