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I am a ginger, who has a ginger baby and has no issues with the word 'ginger'.

I don't use the term unless I'm talking about cooking or baking.

As a redhead, I'm not a fan. I've never been discriminated against because of my hair though.

Usually when I hear it used it doesn't sound very nice. I don't use it, but I don't think it would come to mind anyway--when I see a person with red hair, I think "redhead", not ginger.

I'm a redhead and it doesn't bother me personally, but I never use it because I know it bothers other redheads, including some of my friends (especially my English friends).

I never say it, but I was also never exposed to the term ginger for a redhead until I was in my early 20s and by then I was set in my ways.

We have a few red headed friends and they get teased quite a bit with ginger. In our group it's also accepted.

Every redhead I know calls themselves a ginger, so I think of it as a term of endearment.

I think it's offensive in the UK?

HS boys said all sorts of inappropriate things to me about my red hair, but none were ginger.

I've usually heard it being used as an insult, so I don't use it. DH is a redhead and doesn't like it, because of how kids used it growing up.

I'm a red head and am not offended by it at all. They did have "kick a ginger day." That was a bit much.

@mrbee: haha ok, that's fair. To be honest I'm kind of jealous redheads get to be called gingers... I wish I had red hair. lol!

I do with my husband since he had red hair growing up. (It's more brownish now, but his beard is red.) Honestly, I had never even heard the word until that South Park episode! And neither had my husband. I guess it just wasn't common in Michigan.

My understanding has always been that it's more offensive in the UK, so I guess I wouldn't use it there. And I don't really use it except to tease my husband anyway. (FWIW, I love red hair and wish I had it. Mine's brown with reddish tint.)

I'm a red head, and for now, so is Toddler X. I don't mind "ginger"-- but I think that's because in the US, it's not used as frequently as in the UK and Canada, and even less frequently in a derogatory way. I was *lightly* teased for having red hair when I was little (and the word "ginger" was never used), but now that I'm older, I love my hair color and I'm proud of it, so calling me a ginger feels more like a compliment than anything else.

I feel like I should add that I feel like red hair is a badge of honor in a way-- (that's exaggerating, I know, but hear me out)-- you get teased when you're younger for it, but when you're older it's "beautiful" and the compliments I get for it make me feel like it's earned. So being called "ginger" is a compliment as far as I'm concerned, but if someone who isn't really a redhead called themselves that (just have a light reddish color or they dye it), I kind of get annoyed. "you didn't earn it!" Again, just barely annoyed, but y'know, the sentiment is there.

An Australian comic/singer named Tim Minchin has a funny video on this (that you can find on youtube), and as he notes "Only a ginger can call another ginger "ginger.""

One of my bestestest two girl friends has red hair, and both she and the rest of our group refers to her as a ginger. But never in a pejorative or even slightly teasing way. I think she's proud to be a ginger and that rubs off on us. Like it's a compliment. It's also much cuter than just "red headed".

@Lozza: Yes! Love that guy. Tim Minchin is awesome. My favorite song is "If I Didn't Have You". That guy is my kind of comedy.

I would totally imped the "Only a Ginger" video but I don't think it's appropriate for a family site... but go watch it people!

@mrbee: Just mousy brown. I don't if there are obvious others, maybe someone knows more?

That reminded me, I had a friend growing up with the most beautiful brown eyes and all the boys in class called her poop eyes. I guess if you are negative enough you could describe anything negatively. That had nothing to do with hair, sorry.

I have red hair (before the bleach!) and I'm not offended by the term ginger - I use it. I agree that people with red hair get a rough deal, though - DH said to me only today that he'd be upset if our children are ginger. Hmm, I think there's a pretty good chance they will be!