causing offense?

Perhaps could have said what you originally thought, what beautiful auburn hair he has. Just sounds more complimentary than ginger nut maybe.

I'm a redhead and yes, I'd find 'gingernut' to be offensive. I was called that often as a child and it was never meant as a compliment.

2 of our DGC are gingers. So far they have only had compliments.
I think any comments to strange children are out of bounds these days I'm afraid.

Ginger isn't seen as a compliment,too many children get bullied using ginger as an insult .You could have just said isn't his hair a beautiful colour,nothing to worry about there

Our GS has beautiful auburn/ chestnut hair. The only person allowed to call him 'Ginge', was a much loved teacher at his school.

I think gingernut sounds rude and even when I was at school bullies shouted it at redheads. I would have said "what a lovely colour of hair".

Yes I think people today would take offence at 'gingernut.'

I wouldn't be happy if you'd called my GC "ginger nut" commenting that he had beautiful auburn hair would make me smile.
I love auburn hair, so did my mum.

It's offensive. I would never say it. You have to be careful commenting on the appearance of strangers.

Yes, I think most people would find that offensive.

You could have said you liked his auburn hair or said 'what lovely coloured hair'.

Gingernut sounds offensive. Just pause and think before you make personal remarks maybe.

A friends dd (now 25) with beautiful red hair, suffered horribly from taunts, shouts, comments in public as she was growing up. It really upset her - how dare anyone make public comments about any aspect of anyone’s appearance. I hope you’ve learned a lesson OP. It’s not about taking offence - it’s about being rude, thoughtless and bad mannered.

well I certainly don't find it offensive, neither do my other red haired friends

Sounds rude to me. If in doubt.........

I think it's better to say nothing to strangers, than to risk offense.

We should choose our words more carefully but some people just blurt it out without thinking. Reminds me of the time my husband said to one of my relatives (about her very tall daughter) 'She's a monster isn't she?' to which I curled up with embarrassment.

It’s not safe to make spontaneous comments nowadays. The constantly offended brigade have put a stop to friendly chit chat. If there isn’t anything to be offended about they just make something up.

What a sad miserable world they are creating for future generations.

.

It wasn't a compliment when my red haired sister was young 40 year ago and on the receiving end of similar comments from strangers and it isn't now - nothing to do with nowadays.

You could just have said 'what a gorgeous little boy' and left it at that.

Hardly, if someone finds it offensive then it is offensive. 'Just a joke' is the defense of bullies and harassers. It doesn't hurt to have a quick think if a remark might offend. the op had doubts or they would not have raised the issue.

The constantly offended brigade have put a stop to friendly chit chat

How can I join this brigade please? Does it have an email address? I suppose it an offshoot of the PC Brigade.....perhaps they share an office.

No, it's just damn rude to comment like that . End of.

It’s nothing to do with being ‘not safe’ or ‘constantly offended’. It’s about being grown up and emotionally intelligent. I frequently find myself in lifts with people of all ages, hair colour, heights and amazingly frequently have pleasant chats about inconsequential matters such as the weather, how busy town is and how long we had to wait for the lift.

This is nothing to do with the world being a sad place or nothing to do with people taking offence over nothing
The term has been used in a derogatory way as long as I can remember Even in my day red haired kids were taunted as ‘ginger nuts’ just as I was taunted as ‘four eyes’ Most of us have moved on and realised how hurtful ‘titles’ can be You do need to think before making personal comments
What beautiful hair, or a lovely smile are generic complements ....ginger nut is a very personal comment and not acceptable at all

Thanks - I've learnt my lesson. Having been a 'Ginge' myself I'm not sensitive about it, I got used to it. It was all in good humour in those days.
But I will have to get used to modern ways and learn how to hold my tongue.

ps I wonder what the replies would be on Mumsnet?