Ginger - politically correct?

[blitznbobs]

So let me start with a confession... I love a chestnut... my favourite colour by far and away so I am very biased. I don’t have a chestnut horse at the moment but i do have a red poodle (for once Charlotte Du Jardin copied me )

However some friends and I had a bit of a debate today as I referred to my friend’s chestnut as ‘a ginger’... and I often call the aforementioned poodle the gingerdoodle... it is indeed, in my eyes at least, a term of endearment. However my friend half jokingly said the term is offensive — so in this day and age is calling a chestnut, ‘a ginger’ now an offensive and outdated practice ?

 

[albeg]

Maybe it's like the Tim Minchin song, and only a ginger can call another ginger "ginger" 😉

ETA: am a ginger and it doesn't bother me. But like anything I'm sure there are plenty it does bother.

 

[DabDab]

I know quite a few red headed humans and I don't think any of them mind being called ginger....I will ask them

I have a platinum blonde friend who has a palomino horse - I often refer to both horse and human as 'blondie'. Is that pc?

 

[NLPM]

I know quite a few red headed humans and I don't think any of them mind being called ginger....I will ask them

I couldn't care less. I refer to both the mare and myself as ginger... I suppose it's the context/intent behind it that's offensive rather than the word, but I'm not going to give it too much thought! If I ever called someone ginger and they minded, I'd apologise and not do it again, but I'd still refer to myself as ginger.

 

[Esmae]

I wouldn't worry about it. Frankly if that is the worst offence that anyone gets then they're doing okay in my opinion.

 

[cindars]

This depends how old you are and if you know Cockney slang calling someone ginger didn't always refer to the colour of someone's hair.

 

[scruffyponies]

Dogs are way too sensible to take offence over such rubbish... which is why everyone likes them.
Not sure about horses. Does it look offended in any way? If you feel like it is policing your speech at all, I would suggest you both need to get a grip.

 

[windand rain]

Me and my grandkids are red heads and are all called gingers I will add that I am 65 and still have not got a grey hair on my head so there are some advantages. Never been coloured or had special shampoos or treatments as I hate hairdressers with a vengence

 

[meleeka]

I used to help at my sons school when he was about 5. There was a boy with bright ginger hair and he almost broke my heart when I asked his name for the library list. He replied (obviously I’ve not used his real name) “I’m Joe Bloggs, the ginger one” without pausing. I thought it very sad that at 5 he was defined by the colour of his hair

When my youngest was born he had probably what would be described as strawberry blonde hair. A few people, mostly older looked at him for the first time at commented “eurgh he’s ginger”. I was very offended at that.

However, I don’t think it’s offensive if not meant in a negative way. I have a chestnut mare who I call the ginger witch. I think witch is possibly a more offensive thing to call her, but I doubt she really cares anyway 😀

 

[Gloi]

Ginger would have been perfectly polite towards some of the things I got called. Even friends called me carrot top. Ginger owner of ginger pony.

 

[BeckyFlowers]

I think the offensiveness is when something is described as "a ginger" (for example) rather than "ginger". Putting the "a" in front of it is defining the person rather than just describing an attribute. Bit like how it's fine to describe someone's ethnicity as "black" but to call them "a black" is actually pretty offensive. I think that's where the offence comes into it anyway.

 

[Equi]

The names i call my horses are definitely not PC.

 

[cauda equina]

But if we're talking about horses how is 'a ginger' any more offensive than saying, for example, 'a bay'

 

[Sussexbythesea]

I’ve got a ginger cat and a ginger horse the latter I refer to as the “ginger knobber”on occasion which may be offensive to some.

 

[CMcC]

I once referred to someone’s pedigree Maine Coon cat as ginger. I was told in very snooty terms that he was not ginger, he was red. Looked ginger to me.

 

[tamsinkb]

I'm a liver chestnut myself and would not take offence being called a ginger, though most refer to me as Auburn...
I love a good chestnut, my first big horse was actually named Ginger, so no problem calling him a ginger!!!

 

[Equi]

I once referred to someone’s pedigree Maine Coon cat as ginger. I was told in very snooty terms that he was not ginger, he was red. Looked ginger to me.

hahaha. I was actually just thinking what is a cat called then...ive only ever known them as ginger. Red makes sense but for some reason i would feel weird calling my cat red! Hes ginger and proud lol in fact he has never once been called his name, its ginger or baby. He responds most to baby.

 

[DabDab]

Erm, well my cat's colour is actually Western sunset.....nothing so common as red

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I will add that I am 65 and still have not got a grey hair on my head so there are some advantages.

Then I'm very jealous! I'm finding way too many grey hairs in my ginger and I'm decades younger than you. According to the OH, it isn't visible. I would definitely use the word ginger to describe myself, why wouldn't I? Even more so a cat or a horse.

 

[albeg]

Then I'm very jealous! I'm finding way too many grey hairs in my ginger and I'm decades younger than you. According to the OH, it isn't visible. I would definitely use the word ginger to describe myself, why wouldn't I? Even more so a cat or a horse.

Can I join you? Not finding way too many, but definitely finding a random assortment (along with v dark brown/black) and I'm less than half WR's age.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Ginger tom, the original Cinnamontoast. Best cat ever.

 

[BeckyFlowers]

Ooo he's a handsome chappie!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Can I join you? Not finding way too many, but definitely finding a random assortment (along with v dark brown/black) and I'm less than half WR's age.

But did you say you were more auburn? My mum was quite ginger then eventually went dark brown. I'm very ginger.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Your over thinking it ginger ginger wtf it's what it is love you xx

 

[DabDab]

Your hair is gorgeous CT

Um, we love you too pinkvboots!

 

[albeg]

But did you say you were more auburn? My mum was quite ginger then eventually went dark brown. I'm very ginger. View attachment 35541View attachment 35541

I vary. The outer is very similar, the underneath is darker, and the dark brown handful are close to the front, in the middle. Will dig out photos

 

[albeg]

Tried to get some decent/more recent ones showing the difference but artifical light and dodgy camera make it look very brown, which it isn't.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Goodness, you're very bright ginger, aren't you? And quite curly? Mine's tamed by wetting it and combing through lots of conditioner. It holds the curls all day.

 

[albeg]

Yep. The shade varies somewhat depending on sunlight exposure.

Have decided to try be less lazy and just started CG method, pink Boots creme is my friend. Probably not very CG is the recent haircut where I got a load of it chopped (shorter than that photo), but it's made it a lot easier to manage.

 

[Lois Lame]

Dogs are way too sensible to take offence over such rubbish... which is why everyone likes them.
Not sure about horses. Does it look offended in any way? If you feel like it is policing your speech at all, I would suggest you both need to get a grip.

: D

Nice to hear of another who likes chestnut, OP.

My eyes pass over many a fine horse, I am sure, but a solid built chestnut usually elicits a favourable response from me. Sometimes I feel like a pervert.