causing offense?

There’s a lot of ginger bullying in schools these days sadly because commenting on any other skin tone is unacceptable . I also have red hair as does my husband and our 6 sons . They all had a good laugh about it but a sensitive child might not I blame a lot of it on south park cartoon where they used to say gingers have no souls fortunately I don’t think it’s on any more . I once complained about a Rubens advert where a little girl with beautiful red hair wanted it to turn blonde it was never shown again! Imagine them putting that on about any other skin and hair tone !!!!

My twin GC have beautiful red hair. If anyone called them gingernuts I wouldn’t be offended at all.

It isn’t friendly chit chat when you are being personal about a child’s or adults appearance.

What a stupid thoughtless thing to say. My wonderful gs is a red head and does not like being called ginger. Please think before you speak. Especially to strangers.

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

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.

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I think that most people would understand if someone accidentally caused offence by using an outdated term (within reason, however), so long as when it was pointed out, the user changed their ways.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

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/

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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

'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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

“Somehow I survived”

Bully for you ??‍♀️

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

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.

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