Poll: Gingerism - what's the deal?

[Mr Fixit]

Its very annoying, i was picked on in school for my red hair, until i got bigger & meaner than everyone else. But still i've never had a problem with violence towards me, but i've had plenty of insults thrown my way. Most of the redhead hate is aimed at men, thats very obvious.

I have noticed a few good things about the red hair though, most of the ladies i know love my hair & i'm damn near impossible to lose in a crowd.

My friends in high school called me Flame(kinda lame i know), but things like that are fine between friends. Very few non "gingers" will ever understand, but it is an issue. Will it ever be better, probably not, so most of us will just deal with it until we get really pissed off.

 

[^=ash=^]

Ginger here.

I got picked on, but it never really bothered me. However I can see how it may be hard on those with serious self esteem issues but I just ignored and got along with my life, or had a laugh at how petty it is.

As to why I have no idea ... perhaps it's because we're different.

[HEADING=1]YAY DIFFERENT![/HEADING]

xxx

 

[funguy2121]

snip

I know that anyone who is different gets picked on at times, but is this really worth claiming the same validation as women, homosexuals and ethnic minorities? I doubt you have to "wake up everyday and fight the world," as Margaret Cho says. I know that belligerence/bullying can get to you, but I don't think this is the appropriate response; I don't think it's an effective response.

Seriously, being made fun of for something as innocuous as red hair? I personally Lllllove women with red hair, and there are plenty of girls out there who have an affinity for redheaded men. Why not make fun of yourself, and take away the ammunition these bullies are using? It's not very effective to mock someone who has enough sense of humor to mock himself. Besides, if you have any real sense of humor you're probably light years beyond these bullies anyway. Making others laugh intentionally is the fastest way out of this victimization.

Also, I do not at all think you're being bullied because of your red hair. I think you're being bullied because in the simple minds of your tormentors you're an easy target. If these turds really think that the color of your hair is worthy of a joke, then they can be outwitted rather easily. Hell, they may even kick your ass (I have no idea how big you are), but what everyone will remember is that you had them all laughing at the brutes and the only response they could come up with was to answer with their fists.

 

[SirDoom]

I never noticed any insults or violence towards redheads here...

I thought the only downside of being ginger is that everyone wants to sleep with your daughter, honestly.

(Actually, there were few guys with red hair at my school, but the ones that did have red hair were usually fairly popular...(

 

[BelfastSpartan]

Being a redhead myself I was on the recieving end of this and even at 24 still get sick.
I've resigned it to the fact that it happens....either deal with it or ignore it.

People give the abuse to get a reaction, in school my reaction was violence, I lost count how many people I smacked in the mouth. It stopped pretty quickly!

As an adult it then becomes assault so I've changed my tactics somewhat. Depending on my mood it differs, in a good mood I'll take their abuse and make fun of myself, once they realise they aren't geting me riled up and I really don't care they change their target. In a bad mood I pick out their weakness (something I have found to be very good at) and I take it as far as I feel is necessary even if it means reducing someone to tears. Luckily after years of taking the abuse, I'm pretty good at trash talking back.

Some people now regard me as an asshole for taking things too far but I just finished what they started. On the other hand more people have respect for me for actually standing up for myself.

 

[Private Custard]

We're living in a world where it isn't merely accepted that ginger people will have the piss taken out of them, it's almost expected of people.

So, this being the case, just do what I do and take the piss out of anyone, for any reason, whenever you feel like it.

Fuck it, if everyone else is doing it then why shouldn't I?

 

[robot slipper]

I think if it's friendly piss-taking, as is quite common in circles of friends, workplaces etc. then its ok. If its actual bullying, exclusion, intimidation, then thats not ok. I don't think I have ever known any adults at work to be actually discriminated against because of hair colour... I suppose its mainly at school where it's worse?

 

[TheTim]

I've been called a Ginger all my life, but after the first few times, i got over it. its not offensive like they think, just annoying.

 

[Wicky_42]

Discrimination against a minority: basic constituent human behaviour, it seems - at least for those who feel the need to be in some way 'exclusive'. Seeing an 'us' and 'them' is probably some psychological thing enforcing social bonding, and easily leads into stereotyping and all that good jazz. Happens to anyone who's different, whether it's ethnicity, dental work, glasses, weight, hair length, life-style choice or hair colour, there's always grounds for the social norm to gain cohesion from discriminating against the different. Some people (like me) generally don't take interest in that sort of thing - I don't feel the need, or find it particularly fun, but evidently others do.

/amateur psychoanalysis.

 

[GonzoGamer]

It's not racist but people who do bully "gingers" are probably racist.
It's like right wingers: they're not all racist but most racist are right wingers.

 

[feycreature]

I don't think having a sense of humour about people saying you should DIE, shouting threats and abuse, throwing things or beating you up is reasonable. It's just letting people get away with crappy behaviour. The fact that people still act like it's ridiculous to expect to be treated with basic civility makes me want to punch someone.

Yes, small children are barbaric, sadistic little hellbeasts. It takes a while for them to understand the basic rules of human discourse, empathy, and that the rules actually apply to them. At 15 or 16, however, you should know better. Maybe if as peers we were more inclined to call people on out-of-line behaviour rather than excusing it as harmless fun (the serious emotional damage people have mentioned probably counts as 'harm') they'd feel less secure in continuing it.

TL;DR: Don't be a dick. Don't participate in or validate others' dickery. This = More livable world for everyone. Except people who are dicks.

 

[Mandalore_15]

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!

Haha, I wouldn't feel bad. To be honest I found that "Gingers do have souls" video quite funny...

But no, I will never dye my hair. I like it the way it is and it reminds me of where I come from, so it won't be getting covered up for the sake of a bunch of losers who use it as an excuse to abuse people. If you dye it they win!

 

[emeraldrafael]

I think you're reading way too much into the MIA video. Also you're sounding like a guy on youtube named coppercab.

As for is there hate, I dont think tthere is. I dated a ginger at one point, and she was never made fun of for being a ginger, but more so cause she had glasses.

Besides, its not like your.... wait... no, I dont need another warning or suspension.

 

[CK76]

I'm anti-racist (is that a word?) against redheads or gingers. I just really like them, Be great to have a ginger friend (and I sure as hell wouldn't argue against a ginger girlfriend).

I find it bizarre that this is an issue for anyone. Be like hating south paws.

 

[FalloutJack]

If it's so bad, WHY DOES THE DOCTOR WANT TO BE ONE?!

Seriously though, this is pathetic. It's hair color and that's all~!

 

[EternalFacepalm]

What!? Gingers?! BROWN IS BETTER!

I never understood people's deal with judging people by colour. It's retarded.

 

[Merkavar]

you cant discriminate against things without souls.

but serious jelly ^.^ your avatar is disturbing. and most ginger bashing i have seen has just been in jest and not serious. like teasing tasmanians or new zealanders. its just a bit of fun.

 

[Iron Mal]

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.

While my sympathies go out to anyone who was bullied in school for any reason I'd have to question as to what makes your case any more special than anyone else's?

You got picked on for having ginger hair, I got picked on for being chubby, quiet and nerdy, I saw people who were picked on for being black, muslim, mentally challanged, too smart, too thin, too fat, dressing the wrong way, not listening to the right music, looking at the wrong person funny and many, many more reasons.

My sympathies to you, I know what it's like, for some people this sort of thing is only temporary but for others it can be something that never really stops following them.

Is this a problem? Sure, it's unpleasant to put up with hassle and abuse from others and I'm sure that it has had it's moments where it's turned ugly but has it kept you from doing anything in your life? Has it robbed you of any of life's oppertunities? Are you haunted and tormented every night by the thoughts of those who make fun of you and discriminate against you?

Somehow I doubt any of the above can be answered with a 'yes' for most people of the ginger persuasion so I'd be hard pressed to call 'Gingerism' a problem without having to say that making jokes at the expense of people who are fat or emo or wear glasses is also a form of discrimination and a problem.

You're not being discriminated against, you just have the misfortune of encountering arseholes I'm afraid. Ginger hair is just one of those things that happens to be thought of as an acceptable target.