causing offense?

This tablet keeps self-correcting!

Unintended pun - pubic hairs.

I don't think it's appropriate to comment on the appearance of a stranger, especially a child. Would you comment on the colour of their skin, the shape of their body? Probably not. I was persecuted as a youngster by other children who commented on my nose, my glasses and the fact that my father was dead. Adults should have more sense than to comment on a child. That child will have enough comments to deal with eventually!

Yes Maw. I still get referred to as titch so doubt it will change any time soon! Unless I have a late growth spurt!

I've only just read the replies - some of them- as I've been offline since Friday.
I still don't understand why some people find it so offensive. As I said earlier I didn't mind as the teasers were friendly.
And if there was any nastiness I just bashed them! No need to go off in a huff.
Now there'll be shock/horror about physical violence.
Interesting about more redheads in Scotland and the NE - I watched the series on Vikings recently and I think it might come from them.My family name is probably derived from Danish, so perhaps it's my Viking blood .

ps and if I ever see the child and Gran again I'll apologise.
I've learnt my lesson.

Fennel it’s been explained time and time again why people find ginger nut offensive. If you still don’t understand it that’s fine - you just need to accept it is for many. Knowing that, I’m sure you’ll refrain from making a similar comment about a child you know in future as I don’t imagine you’d intentionally want to cause any offence or upset.

Fennel - red hair is associated with the Celts.

My young cousin had the most beautiful dark red hair, I always admired it, but when I saw her again after a few years she had gone grey. She said she always disliked her hair, but it was, quite honestly, stunning.

You don't need to understand why it's offensive to some, Fennel. You simply need to accept that it is.

I still don't understand why some people find it so offensive

People have explained why, but if you still don’t understand, you likely never will. However, please take away from this that it’s impolite to comment on people’s physical characteristics.

OK - I understand .
I hope I'm not starting with dementia etc. Tactless words in social situations is one of the symptoms.

Ach, we all say and do things that we wish we could undo - I’m still mortified by something I did earlier in the week and I’m so upset that I caused the other person to be embarrassed . I think the thing is to ‘own it’ as the young ‘uns say - admit you made a mistake, wittingly or unwittingly, and file it under ‘must not do or say again’ as opposed to shrugging and complaining about other people being too sensitive nowadays.

As a child I was taught never to comment on anything which the subject of the comment had no power over, especially names and appearance. Excellent advice, I now think.

Good advice indeed, but difficult to remember
GrannySomerset.
All part of guarding our tongues. I should have known better.

I say seeing that the boy was in a pushchair then fortunately HE was too young to take offence at this comment which yes, was very offensive. If the child had have been older than a comment like this may have stuck with him for life!

We say ‘ blondie’ is this ok ?
My young hair was described as ‘mousey’
I cant decide if we are getting over sensitive about everything or not , I can’t recall getting upset by it .I certainly wouldn’t now.

Newatthis, He is going to have red hair for life, hopefully he will grow up to be proud of it, & take no notice of labels.

Wow. You have to ask??

Sorry to hear of his passing, but he had a good long life and very timely for this thread:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-49827436

Still trying to justify your remark, Fennel? I think it's best to stop digging.

Simply Red, Fennel

Or Ginger Rogers

Words are very strange. I don't believe I have ever seen 'red' hair unless dyed properly red. Carrot coloured yes, ginger (as in the colour of the biscuits) yes, auburn, yes, strawberry blonde no ... looks neither strawberry colour nor blond. I would have loved hair any of those colours rather than boring mousey and straight. Oh how I longed for curls which also seem to be unacceptable. I don't remember any of my friends being called names because of their hair though as I grew older I became mystified as I learned of the comments people had to suffer, not only 'redheads' but 'blonds', 'mouseys' and 'blackheads' (not to mention skin colours!)

Am I naive because I see only the person and not what they look like? Having said that I now tend to dye my hair burgundy, cherry, golden brown - yes anything with a reddish tint! Maybe that says something about me!

I used to dye mine auburn.
This has started me thinking whether some copper highlights might be good.

Callistemon, Ginger and Simply were adults who choose to highlight ( see what I did there) a feature.

A child in a buggy with a rather embarrassed granny in a confined area is not the same thing at all.