i don't think ginger is meant to be derogatory. it can be, but not always.
Oh it is derogatory all right. I have never known of it being a compliment.
I always thought it was just a random word. I know a lot of people use it as an insult, but I didn't know it was always meant to be derogatory. I know some people refer to themselves as ginger.
Anyway, if I do take the piss out of someone like that, I don't actually mean it in a nasty way. That's just how me and my friends were with each other in college. I knew a guy who I used to call fat and gay, and he called me fat and gay too, even though we weren't fat or gay. We just insulted each other a lot, not nastily though.
If I do insult someone, it's for one of two reasons (usually the first one)
1. I like them and I'm just fucking around. I wouldn't do this with someone if they seemed sensitive or I thought they wouldn't realise I was just joking.
2. I really really hate them. I called shleed a fat retard a few months ago, and I meant it. I'm not proud of it, but he was saying things with the sole intention of hurting me, and I didn't like him at all, so I did the same back.
If I met someone with red hair, or I had a friend with red hair who was kind of sensitive or who wouldn't understand, then I wouldn't do it. It's not the fact that they have red hair, it's just the fact that that's how me and my friends were with each other. We just used to fuck about most of the time. I didn't tease people I didn't know about it or anything though