causing offense?

I think you’d get similar responses, having been on there for many years - although the language might be a bit more direct. I’m curious though - when was it OK and ‘good humour’ to call a stranger ‘ginger nut’? My mum would’ve been almost 80 if she was still alive and she hated people calling my sister ginger nut.

I didn't mind - thought it was a compliment. Made us into a special group.
I inherited mine from my Maternal GM, then my mother. They were both beautiful women and very 'feisty'. Two of my children have the same kind of hair, and personal characteristics.

I wouldn't worry Fennel. The GM realised you weren't being rude when you added you had that colour hair too.

feisty red head, dumb blonde.

Thanks mumofmadboys .
Perhaps I'm a modern day version of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.

I used to be called ‘Titch’ and somehow I survived! Surely it is the tone of voice and not too difficult to work out if someone is making a friendly comment or intending to be rude and hurtful.

Were you called Titch by a total stranger sussexborn
It’s nothing to do with today my friend was bullied yes bullied for being as they called her ‘a ginge ‘ or a ‘gingernut’
It always been a derogatory handle

“Somehow I survived”

Bully for you ??‍♀️

Hair isn't ginger - it's red! Are you American, Fennel, or do you just like using the American spelling of offence?

More PC nonsense ( rolls eyes ) So scared to speak out of turn , even when it's not meant as derogatory. It's the complainants fault for suggesting it is in being quick to point out.
In the 50's I can remember my mum using the term " carrot top " , describing children with red hair, but it was never used as an insult and certainly never taken as such.

I have many redhaired people in my family. Ginger and Gingernut have been used in nasty tones over the years. I would advise using redhaired or auburn. Ginger isnt even a true colour. I would not be happy at Gingernut.

EV, exactly in the 50's , not now.

Its nothing to do with PC, its wrong, rude and outmoded.

A lot of things were said and done in the past, does not mean that they are acceptable today. Things and attitudes change. Thank heaven.

'why is it that people always have to comment when you have red hair?' said my dad. Still, he said it 'saved him' at the boarding school - as the headmaster only fancied the blond boys.

I wouldn’t be offended as you obviously meant it as a compliment.

Fennel, the mother obviously realised that you liked the colour by what you said.
I like it too, and always wished it was my hair colour ( am blonde, but my best friend at school was a strawberry blonde as she called it, and I always wanted her hair, think Jane Asher.)
I knew several ginger haired children at school, and nobody said anything derogatory to them or I would have known.
However, fast forward to when my DC were at school, and it became the fashion to ‘mock a ginge’ as they then called it, have never understood why.
Since only a small percentage of people possess this lovely hair colour, you would think it would be prized.

I'm still have my red hair in my sixties and dislike the term ginger.
However, compliments are often offered in the spur of the moment, so I wouldn't make a fuss about being called ginger

I used to tell the pupils in my class the colour was titian!

Red hair does have a lot of tones/shades, doesn’t it?
I used to work with somebody who’s natural hair colour was a very dark red, I was fascinated by it ( long wavy and beautiful)
but there are many variations of the colour.

It is a beautiful colour, and so many variations, one of my grandchildren is a strawberry blonde and I think it’s lovely.

I don't think you meant to be offensive but times change.

In your position, I'd have admired the child's hair perhaps but the word "ginger" for hair is out of bounds these days.

I think you meant to be kind.

Wish I still had my auburn hair, now mainly white, tinted blond.
I agree with Ellan Vannin, OP phrased her comment so as not to give offence.

For those who think this is PC nonsense, maybe have a read of this. www.unilad.co.uk/featured/why-is-ginger-bullying-one-of-the-last-acceptable-prejudices/

I think so-called 'political correctness' is better described as being considerate of others.

It just means replacing an offensive term with another, more neutral term. It really doesn't matter whether the speaker would or wouldn't be offended - it is the receiver who counts. Manners are about making others feel comfortable, after all.

I think that those who insist on using terms that others find offensive are rude, and often narcissistic, as in refusing to expand their vocabulary they are only thinking of their own 'comfort', and refusing to make an effort.

I think that most people would understand if someone accidentally caused offence by using an outdated term (within reason, however), so long as when it was pointed out, the user changed their ways.

Speaking as a redhead, I don't think that 'ginger' is particularly high on the hierarchy of offensive terms; but any personal remark can cause hurt, and there is no need to point out aspects of someone's appearance, as we don't know one another's insecurities.

I suppose if you are not sure, you could always ask the person.....how they feel about certain terminology.

If somebody commented on my fat ass or grey roots, I probably wouldn't be that chuffed.

Only a ginger can call another ginger, ginger !
I don’t like being called ginger though