All my life I've had to put up with arseholes taking the piss out of me because I'm "ginger" (which I'm not, I have red hair but I'm not particularly pale and I don't have any freckles). When I was a kid I was bullied in school for it a lot, and always thought that it would just go away as I got older. I'm 22 now, and I can tell you that it hasn't gone away. I've had abuse shouted at me at gigs, in pubs and all sorts, the vast majority of the time without any provocation whatsoever.
What I really want to know is: where the fuck does this come from?!? I can't see any reason for it at all. I originally thought it was just a UK thing, but when South Park did that episode I realised that it's going on in America too. It's not as though it's even an underground problem, most people are pretty open about it and nobody gives them a hard time like they would if they were being abusive towards, say, a black person. It's even started seeping into the media, with MIA's controversial video for "Born Free":
http://vimeo.com/11219730
Now, I don't for a minute think that MIA's message here is "kill all redheads", but I think she really does highlight the issue of how we are seen by some people. It's almost as if it's acceptable to be abusive towards us, because we're not really a racial minority so we can take it...
So escapists, do you think this is a problem? If so, why and what can be done about it? please share any views or experiences you've had relating to the issue.
EDIT: I get the impression some of you think I'm playing the victim and I feel the world's against me. I'm not and I don't. I couldn't give two shits what people think about my hair, and these days it's not much of a problem for me any more (which probably comes from moving away from the 'burbs and going to a big city). What I'm more concerned about are people who this is still an issue for, and who get bullied for it.
For example, a friend of mine was offered a job at a major clothes shop on the condition that she dye her hair another colour. I think that shows that the prejudice runs a little deeper than some of us want to acknowledge...
What I really want to know is: where the fuck does this come from?!? I can't see any reason for it at all. I originally thought it was just a UK thing, but when South Park did that episode I realised that it's going on in America too. It's not as though it's even an underground problem, most people are pretty open about it and nobody gives them a hard time like they would if they were being abusive towards, say, a black person. It's even started seeping into the media, with MIA's controversial video for "Born Free":
http://vimeo.com/11219730
Now, I don't for a minute think that MIA's message here is "kill all redheads", but I think she really does highlight the issue of how we are seen by some people. It's almost as if it's acceptable to be abusive towards us, because we're not really a racial minority so we can take it...
So escapists, do you think this is a problem? If so, why and what can be done about it? please share any views or experiences you've had relating to the issue.
EDIT: I get the impression some of you think I'm playing the victim and I feel the world's against me. I'm not and I don't. I couldn't give two shits what people think about my hair, and these days it's not much of a problem for me any more (which probably comes from moving away from the 'burbs and going to a big city). What I'm more concerned about are people who this is still an issue for, and who get bullied for it.
For example, a friend of mine was offered a job at a major clothes shop on the condition that she dye her hair another colour. I think that shows that the prejudice runs a little deeper than some of us want to acknowledge...
. . On point, no hate is deserved because of colour of hair. And saying they have no soul doesnt matter because soul is nothing nobody can prove exists so if anything Gingers can throw it right back at them. They make the claim, make them prove that they are right.
