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Original poster

Tesco Christmas card making fun of children with red hair

377 replies

Northernlebkuchen · 15/12/2009 11:48

here

I can't believe they think they should sell something like this. So glad this woman got them taken out of our local tesco - now what about the rest of the chain?

I know two children horribly bullied because of their (beautiful) red hair. It's just the same as any other discrimination - breeds hate and misery

OP posts:
careergirl · 15/12/2009 22:45

so agree with the op
I was persecuted at school for having red hair and I mean persecuted which has left me with permanent self imagery issues. I am much better than I was - age does a lot for you - but it is a serious issue. It is not a "bit of fun". Not when you're on the receiving end. Believe me.

tackyChristmastreedelivery · 15/12/2009 22:47

Wouldn't want to see a card saying 'Santa even loves children who look like ET'

Gawd, I had a big head and it was red. Nightmare!

Still is!! Crap!

atlantis · 15/12/2009 22:50

" Wouldn't want to see a card saying 'Santa even loves children who look like ET'

Gawd, I had a big head and it was red. Nightmare!

Still is!! Crap! "

PMSL.

Don't, you'll have the E.T mums on screaming in minute.

tethersjinglebellend · 15/12/2009 22:51

Right; I am ginger, think the card was funny, read the Guardian and smoke.

I have never been more confused about where I stand on a thread...

tackyChristmastreedelivery · 15/12/2009 22:52

You're a freak.

You can sit with me on the table for deeply unpopular red heads/ETs/generic oddballs.

atlantis · 15/12/2009 22:54

" Right; I am ginger, think the card was funny, read the Guardian and smoke.

I have never been more confused about where I stand on a thread... "

ROTFPMSL.

Maybe you have a decision making disorder.

nighbynight · 15/12/2009 22:57

I have not got red hair and I think it was awful, am glad that Tesco have removed it and wish that nastiness against redheads would stop.

wollysocks · 15/12/2009 23:00

i am redhead, i turned blonde because of it in my 30's but now have DD and determined to get back to my original colour so we can be "reds" together.

I haven't seen this yet but will search it out. it sounds awful. We are sensitive for a reason. Try to remember there was a time we were burnt alive because of our colour hair! how mad is that.

just going to find out what it is all about.....

lockets · 15/12/2009 23:09

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maltedmilk · 15/12/2009 23:11

i have red hair and was shocked when on giving birth the first comment the midwife made was " its a not a "g"ing er then"

tackyChristmastreedelivery · 15/12/2009 23:13

Some people really are horrible to red heads. It's true. I've had some awful things said to me as the mother.

Like 'Aren't you glad she's not a boy' and 'it is really only just ok as a shade, isn't it?'.

From strangers!!

It's horrible. It makes me feel like crap.

lockets · 15/12/2009 23:15

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Message withdrawn

tackyChristmastreedelivery · 15/12/2009 23:20

They might not say it to you lockets, as he is a boy.

lockets · 15/12/2009 23:23

This reply has been deleted

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tackyChristmastreedelivery · 15/12/2009 23:29

Oh I totally agree, I joke about with my own friends about red hair. I joke about with one of them who is unusually tall. I think total strangers need to sod off though.

JaynieB · 15/12/2009 23:31

My DD has red, curly hair - doubly blessed/cursed and it is often commented on, but I do worry that she will get hassle about it when she gets older.
Have to admit I briefly smiled at the Tesco card, but then thought its actually not funny - gingerness is one of the few areas left where discrimination seems to be tolerated, which is no fun at all for those on the rough end of it.

lockets · 15/12/2009 23:32

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Message withdrawn

canihaveapeeinpeacepleasebob · 16/12/2009 00:16

Sorry i haven't read all the thread.
I'm a red head, I was bullied in school, my ds1 is a 'strawberry blond!' and I thought the card was a bit of fun.
In fact I bought two copies of it, to send to fellow red headed relatives who also thought it was funny.
Now I wish I hadn't sent them as I could have sold them on ebay and made a fortune!
The world will always find things to make fun of, you either let it go over you or do something about it, like the woman did.
There are plenty of things in life that offend people and other people find them acceptable. Some times I think the world's gone pc mad.

iwanttobepombear · 16/12/2009 01:47

I don't understand why people have a problem with red hair - it's just another variation in the rich tapestry of humanity!

My DD1 has a few red haired friends. She describes them as having pretty orange hair.

I had a childhood friend who had the most amazing long red curly hair - I so wanted her hair. Instead i have boring mousy brown.

natapillar · 16/12/2009 03:08

i don't agree entirely with the cards.it can make a child feel quite upset and singled out. but it is just a greetings card after all. look at all the other cards on the market,the one's that make fun of the stereotypical 'dumb blonde' or the type that poke fun of people geting 'older and wrinklier'... shall we call for them to be banned too?
my 14month old daughter has red hair and if someone had given me that xmas card i'd have found it to be cheeky in an amusing way.
some people need to see past the end of their own noses and stop getting their knickers in a twist! life is too short to find fault in practically everything...lighten up

NancyDrewRocks · 16/12/2009 04:29

Bit of an aside but those of you who have felt persecuted and/or bullied as a redhead was this just as a child or do you continue to feel persecuted as an adult because of your red hair? And if you do who are the perpetrators adults or children?

I'm interested because I think everyone I know has felt thoroughly picked on/bullied at some point in their childhood. I was called big ears for years and teased terribly due to being skinny and short. I have friends who were teased variously for being tall, short, fat, thin, curly haired, stupid, clever, rich, poor.

No bullying is acceptable and I don't think anyone on this thread has suggested it is but to me there is a world of difference between some mild ribbing about my ears that I get now(and I can just imagine a couple of old school friends who would buy that card for me if it said "santa even likes jug eared kids" despite the fact that my ears look pretty normal these days!) which I would find amusing and someone shouting big ears and punching me in the face which of course would not be acceptable.

It is about the context and not the subject matter per se so if that card had depicted santas elves lynching a ginger kid or burning down his house that would not have been funny but as it was it amused me (even if admitting to the same makes me a sick fuck in the eyes of half MN!)

Flightattendant · 16/12/2009 06:50

Finding it laughable that Atlantis thinks the whole thread was about her/him.

SO desperate.

I want to say I have much sympathy for all the posters who have found the card and other incidents of less insidious bullying upsetting. I am sorry you have had to suffer this and I stand by my posts from last night. As long as any ginger/red haired child is upset by the implications of this card, it needs to be pulled from the shops.

HappyWoman · 16/12/2009 07:03

Nancy - I agree I think everyone i know has at some time been bullied. It is a part of growing up. I wore glasses and was not the prettiest of children - was also a bit of a know it all when i was first at school - i would probably be called a geek now.

i then developed a large chest and my hair was blonde - should i take offense at the blonde bimbo postcard style cards??

I think it is all too easy for us to use the 'bully' card when in fact it is often just teasing and learning to grow up and toughen up.

ilovesprouts · 16/12/2009 07:09

are thease cards still on sale ,infact ive just seen it and the little boy looks like my ds2

shabbapinkfrog · 16/12/2009 07:15

Conversation with my 77 year old Dad last night went something like this!!

Dad: I am NEVER going in Asda again, have you seen that awful card!!

Me: Yes Dad, just ignore it. (All four of my sons started life as red heads and my only Grandchild has red curls)

Dad: Im going to just go to Aldi or Lidl in future (hicup emoticon)

Me: (Listening to Mum telling him to be quiet) I think its in most of the big supermarkets. The ladies on MN have been talking about it today.

Dad: (having another glug of his whisky) Well its bloody wrong they are picking on our Lewis (GS) If I hadnt had a drink and Asda were still open I would go and sort that Manager out!! Plenty of red headed soldiers fought in the wars dont you know!!!

Me: Yes, I can imagine Dad.

Dad: Tell them young girls on that computer well done for going mad about it!! Im never voting Labour again!!

Me: Night Dad!