causing offense?

Omg! I can't believe you could have said that !!
It was very very rude! And Nasty!!
Do you have any common Sense?
Apparently not ..

It was a commonly used term in my childhood and noone took offence, however these days things are different and we have to be more guarded in what we say! We can't be as spontaneous.

Only time will tell if our " ginger biscuits " will have to change their name if some bright spark comes along on the defensive.

@mimidl so being called ginge isn’t making a big deal of having red hair?? ?

I think most people would find gingernut offensive wherever they live so probably best not to risk saying it as you can’t assume you’re talking to one of the minority that don’t.

I have two red headed children in their 20’s and they are so relaxed with the colour of their hair that my son’s nickname is Ginge.

I think if you make it a big deal it becomes one, whether it’s your hair colour, size, glasses or something else.

I would definately take offence if anyone called my grandchild a ginger nut I love red hair but I would have said what beautiful hair

People take offence too easily these days

I think it becomes less offensive the further north you go. Ginger-nuts in Scotland and the north of England are ten a penny, and I never felt insulted by the term, and was never teased at school. In fact hardly anybody noticed.

The problem with saying stuff to strangers is that you have no idea about their life or anything going on. A harmless comment as you see it may really offend, upset or cause trouble. Best to leave complements to those you know.

My hair was very ginger when I was young but being in the North East I never got teased as there were a lot of kids with similar coloured hair at the time. Now it is much lighter and can be described as a strawberry blonde. I have always loved my hair colour. I dont think some people like the term "ginger nut" though.

I agree Sussexborn. Too much of the pc brigade going on. People get offended at the slightest thing these days.

@mernice just to comment on your message. Someone walked over to me in a restaurant once and said how impressed she was my children were eating proper meals and not junk like many kids. This sounds like the kind of comment you think would be ok but it wasn’t welcome to be honest neither would people telling us our children are behaving well. Sounds a bit patronising and invasive to a family situation so maybe not as ok as you think sorry. We smiled and said thanks too, what else would you do? but we didn’t appreciate it. Sorry. But strangers remarks are often not welcome whether nice or not.

Being ginger (or was) myself, I have no problem with it and can actually only remember being called by it about twice - probably because my hair was more of a strawberry blonde.
My son never liked his hair colour when he was in his teens and died it all different colours (even blue at one time) but is okay now.
Coming from a family where red hair was prevalent I have always been proud of my hair colour - only drawback is that as it is so noticeable, it always has to look good - no bad hair days!

You would have slaughtered on mumsnet op ?. It was rude. Best not to say anything really nowadays.

The fact remains that personal remarks about appearance (especially from strangers), even if complimentary, are often unwelcome!

Post your comment on mumsnet fennel and then link to the thread via this one.

It seems a few of us grans would learn some new things.

I wonder if our views would be different if you'd commented on a child's skin colour. Strange that we feel its ok to comment on how we feel others look.

Sign of the times and just another expression clearly not appreciated.

Fennel, they would be the same I’m sure! Not a good choice of words , but you know now.
I don’t agree though with the person who said that you can’t make unsolicited comments today. If I’ve seen beautifully behaved children having a meal with parents, I tell them quietly how good their children have been. If I see a child dressed in some sort of fancy dress, I have a little appropriate word, etc. All these thing are always met with lovely smiles of appreciation. Never miss a chance to spread a bit of happiness.

Anyone come across the awful Slap a Ginger Day?

They don’t call it Slap a Redhead Day for a reason

So if the child was obese would you comment on that in a "funny" way. And it's seems other GNs didn't like being called gingernut when they were young, so it's obviously NOT a new thing.

I think this thread proves that some would be offended and some wouldn't!

Ribena advert that should have been- you probably never saw it because they took it off straight away I imagine a few people complained !

My grandson heads his Instagram account with

? I aM A giNgER ?
Ginger=great
Make ginger gr8 again

Let them fight for themselves I say.

You never have to take offence even if it is given. You remain much happier like that.