Poll: Gingerism - what's the deal?

[SillyBear]

It's pretty disheartening that people have answered "it's just harmless fun". If this was about bullying due to homosexuality, or race, or gender then these very same people would be declaring outrage.

This is just as bad and it is just the same. I know a few redheads who have been bullied relentlessly because of a fundamental aspect about themselves that they cannot help. This is no different to bullying someone because of their skin colour, or their sexual preferences.

 

[Mullahgrrl]

A

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".

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.

I have never heard about it and it sound pretty made-up. I mean, why would anyone mock someones natural hair colour?

 

[Thaluikhain]

It's pretty disheartening that people have answered "it's just harmless fun". If this was about bullying due to homosexuality, or race, or gender then these very same people would be declaring outrage.

This is just as bad and it is just the same. I know a few redheads who have been bullied relentlessly because of a fundamental aspect about themselves that they cannot help. This is no different to bullying someone because of their skin colour, or their sexual preferences.

That's true, but look how popular bullying people because of all those are.

 

[Womplord]

A race is defined as any distinguishable group of people. So yes, it is racism.
Also, I get a lot of crap... people often insult me when I'm just walking down the street...

 

[gazumped]

It's because they're jealous luv. Every one knows that redheads are sexy. *lascivious wink*

I, unfortunately IMO, wasn't born with red hair, but I have two cousins - one on each side of the family tree - who are true gingers with pale skin and freckles to match. Only the boy, who's on Irish side has been hassled for it I think. I also had a friend in Ireland who had this glorious mane of long, red, curly hair and I was so jealous of it. I've always wanted red hair. I really can't see why people demonetise it so much.

[HEADING=2]Red hair is awesome![/HEADING]

Bed time methinks... and 11.15 AM...

Seconded, red hair is hot and I dye my own hair red for this reason. I used to get stick for it when I was, like, 16, when I first started dying it. Some ginger related bad names, and some people expressed disbelief that I'd actively want to be ginger. But then, you know what? PEOPLE GREW UP AND STOPPED ACTING LIKE STUPID LITTLE CHILDREN PICKING ON PEOPLE FOR NO REASON.

Well... most people. You still get some childish idiots, of course. Most people agree that my red hair is hot now, though. (Although I'm going to dye it purple soon but I'll come back to red because I always do.)

Edit: Oh right, I forgot the main question. It technically is a form of racism, no one thinks of it like that, of course, much like they don't think it's racist against Jewish or Roman people when they tease a Mediterranean person for having a big nose or such and such. But it is suggesting people are inferior due to their genes and their ancestry, i.e. their race.
The only difference I'd suggest is that because ginger people are also caucasian, they're not going to be despised as strongly for the more subtle differences in them as a white racist may despise a black person or a black person may hate white people in general. So it's not as extreme as most racism, I guess.

 

[Da Chi]

The only form of questionable behavior towards red-heads that I partake in is occasionally calling them "Fire Crotches" due to their vibrant red pubes.
And being close enough to see their pubes should show that I harbor no hate to them.

AAAAAAAAND Goodnight Folks!

 

[Turing]

I think I read somewhere once that red hair has something to do with the christian devil

 

[Gaiseric]

Sorry to hear you're getting that kind of abuse. Taking it that far(trying to make you feel bad) is no bueno.

My brother and grand dad had/have red hair. We give my brother some guff now and again, but it's all in good fun. He does the same to me and everyone else. It's that weird we insult the crap out of each other because we like you stuff. He calls me an miserable ogre, I say he tries to steal peoples souls so he'll have one of his own, we both laugh, and no hurt feelings.

The only form of questionable behavior towards red-heads that I partake in is occasionally calling them "Fire Crotches" due to their vibrant red pubes.
And being close enough to see their pubes should show that I harbor no hate to them.

AAAAAAAAND Goodnight Folks!

You sir made me laugh.

 

[Will Holmes]

I personally think red hair is sexy as hell, but that's just me.

To be honest, I haven't really heard about bullying on the basis of the colour of someone's hair for the greater part of a decade now. It's very... 90's. Bullying itself is the problem, really.

 

[therandombear]

I think I read somewhere once that red hair has something to do with the christian devil

Yes, red hair supposedly meant that you had no soul and if you had freckles you were spawn of satan or something like that.

<---Ginger, pale skin and freckles = Jackpot xD

I was bullied at school for being ginger with freckles at young age, but they stopped later. Haven't heard anything since then.

 

[SwagLordYoloson]

I chose "No - KILL THEM ALL!"

Because I disagree with their morality, and my religion says so

 

[iLikeHippos]

Man, now you made me feel bad for making a ginger Druid in Diablo II, with the name "Soulless_Ginger"

Have you tried colouring your hair? It will inevitably get away with all of the shit.
... At least you'll have an excuse for it and a cool, sad depressing story to back it up with! I've got nothin' for my raven dark!

 

[themeteor]

It depends on the context - banter between friends is fine bulling is not

 

[Jelly ^.^]

Knock them down in two words.

FELICIA DAY. omnomnomnomonom.

 

[Trivun]

I love redheads! The girl I like is a redhead, I work with a redhead girl who's pretty damn attractive, there are some awesome redhead celebrities who I love (Felicia Day, Karen Gillan, Nicola in Girls Aloud...), and to top it all off I was just sat next to a very cute redhead who was having trouble trying to log on to the computer next to mine. Redheads are awesome. I've never really understood why they get so much hate, to be honest. I know me and my friends back at school used to joke about redheads, but it was all in fun and we never meant any harm, in fact half the group were redheads themselves and enjoyed taking the piss out of themselves and each other . When it's serious discrimination, then there's a problem, though. Maybe not racism, but not so far off. Discrimination against someone based on any part of them, whether they can change it or not, is simply uncalled for and utterly abhorent, I feel...

 

[AngloDoom]

I think people who shout insults at passersby's are so moronic they shout out the first thing they see that's somewhat different.

e.g.

Glasses
Braces
Ginger hair
Long hair
No hair
Blonde hair
Neat hair
Messy hair
Fashion
Jewelery
Height
Weight
Age

Seriously, I've had shit throw at me because I've got dark hair that's around eye-level: clearly meaning I'm an emo.

 

[OhSoNegative]

It's kind of juvenile really. I figure the people insulting you about having red hair have a lot of growing up to do. Though I'd question why it still gets to you now. I'm considered 'strawberry blonde', but I was born with vibrant red hair and never really copped any of that. Even in high school nobody gave me hell for having red hair. If anything I received compliments for it.

I guess if it still gets you angry, you could come back with something equally as biting. The moment you shut your antagonist down for their genetics it's not so funny anymore. But by and large, I don't get the rage. No discrimination is good, but better it be about hair colour than physical deformities or a mental handicap, ne?

 

[ChocoFace]

Well, by definition it's not racism.

It's just a harmless way of picking on someone from the namecaller's perspective. A way to seem original, or edgy or whatever. The problem is that a lot of people do it, so it ends up being a completely douchy thing to do.

Especially when considering that most of the time it's not your friends teasing you, it's strangers.

I personally don't condone this kind of behaviour and i think your only way to deal with it is making witty comebacks (effectively having the crowd nearby jump to your side, disproving the namecaller's remark and making them shut up).

They'll only call you names if you let them.

 

[Epic Fail 1977]

Some of the things I've had said about me have been very extreme, like I'm "worthless" or I should "just do the world a favour and go and die". It doesn't bother me because I know how fucking stupid these people are, but it's still a problem...

Bloody hell, that really is extreme. I really doubt that whoever says those things to you is saying it because you have red hair.

Where does the ginger thing come from? That's pretty simple - it comes from the fact that red hair is uncommon. In a (hypothetical) country where almost everyone has red hair do you think people would try to use "ginger" as a pisstake/insult? I don't think so. It just wouldn't work in a place where everyone was ginger.

People - especially kids and immature adults - will try to use anything about you that is uncommon as a reason to taunt you. If your parents give you a weird name they'll make fun of your name. If you're the only rich kid in an otherwise poor school, they'll make fun of you for being rich. If you're the only poor kid in an otherwise rich school, they'll make fun of you for being poor. The objective is simply to make you feel excluded using a superficial criteria. I think the reasons for it are complicated but I reckon it comes down to them being both curious (about you) and insecure (about themselves).

So that's my 2p.

Edit:
By the way, a very good friend of mine is ginger so I voted "no - they deserve it" while thinking of him. All in jest, you understand.