I'm talking about this because it's something REALLY aggravating me at the moment. I'm 15, fairly thin, and live in England. I also happen to have a hair colour which happens to be called 'ginger'. Pretty much, it's what usually called red without dye.

And the amount of crap I get for it is RIDICULOUS. Today, I was in town with my friend. Then some random stranger comes up to me, puts his arm over my shoulder and pretty much tells me my hair colour is not to his taste, and would I change it please. I'm paraphrasing, by the way.

Last week, two people were walking past me and insulted me for having ginger hair. I had never seen them before, ever. Naturally, I made a witty quip ('Go to hell, douche.') and carried on walking.

Two days later, I was with some friends walking home from school, and some random people were walking past. And one of them smashes a football into my face. There's no chance it could've been an accident, because he was right next to me. This time, I didn't say anything, as I like my face the shape it is.

My problem is, how casual people's attitudes are to each other. The majority of teenagers I meet are not friendly people, and the media doesn't help. Most aggravating of all, is that there is no way to stop it. I can't go around beating up random people who insult me all the time: hell, I'd probably have broken my fist within a week.

But seriously. Does anybody have any advice on how cut down on all this crap?

I'm currently building up my muscles and learning kung-fu, but its the overall situation that worries me.

The other question is, should casual acts like this be made illegal?

Coming from a Black American: Welcome to the club

I used to have this problem when I was a freshman (kinda pale and very red hair because of my Irish ancestry). The only thing I can say that fixed it for me, was changing my attitude, building muscle and once I did that, the insults started coming less frequently and then stopped all together.

Being an Emo, the only idea I have is to respond with general sarcasm and wit and ignore the (usually) chavs. I get verbal abuse from absolute strangers, too, so I know what you're getting at.

jellis186:
Coming from a Black American: Welcome to the club

Wow, there's more than one of us here? (I swear, if I walk into a bar one more time and the dj spotting little ol' black me makes some awkward attempt at "black culture" by shouting "Let's get Krunked UP!" I'm going to burn the place down. With him in it.)

well...I used to have long hair (I'm a guy) and was a goth for about a year and the ammount of discrimination I received was phenomenal; I was slapped in the face a few times a week by random strangers, I was hit in the head with a plastic bottle full of gravel. no one really tried to fight me because I've always been quite muscular and the goth boots made me about ft6.5 I always found that white van drivers were the worst pretty much every time I crossed the road on a weekday I generally got shouted at something witty along the lines of "get a haircut you freak" could of been written by Wilde or Byron but no it's some skinheaded poorly educated labourer then usually proceeded a half eaten Ginsters pasty to the head.

and I found the best course of action was to just walk on, if you start on a chav even if you beat the snot out of them within 5 minuets every pikey in their generally speaking enormous family will be head hunting you. and eventually you'll be so full of pent up rage you'll go on one of those genocidal killing sprees around a school or public place like Columbine or that girl Geldof wrote a song about (who coincidently is Ginger)

anyway I'm afraid to say that Discrimination is a part of life; racism is supposedly abolished but kids in London get stabbed all the time for the colour of their skin, women still on average earn less than men doing the same job, homosexual's are still mocked daily in the media.

whatever you do don't change your hair colour! if you do they win and everyone will eventually be the same and we'll all blend in the beige dullness of life. believe it or not I did a google search and their are a whole load of 'Ginger Rights' websites, apparently they even go on marches and protests around Westminster

Honesty, the problem is not that you're ginger, it's that people are wankers.

If it's not ginger, then it's being too blonde, too tall, wearing glasses, having long hair, having short hair, being too skinny or even having brown eyes that are 'too dark' (all of these have been directed at me). If someone wants to be an arse hole they'll find an excuse.

My answer to the second question is yes, because they already are (in the UK). It's referred to as anti-social or threatening behaviour and you can be arrested for both. Whilst having a football smashed into your face for no reason is assualt.

Dumb question, but what do you intend to do once you know the Kung Fu?

Yes, it's assault, but you're hardly able to prosecute them without a name or a rough idea of where they might be, are you?

True but the same applies to any crime, the question was whether acts like that should be illegal.

Baelinicus:

The other question is, should casual acts like this be made illegal?

I'm pretty sure that smashing a football into someone's face already is illegal. It's usually up to the victim to inform the police when a crime has been perpetrated on them.

You may find that building up you muscles & learning kung-fu may exasperate the situation. I'm from the UK & pretty well built & don't have enough digits to count the number of times people have had a pop at me because of my size, if you look like a fighter then you'll attract more violence. It could be a blessing that you thin frame means you only get footballs & verbal abuse in your face, rather than punches & headbutts.

If I had a soul, I may feel bad that I just finished watching the South Park episode "Ginger Kids"...

Something to learn about life... People are assholes. Kids are the worst, teens are pretty bad too, its only between 20-30 when cause and effect kick in and people learn not to be a douche because there can be consequences.

The only suggestions I can offer, not knowing anything about you, is get an unbiased review of your appearance. Often I find people who get picked on for seemingly pointless things aren't helping themselves by accenting their "difference". If it's your hair color they are making fun of, is your hairstyle making your situation worse? Curls are a definite no-go for redheads (think Carrot Top), maybe a short haircut or long hair would change the look. Maybe the way you dress? Bad hair + geeky clothes +/- glasses can make for a real "nerd" look. I'm not saying change who you are, but changing your image may help. Or, it may not either. I also highly recommend brass knuckles, keeps the fist from hurting when you beat people up for being douchebags.

Oh, also... If you don't have freckles and pale skin, you aren't a Ginger... You're a Daywalker.

OMG, I have no idea why the hell ginger ppl get aggro. I don't see why any people who get aggro for things their born with, and can do nothing about, get aggro.

Pure retardation.

I'm definitely not discriminatory to people with red hair. I find redheads to be the most attractive type of woman...

I kind of fit into the demographic for being the "most well off".

I'm a white Irish upper-middle-class Christian and thusly I have to be the most racist bugger in the whole dang world.

I get called a ginger sometimes, I shoot right back at them with something like, "Hey, buddy. Lose some weight, your breathing makes it hard to understand you", insulting, etc.

But for Christs sakes people, it's racism both ways now. If 1 more black "G-ANGSTA" call be a cracker, I'm going to get violent. Pff, everyone knows they carry guns, though.

And reporting assault is the wanker thing to do. It only makes people more skittish and won't improve your situation. I've been reported twice. The first time I was just fighting with some kid from my school. The second time I tackled some "G-ANGSTA" who tried to say something about my mom.
Someone tried to make it a hate crime. Hahaha.

That's actually pretty interesting... I have red hair, but I think the standards might be different for girls. Everyone LOVES my hair. I get compliments as much as you guys get insults. Hooray for double-standards.

But, I really don't think there's much to be done about it other than standing up for yourself. It's all about attitude. If you walk by someone expecting them to hit you in the face with a football, they will. It doesn't necessarily take kung-fu classes and muscle, just confidence.

What irks me the most is the scholarship system in America... if you're black, half black, even a quarter black, you pretty much get college paid for. If you're white, of the same age, and with higher grades than them, you still end up taking out loans. Affirmative action has turned into discrimination against whites trying to attend university.

Bell-tower and a bolt-action rifle?

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves...

TheNecroswanson:

Copter400:
Bell-tower and a bolt-action rifle?

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves...

Lol, says the man with the Father Grigori avatar :P.

Anyway, Brass knuckles dude. Fuck those guys up. If some dumb bastard puts a ball in your face it's assault. You then have two choices brother, fuck them up, or inform the police. In highschool some guy messed with me once. One concussion later and noone in the school looked at me cross eyed for the next four years. Build a hate rep.
Also, yes, looks are everything. In highschool the butt nugget who messed with me did so because I walked down the hall in black leather platforms, makeup and a Megadeth shirt.
The joke was on him, he got his ass beat by a guy in women's boots.
Anwyay, back to the subject at hand.
Looks mean alot, and bullying is desire+opportunity. If you look like some schmuck, people will treat you like one. If not, carry a bat around.

Unfortunately, and quite contrary to popular beleif, ages 14-25, violence IS the answer.

Your guy-in-womens'-boots comment reminds me: people pick on nerds, but OH GOD WHY would you tease people who have real swords at home and actually put money into learning how to use them, even if they only did it to look like Aragorn? I mean, a majority of bullies are all talk and no action. If you confront them, they'll usually stand down, and most can't hold their own in a real fight. Why pick on someone who can? lol

BlazeTheVampire:

TheNecroswanson:

Copter400:
Bell-tower and a bolt-action rifle?

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves...

Lol, says the man with the Father Grigori avatar :P.

Anyway, Brass knuckles dude. Fuck those guys up. If some dumb bastard puts a ball in your face it's assault. You then have two choices brother, fuck them up, or inform the police. In highschool some guy messed with me once. One concussion later and noone in the school looked at me cross eyed for the next four years. Build a hate rep.
Also, yes, looks are everything. In highschool the butt nugget who messed with me did so because I walked down the hall in black leather platforms, makeup and a Megadeth shirt.
The joke was on him, he got his ass beat by a guy in women's boots.
Anwyay, back to the subject at hand.
Looks mean alot, and bullying is desire+opportunity. If you look like some schmuck, people will treat you like one. If not, carry a bat around.

Unfortunately, and quite contrary to popular beleif, ages 14-25, violence IS the answer.

Your guy-in-womens'-boots comment reminds me: people pick on nerds, but OH GOD WHY would you tease people who have real swords at home and actually put money into learning how to use them, even if they only did it to look like Aragorn? I mean, a majority of bullies are all talk and no action. If you confront them, they'll usually stand down, and most can't hold their own in a real fight. Why pick on someone who can? lol

I'm a nerdy sonofagun (like seriously, I still make goddang cake is a lie jokes) and I lift, wrestle, and Box. It's all about setting a balance. I just discovered this about 11 months ago.

The reason I do this is just because all my life I've wanted to be different then the average nerd, to be better physically then some silly stereotype.

im ginger and iv had a few insults (went thru sum shit once,sum1 made a joke and dyed my hair :( ) people missed me being ginger and said i looked cool which i didnt believe....u get twats in the world and u get people like that, just tell them where to go

btw that south park episode is BRILLIANT....im a daywalker lol

Just rise above it. People get shit for their appearance all the time, albeit for varying reasons, and its almost always by insecure wastes of skin who feel the need to cover up their own flaws. Is their opinion seriously worth considering? No. The opinion of an imbecile is worth less than nothing. Violence isn't really a solution, the kung fu may come in handy for self defence if some nobhead decided to get physical you, but you shouldnt use it as a retaliation for verbal taunts from some fuckwit no-lifer who'll probably spend their life in a council flat on benefits.

BlazeTheVampire:
I mean, a majority of bullies are all talk and no action. If you confront them, they'll usually stand down, and most can't hold their own in a real fight. Why pick on someone who can? lol

I've usually found people who bully others to be above-average size/build and usually know full well how to throw or take a punch. That's why I always fight dirty.

My example is not very extreme, nor is it uncommon. I'm a little shorter than average, so I've gotten used to getting all kinds of bad attitudes from people of both sexes. Some people who have had similar problems become withdrawn and timid, but I just learned how to deal with people who have piss where their brains should be. It was obvious to me from a very early age that most people are petty and ignorant. You and me included. This means that most people are also malicious, selectively perhaps, but still malicious.

All human interactions and relationships are games of chance. They depend on the arbitrary rules, the random starting conditions and the random players. If one gets served a bad hand of cards, one can try to bluff, or fold, or just stand up and walk away. You don't have to play the same game that everyone else is playing. I've learned that I don't need acceptance, respect, or love. I'm having much more fun on my own, even if it means having few friends and living in celibacy.

Because I was bullied early on, I realized that the best reaction to aggression is obduracy. Now I can stand on my own against a bigger guy, or five guys, without fear. So I guess I could thank those people, who taught me what we are truly made of.

TheNecroswanson:

Anyway, Brass knuckles dude. Fuck those guys up. If some dumb bastard puts a ball in your face it's assault. You then have two choices brother, fuck them up, or inform the police. In highschool some guy messed with me once. One concussion later and noone in the school looked at me cross eyed for the next four years. Build a hate rep.
Also, yes, looks are everything. In highschool the butt nugget who messed with me did so because I walked down the hall in black leather platforms, makeup and a Megadeth shirt.
The joke was on him, he got his ass beat by a guy in women's boots.
Anwyay, back to the subject at hand.
Looks mean alot, and bullying is desire+opportunity. If you look like some schmuck, people will treat you like one. If not, carry a bat around.

Unfortunately, and quite contrary to popular beleif, ages 14-25, violence IS the answer.

yea. What he said. All violence aside, find some inane little detail about them and pick at that. You may be being no less of a douchebag then them but hell, they had it coming.

i get crap for having red hair too, but im 15 and 6 feet 5 inches so all i need is a very serious look in the perons face and they get the idea that "maybe we should get out of here before i die"

Living in a socialist country as Sweden the following coversation often occurs:

Hi...[Random talk]...So i'm American..."Your country sucks omg"

Or

Hi...[Random talk]...So i'm Christian..."You intolerant fucker, why do you hate gays?"

Well, I might be slightly exagurating but generally that is the kind of reaction I get. But I never really took it personal.

TheNecroswanson:

Anyway, Brass knuckles dude. Fuck those guys up. If some dumb bastard puts a ball in your face it's assault. You then have two choices brother, fuck them up, or inform the police. In highschool some guy messed with me once. One concussion later and noone in the school looked at me cross eyed for the next four years. Build a hate rep.
Also, yes, looks are everything. In highschool the butt nugget who messed with me did so because I walked down the hall in black leather platforms, makeup and a Megadeth shirt.
The joke was on him, he got his ass beat by a guy in women's boots.
Anwyay, back to the subject at hand.
Looks mean alot, and bullying is desire+opportunity. If you look like some schmuck, people will treat you like one. If not, carry a bat around.

Unfortunately, and quite contrary to popular beleif, ages 14-25, violence IS the answer.

Honest to god i've been sitting here writing draft after draft of an argument to this and cannot conjure one, and i'm the most argumentative dick you'll find in a decent radius.

Yep, just looked at the clock, 20 minutes i've tried to find something to dispute your final sentence but have nothing.

The trick is not be a jerk about it. I see a lot of "I'll punch anyone who tries" about silly things like footballs and names. Sure, I get into fights, but only about things like my family and when I've been attacked and need to retaliate.

If you establish a reputation as that kid who "totally flies off the handle at the littlest thing" then, yes, people will not insult you. But the people who weren't will simply avoid you because they don't want to get hurt.

Vaudille:

If you establish a reputation as that kid who "totally flies off the handle at the littlest thing" then, yes, people will not insult you. But the people who weren't will simply avoid you because they don't want to get hurt.

Or if he establishes a reputation as that kid who "totally flies off the handle at the littlest thing", he may find people will goad & insult him more, since people looking for a fight will know he's an easy target & try to prove themselves by starting easy fights with him.

In the UK reputations can be like waving a red rag in front of a bull (Proverbially speaking).

I no many peopel are goign to think that this is all contradictory but i think you should go on with the wieght lifting and kung fu. The wieght liftign will fill you otu so you dont look so thin and the fung fu dispite being ment for self defense it alter that air you have aroudnd oh so slightly.would be usefull on the few random occurances that you may need it. Lastly i think you should eat more, it would cover up to muscle yoru built to you dotn look so tought you woudl actully end up more regular looking.

Lastly may i suggest a hat?

I no many peopel are goign to think that this is all contradictory but i think you should go on with the wieght lifting and kung fu. The wieght liftign will fill you otu so you dont look so thin and the fung fu dispite being ment for self defense it alter that air you have aroudnd oh so slightly.would be usefull on the few random occurances that you may need it. Lastly i think you should eat more, it would cover up to muscle yoru built to you dotn look so tought you woudl actully end up more regular looking.

Lastly may i suggest a hat?

This is something that has perplexed me as well as almost all the girls I know when quizzed have told me that they wouldn't date a red-head (I myself have dark brown hair) and when pushed even further said it was because "they just didn't find them attractive". It seems the world (or at least the female population) has turned against red-heads for no real explicable reason. My recently ex-girlfriend saw a photo of a girl I went out with when I was 18 who was a red-head and she was like "ewww, you went out with a ginger?". I haven't noticed guys being as discriminatory with red-headed girls; in fact one of my good friends is incredibly attracted to them.

It might be helpful to keep in mind that a good build will only account for so much. There is this ugly, befreckled red-head at the gym I go to who is built like an absolute tank (probably because he got teased for being a ginger). It doesn't detract from the fact he is still hideously ugly. He's got the personality of a brick too, but I find that with most of those gym junkies.
Maybe you put some focus on your personality, stimulating your intellect and hanging around with like-minded people. I know quite a few women who find intelligence sexy and those who don't find money sexy; so if you are smart and get rich it's win / win!

On a personal note, I was a metal-head back in high school; too weird for the popular kids and too dangerous for the nerds so it was pretty awkward at times (being the tallest kid in the school didn't help). I eventually found some guys who shared my love of music and were equally ostracised and we banded together. Made all the difference.

Stay strong.