The Official Complaint Thread!

[Tigger]

I have a front and a back porch with no obvious signs of which is used more, it's even more confusing for them and gives me time to get my game face on.

Plus, a ton of ivy and trees so it's also a little foreboding in general, if they're brave enough to take the step I can at least look them in the eye and try to scare them even more...

 

[bustaheims]

Bicycles of the City of Toronto. Red lights and Stop signs apply to you as well.

 

[Kin]

I hadn't thought of it that way, Nik. It's an interesting point of view. makes some sense too, because regardless of whether someone is aggressive in their demeanor or not, I do feel like my personal space has been somewhat violated when someone I don't know knocks on my door to sell something. Though how they act afterwards really affects my viewpoint.

As an architectural designer, this is why I'm a fan of porches. It's a buffer zone -- a transition space between outside and inside -- that's too often omitted on newer homes.

And I'm not saying that you need to get angry or even be impolite when someone does come around. One of the favourite conversations in my life was with a Mormon missionary when I was living in Australia(if only because a large chunk of it ended up being about the decision to not include Isiah Thomas on the Dream Team).

That said, and I can't deny that my Eastern European Jewish heritage largely informs this, I'm fairly touchy about the idea of anyone trying to "convert" me regard of how friendly they are about it.

 

[maplesyrup]

Stuff like this;

Men's Humor ‏@MensHumor
If Monday was a person, it'd be a Ginger.

Seriously, this whole "ginger" thing is neither clever or funny. I find it as offensive as the "N" word.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I too find it similar, just thinking back to all those redheads who were taken from their homeland and enslaved.

 

[maplesyrup]

I too find it similar, just thinking back to all those redheads who were taken from their homeland and enslaved.

Well, that might be the dumbest post I've read in a very long while, Potvin. You obviously have no idea what red headed children go through in school. It's pretty much EXACTLY like what other kids who look "different" go through.

Edit: It's a derogatory term aimed to hurt. As a red head, I find it's use rather disgusting.

 

[dappleganger]

Bicycles of the City of Toronto. Red lights and Stop signs apply to you as well.

Did they change a rule or something?

Sidewalks are still fair game, correct?

 

[Corn Flake]

I too find it similar, just thinking back to all those redheads who were taken from their homeland and enslaved.

Well, that might be the dumbest post I've read in a very long while, Potvin. You obviously have no idea what red headed children go through in school. It's pretty much EXACTLY like what other kids who look "different" go through.

Edit: It's a derogatory term aimed to hurt. As a red head, I find it's use rather disgusting.

You really find it that offensive?

I'm a redhead too, and I didn't like the jokes as a kid either but whatever.. everyone got it for something as a kid and that's about the worst of it for me.  Nobody really ever calls me a ginger but if they do it's more just kind of dumb than offensive to me.  I really don't consider it anywhere close to the "N" word level of derogatory word.

 

[maplesyrup]

I too find it similar, just thinking back to all those redheads who were taken from their homeland and enslaved.

Well, that might be the dumbest post I've read in a very long while, Potvin. You obviously have no idea what red headed children go through in school. It's pretty much EXACTLY like what other kids who look "different" go through.

Edit: It's a derogatory term aimed to hurt. As a red head, I find it's use rather disgusting.

You really find it that offensive?

I'm a redhead too, and I didn't like the jokes as a kid either but whatever.. everyone got it for something as a kid and that's about the worst of it for me.  Nobody really ever calls me a ginger but if they do it's more just kind of dumb than offensive to me.  I really don't consider it anywhere close to the "N" word level of derogatory word.

I do... I find this whole "ginger" thing disgusting. I think the people who use the word now are of like minds with people who might have found the "N" word acceptable 40 years ago. Further to Potvin's post (or at least my reply to it) Pakistanis (and Indians for that matter) who get called the "P" word would also find that word as offensive as the "N" word too but they weren't brought from Africa and enslaved in American plantations either so you know, a rather silly thing of him to say I think.

 

[Bullfrog]

I do... I find this whole "ginger" thing disgusting. I think the people who use the word now are of like minds with people who might have found the "N" word acceptable 40 years ago. Further to Potvin's post (or at least my reply to it) Pakistanis (and Indians for that matter) who get called the "P" word would also find that word as offensive as the "N" word too but they weren't brought from Africa and enslaved in American plantations either so you know, a rather silly thing of him to say I think.

Sorry to disregard your feelings, but I think you're blowing it out of proportion and I actually find your comparison to racists overblown, unfair, and ignorant.  I'm sorry you were teased as a child, but that doesn't mean everyone who uses the term is using it in a derogatory manner.

Most people I know that use the term ginger use it as a replacement for redhead. It's not meant in anyway to suggest redheads are inferior or in any way different as people other than red hair, pale skin, and freckles, which I happen to find attractive on women.

 

[maplesyrup]

Sorry to disregard your feelings, but I think you're blowing it out of proportion and I actually find your comparison to racists overblown, unfair, and ignorant.  I'm sorry you were teased as a child, but that doesn't mean everyone who uses the term is using it in a derogatory manner.

Most people I know that use the term ginger use it as a replacement for redhead. It's not meant in anyway to suggest redheads are inferior or in any way different as people other than red hair, pale skin, and freckles, which I happen to find attractive on women.

Well, sorry but I find your view ignorant. "Ginger" is a derogatory word when speaking about and to red-heads.  - Period. As far as the other people you know are concerned, well, I think they should be advised to just say "red-head" and be careful with replacement words.

 

[Kin]

It's a derogatory term aimed to hurt.

Sure. It's not, however, a word that is closely connected to the dehumanizing racism that subjugated people for hundreds of years.

Nobody likes being called names. It's along the lines of "Ugly" or "Fatso", not racial slurs.

 

[maplesyrup]

It's a derogatory term aimed to hurt.

Sure. It's not, however, a word that is closely connected to the dehumanizing racism that subjugated people for hundreds of years.

Nobody likes being called names. It's along the lines of "Ugly" or "Fatso", not racial slurs.

No. It's more along the lines of calling an oriental people "yellow" which is just as deeply connected with racism as anything else and if folks can't see that well then it's truly a tragic thing. 

 

[bustaheims]

No. It's more along the lines of calling an oriental people "yellow" which is just as deeply connected with racism as anything else and if folks can't see that well then it's truly a tragic thing.

I'd just like to point out the irony of your usage of the less than socially acceptable term "orientals" when referring to persons of an East Asian heritage.

Also, calling them "yellow" is most definitely a racial thing - as it's based on the skin tone of that race. Redheads are not a race, they're a genetic abnormality, along the lines of blue or green eyes or blonds. Calling a redhead a ginger is on the same level as calling a blonde dumb. It's nowhere close to the other example you've brought up.

 

[maplesyrup]

I'd just like to point out the irony of your usage of the less than socially acceptable term "orientals" when referring to persons of an East Asian heritage.

"Oriental" isn't derogatory as "ginger" is though yeah, I should be using your term.... Thanks for pointing that out. 

 

[maplesyrup]

Also, calling them "yellow" is most definitely a racial thing - as it's based on the skin tone of that race. Redheads are not a race, they're a genetic abnormality, along the lines of blue or green eyes or blonds. Calling a redhead a ginger is on the same level as calling a blonde dumb. It's nowhere close to the other example you've brought up.

Well, I think we're not going to find much common ground on this one.

 

[Kin]

No. It's more along the lines of calling an oriental people "yellow" which is just as deeply connected with racism as anything else and if folks can't see that well then it's truly a tragic thing.

Well, again, "Yellow" to describe Asians(as opposed to "Orientals" which is, itself, not above board) is a racial slur. It does have a connection to actual racist policy and discrimination. It isn't just about hurt feelings.

So, again, no. Racial slurs are not comparable to other things that aren't racial slurs.

 

[WalterSobchak]

No. It's more along the lines of calling an oriental people "yellow" which is just as deeply connected with racism as anything else and if folks can't see that well then it's truly a tragic thing.

I'd just like to point out the irony of your usage of the less than socially acceptable term "orientals" when referring to persons of an East Asian heritage.

"Dude, Asian-American is the correct nomenclature" 

 

 

[bustaheims]

"Oriental" isn't derogatory as "ginger" is though yeah, I should be using your term.... Thanks for pointing that out.

I think you'd find a number of Asians who would strongly disagree with you, as would those who create the definitions for the Canadian Oxford dictionary. It's considered to be an offensive term when used to describe those of East Asian or Southeast Asian heritage.

 

[Kin]

"Oriental" isn't derogatory as "ginger" is though yeah, I should be using your term.... Thanks for pointing that out.

You've decided that for them, have you?