I was wondering if any of you felt the way I did about the word "ginger" (it's a colour option for pets and haircolour). "Ginger" is a derogatory term to refer to redheads.

Please let me know if you, too, feel that "red" or "redhead" should replace "ginger" as the haircolour name.

"Ginger" is a rather nasty thing to call somebody with red hair... that's why I don't like it.

 I'm also a redhead. I've gotten called "ginger" on more than one occasion... and none of those times was it meant to be nice or a compliment.

I love red hair. I usually dye mine with some shade of red in the dye. When I hear "Ginger", I think 'fiery' and 'spicy', but I live in the US...and I had no idea it was used as an insult elsewhere.

I'd love to hear more feedback from users in places that the word is used as an insult, and I'll pass this on so other staff are aware. Whether or not the name is changed, please know that we intend no insult whatsoever by using that word. <3

Hm, well it is true that it can sometimes be used in a derogatory manner. I have heard the term 'gingers have no souls' a few times. However, there are a lot of words that shouldn't be used in a derogatory manner that are (for example, gay would be one of the main ones that comes to mind) with an actual reason behind the term.

Ginger is also (by definition) a term used to describe a reddish-brown color. It is particularly used in animals with orange-brown fur. Like this: 

While it may have been misused in some cases, it is the actual term. With that in mind, I think it's seems like a fine word in the context it has been used in. In the case of Res, I think it is more fitting than red (which is closer to the rose color) or redhead (due to the fact that it's not  just the pets head which is colored). I get what you're saying, but it seems a bit unfounded in this case.

People with ginger hair are the hair color specified above by Drocell.  Though, I call it a light orange xD  Sorreh, on humans it just seems like that to me. :c

Though, for officiality, it would be redhead.  I know a person with the same exact hair color of those animals up there.  I also know my mother, and boy... if you call her ginger, you're crazy.  She's pure redhead.  Like... this color.  If you're saying that's ginger, then fine, but I seriously don't consider that a ginger xD

Except I have never heard it as an insult... if I say ginger, please know that I don't mean it as an insult.

I think I sorta knew some people took offense to "ginger" and even "redhead" but I never really payed it any mind. I never really thought of it much as an insult. It's like blonde. Sure some people have used it as an insult to describe a dumb girl, but the fact is, people are blonde. They have blonde hair. That's really just how it is. You can take any word and turn it into an insult. Chances are, if the word exists, someone, somewhere, has found a way to turn it into something insulting/inappropriate. That doesn't mean we should ban the dictionary.

I actually think the term ginger is kind of flattering in my own weird way. Mainly because of the Doctor Who episode with Amy and Vincent Van Goh and how their children would have been "The Ultimate Ginger." |D

After discussion among staff and Patrick, the term Ginger will not be changed for describing hair color here on Res - it does accurately describe the color, and is not intended to be derogatory in any way. 

Grave said it perfectly here: "Chances are, if the word exists, someone, somewhere, has found a way to turn it into something insulting/inappropriate. That doesn't mean we should ban the dictionary."