The Official Complaint Thread!

[maplesyrup]

So I can see why someone with red hair would find it awkward.  Should they have the final say if it is offensive or not?

Yes, absolutely.

Then why choose to view it as offensive? If you chose to view it as inoffensive, the word loses all of its power to hurt you, and becomes meaningless.

Well, because it is. Just like the "N" word is.

* insert Nik rant here *

 

[bustaheims]

Well, because it is. Just like the "N" word is.

* insert Nik rant here *

But as Nik has pointed out, it's not like the N word in that fashion at all. It doesn't come with the baggage attached to it, the history, the dehumanization, etc. Just because you feel it's offensive in that way does not make it offensive in that way.

 

[Kin]

Well, because it is. Just like the "N" word is.

* insert Nik rant here *

Ho, ho, ho. You made reference to the N word for such humorous effect there. You're like our very own Michael Richards.

 

[TML fan]

So I can see why someone with red hair would find it awkward.  Should they have the final say if it is offensive or not?

Yes, absolutely.

Then why choose to view it as offensive? If you chose to view it as inoffensive, the word loses all of its power to hurt you, and becomes meaningless.

Well, because it is. Just like the "N" word is.

* insert Nik rant here *

Some black people choose to use the word as a term of endearment among friends. It doesn't have the same effect or connotation. You're CHOOSING to be offended by it, which gives the word it's power against you, and people will use it against you.

 

[maplesyrup]

Well, because it is. Just like the "N" word is.

* insert Nik rant here *

But as Nik has pointed out, it's not like the N word in that fashion at all. It doesn't come with the baggage attached to it, the history, the dehumanization, etc. Just because you feel it's offensive in that way does not make it offensive in that way.

Again, no it isn't exactly the same. It's as I said -  "like." I fully understand the degree of baggage associated with the other. On the other hand, I'm sure you'd appreciate that there is in fact some baggage associated with the word "ginger." More to some than others.   

 

[bustaheims]

Again, no it isn't exactly the same. It's as I said -  "like." I fully understand the degree of baggage associated with the other. On the other hand, I'm sure you'd appreciate that there is in fact some baggage associated with the word "ginger." More to some than others. 

Well, maybe, but it's still like comparing a purse to the entire cargo of an overbooked 747. There's more baggage attached to the word Jew, and I don't know too many people who would consider that to be an offensive term for a Jewish person. I know I certainly don't.

 

[Tigger]

You are embarrassing yourself by saying otherwise.

I don't like the slur. It's in poor taste and the level to which it might be compared to is up for debate. Seriously, how can I be embarrassing myself when I believe I'm right?

When you compare it to the 'N' word, yeah, it's embarrassing. You might not like it and if I knew you in the real world I'd respect that ( though I'd have a touch of Austin Powers 'gingergingerginger' in my head ) but the comparison is way over the top.

The word has been well planted in the english language for an awfully long time ( Dickens used it to describe beard hair in 'Our Mutual Friend' in 1865 ).

Now I was in love with Tina Louise but is it any wonder her name was Ginger on the show?

Potvin and Nik, did you ever hear anyone use 'ranga' in relation to red heads while you were down under?

 

[maplesyrup]

Again, no it isn't exactly the same. It's as I said -  "like." I fully understand the degree of baggage associated with the other. On the other hand, I'm sure you'd appreciate that there is in fact some baggage associated with the word "ginger." More to some than others. 

Well, maybe, but it's still like comparing a purse to the entire cargo of an overbooked 747. There's more baggage attached to the word Jew, and I don't know too many people who would consider that to be an offensive term. I know I certainly don't.

Well, my Dad's side of the family is Jewish and I don't take offense to "Jew" either. "Ginger" on the other hand upsets me.

 

[Tigger]

Again, no it isn't exactly the same. It's as I said -  "like." I fully understand the degree of baggage associated with the other. On the other hand, I'm sure you'd appreciate that there is in fact some baggage associated with the word "ginger." More to some than others. 

Well, maybe, but it's still like comparing a purse to the entire cargo of an overbooked 747. There's more baggage attached to the word Jew, and I don't know too many people who would consider that to be an offensive term for a Jewish person. I know I certainly don't.

There's a Louis CK bit where he talks about Jew being the only word that is acceptable and a slur depending on how you say it.

 

[maplesyrup]

When you compare it to the 'N' word, yeah, it's embarrassing.

Well it might not sit right with some here but I'm not embarrassed at all.

 

[Kin]

Potvin and Nik, did you ever hear anyone use 'ranga' in relation to red heads while you were down under?

Yeah, again, same context more or less.

 

[bustaheims]

Well, my Dad's side of the family is Jewish and I don't take offense to "Jew" either. "Ginger" on the other hand upsets me.

Honestly, I find that strange. One of those words has a history of being used as an offensive racially motivated hate word and still is used in that fashion by many (which I do take offence to - it's all about context), and the other is ginger.

 

[Tigger]

When you compare it to the 'N' word, yeah, it's embarrassing.

Well it might not sit right with some here but I'm not embarrassed at all.

I suppose it doesn't matter that Peter Baker built a career around his moniker?

 

[maplesyrup]

Well, my Dad's side of the family is Jewish and I don't take offense to "Jew" either. "Ginger" on the other hand upsets me.

Honestly, I find that strange. One of those words has a history of being used as an offensive racially motivated hate word and still is used in that fashion by many (which I do take offence to - it's all about context), and the other is ginger.

It's not all that strange. I know many Jews including most of my Dad's family refer to themselves as "Jews." When non-Jews say "Jew" I don't take exception when it's said without malice. When a non-Jew says something like "bagel" well, then that's a different story. In my mind, "ginger" rougly equals "bagel." 

 

[Kin]

Honestly, I find that strange. One of those words has a history of being used as an offensive racially motivated hate word and still is used in that fashion by many (which I do take offence to - it's all about context), and the other is ginger.

Well, yeah. "Jew" is a word that doesn't really have any inherently negative connotations. I don't know anyone in my vast and extended family who wouldn't refer to us as Jews. It's not just a word to refer to us but it's the most common.

So, yeah, it's absent the baggage but I think that is a good comparison. Ginger is a word that's entirely about context.

 

[bustaheims]

It's not all that strange. I know many Jews including most of my Dad's family refer to themselves as "Jews." When non-Jews say "Jew" I don't take exception when it's said without malice. When a non-Jew says something like "bagel" well, then that's a different story. In my mind, "ginger" rougly equals "bagel."

Honestly, if someone called me a bagel, I'd be more offended by their stupidity than by their attempt to insult me.

 

[Tigger]

I have a buddy who's former girlfriend's a red head. Years back a bunch of us were at a house party, playing darts and switching off jamming and I could see him and her sort of arguing. I asked him about it and he said she was mad because he called her Dr. Zaius, but he only called her that because of something she'd done/said yadda yadda.

I started humming 'rock me Amadeus' and everything went sideways after that, we had the whole room singing 'Dr. Zaius' to the tune of 'rock me Amadeus' much to her chagrin at the time, though she even came to laugh about it later.

Come on and rock me Dr. Zaius!

I'm not saying we were right or anything but as anecdotes go, she had a lot more to be mad about than what I'm reading here.

 

[maplesyrup]

Honestly, if someone called me a bagel, I'd be more offended by their stupidity than by their attempt to insult me.

Well, when people use "ginger" I'm insulted by the word AND their stupidity.

 

[Kin]

Honestly, if someone called me a bagel, I'd be more offended by their stupidity than by their attempt to insult me.

Seriously. If someone called me a bagel I'm not entirely sure I'd even understand what they were getting across. I associate bagels more with New York than I do with Judaism.

 

[Tigger]

Honestly, if someone called me a bagel, I'd be more offended by their stupidity than by their attempt to insult me.

Well, when people use "ginger" I'm insulted by the word AND their stupidity.

In general? That seems kind of closed minded to me, I mean sure get offended if they're saying you're a ginger and have no soul but if they're using it to describe hair colour, I don't see a thing wrong with it.