Ask Greer Friday: Loving gingas

BY GREER MCDONALD
Last updated 08:21 02/10/2009

After yesterday's depresso post (sorry, I simply had to get it out of my system, but let's move on) comes a slightly different take on Ask Greer Friday.Yaaow!

My brother and members of my family are ginger, and I know in my heart of hearts I carry a recessive ginger gene and there is a chance I will have ginger children myself.

At what state in a dating/relationship scenario do I need to admit this to my beau? Some friends say it should be at the first coffee, but I'd hate to scare them off before they know my redeeming features (I have quite nice toes, for example).

Please help.

-----

Someone I know sent this to me, partly in jest, partly because we'd had a discussion about someone she knew who had a medical condition and had wondered when in a dating scenario to bring it up for discussion.

How could you not love this?It's a valid point.

It's one thing not to bring up exes in the initial getting-to-know-you phase, but when should you bring up other valid and quite important issues?

Genetic issues, be they a fanta pants gene or hereditary disease, are unavoidable. The truth will come out eventually.

But today is a day for stupidness, so no serious talk here. Let's talk gingas.

Now before you start slagging me off for being hair-ist against the flame-haired population of society, you've got to know I love all gingers.

My best friend's a red head, hence the nickname Tang.

She loves to tease me that if I ever had children, they too will be ginga. (I don't doubt it.)

"Don't worry, send them to my house and Auntie Tang will love them," she often says.

Have I dated a ginga? Well, no. Not a fire engine ginga. But I've dated strawberry blondes and those guys who get those electric orange beards (what's up with that?).

So, I have three questions:

First: who's your favourite ginga?

Second: what's your experience of dating gingas? Fiery, red-hot lovers? Or temper-tantrum throwing hot heads?

Third: What do you think of your toes?

My answers:TV3 presenter Sam Hayes

1. Tang, obviously. Then I reckon girls who also rock it include: Borat's real life love Isla Fisher, Nightline's Sam Hayes (I suspect she'll be a popular choice) and April, the reporter chick from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (she was pretty kick arse). Newton Faulkner is one funky ginga man when he wants to be, while snowboarder red head Shaun White would pull a tonne of chicks I reckon. Ewan McGregor is a bit of a looker too.

2. Well, to be honest, there isn't really a difference. Some of them are proud of their fiery hair, others are a wee bit sensitive (to be expected, there are a lot of jokes - and some support groups).

3. My big toe is my favourite. Then they get progressively worse, finishing with my pathetic excuse for a little toe. It has a nail so small I end up painting half my toe with nail polish in an attempt to fake a suitable-sized nail. Useless. Otherwise I can't really complain, they're pretty straight and normal looking.

As you can probably tell from the "Ask Greer" question above, I am totally hanging out for ideas. Email greer2.0@gmail.com with your issues or questions and while you're there - follow me on Twitter or Facebook

- © Fairfax NZ News

97 comments
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MsM   #1   08:39 am Oct 02 2009

1. I second Isla Fisher, she is adorable.

2. Never dated one but I'm sure they're just as potentially great as a blonde or brunette.

3. My toes are ok, my second one is much longer than my big toe, and that's supposed to be a good thing right?

J-Ann   #2   08:48 am Oct 02 2009

Favourite ginga? You know I don't know that many. For people I actually know it would have to be these family friends we have - an amazingly smart, talented family. 3/4 are doctors, they all excel at sport and most things they do. They're lovely thou so I still like them :) For famous people probably Isla Fisher and that lady that plays Bree on Desperate Housewives. She's such a classic beauty.

I have never dated a ginga.

My toes are ok. Apparently a little stubby but they do the job. I don't fall over that often.

I am off to Chch for the weekend - YAY!!! You guys had better put on some good weather for me :)

paul   #3   08:54 am Oct 02 2009

Gingas should be protected. They are dying out - in a few hundred generations there will be no more Gingas (its that recessive gene thing).

I've never dated a Ginga. But my ginga friends are awesome folk. Freckly, but awesome.

My second toes are longer than my big toes. It's weird but runs in the family. Along with wide feet.

JeM   #4   08:57 am Oct 02 2009

I'm pregnant and very concerned that the wee one might be a ginga ninja. Would it be bad to give it up for adoption? (Im joking! - I'll send it to join the circus instead).

Who's your favourite ginga? I have a girl crush on Isla Fisher, but im thinking maybe Jessica Rabbit.

What's your experience of dating gingas? Fiery, red-hot lovers? Or temper-tantrum throwing hot heads? Never had one, but the hubby grows a ginga beard when he lets himself go. The brother has a tinge of ginge too and he's a nutter.

What do you think of your toes? Ugly. All toes are ugly, especially ones with long toenails, or the second toe longer than the big toe (creepy). I'm not a feet fan.

Hans_blix   #5   09:06 am Oct 02 2009

1) Sam Hayes, Kirsten Morrell and Isla Fisher isn't too shabby.

2) Haven't had the opportunity to date the species, not adverse to it though. I know a couple of red head cusp ginga females and they are pretty firey.

2) Messed up, both my second toes are longer than my big and I've managed to break them both. Not cool.

Katherine   #6   09:17 am Oct 02 2009

John Campbell (you can't tell on TV but he is apparently a ginga in real life)

The only ginga I dated was a complete and total dickhead - he seemed really into me but gave me no respect and one day just started avoiding me. Put me off gingas for life. And other people in all the other demographics he fit into as well (except men) just to be safe.

I know what you mean about toes Greer, especially the pinky toe. My big toes are alright but the rest are all wonky.

But saying "my best friend is X" as a defence against being called an X-ist is pretty cliche, and a guarantee that you are in fact being X-ist. You should know better than that.

Thalia   #7   09:20 am Oct 02 2009

I've never dated a ginga either, I have many times dyed my hair red.. never carrotty though (or at least not on purpose) it makes my eyes look really green. There are definately some ginga genes in my dads family my grandfather and my uncle were/are gingas and my sister has what you would probably call Auburn hair (mostly just looks dark brown now but it used to be a lovely reddish brown) Alas I have mousy brown hair hence the dye.

I'd probably say favourite Ginga was Daphne from Scooby doo, I'm sure she was always smarter than she let on.

Not sure if I'd ever date a ginga if I ever met one I liked... don't meet many gingas in my job that aren't criminals though.

As for toes, they aren't webbed, I have the normal ammount and they aren't freakishly long so can't really complain

Sirk   #8   09:23 am Oct 02 2009

Hey Paul, recessive genes are very hard to remove from the gene pool, something about them being able to hide their expression for a few generations before re-emerging, it would be easier to remove blonde, black or brown hair over red hair.

The questions at hand though:

1. As a friend of mine who is in the navy pointed out, there are plenty of hot ginga chicks but not many that are male. Makes sense from an evolutionary point of view I guess.

2. Dated one and she was the first girl to break my heart. Great fun while it lasted and I reckon every guy needs to try a ginga at least once.

3. Never really thought much about my toes but I am greatful for the help they give in maintaining my balance though.

lippylindy   #9   09:27 am Oct 02 2009

Morning Greer, hope you're feeling better today after all your *hugs* yesterday...

1. My mum is a proper ginga so she is of course my favourite. Luckily that gene missed my generation (except my eldest sister haha) but I feel sorry for my future kids!

2. Avoid dating gingers like the plague, even dudes with red beards - I already have gingas in the family, so my kids will have no chance if their father is also a ginga.

3. My toes are actually rather pretty...but my second toe is bigger than my big toe...does that make me a freak of nature?

Rangi   #10   09:27 am Oct 02 2009

1. Paul Tito - you got to give propers to a ginga Maori-allblack, wonders never cease!! 2. Dated two gingas, I actually had a bit of a penchant for them at college. Gina was one, the carpet didn't match the drapes. She would do rolly pollies down the halfpipe!! totally nuts (it was awesome!!) & Becca, the carpet did match the drapes, she was wonderful. Bright, funny, petite, sociable but not so faithful. Why oh why God??? She would have been perfect!!! 3. My toes are too hairy, far too hairy. Do have that "second toe longer than the big toe" thing, Shaven, my feet are to die for!!! Thems the fact according to Rangi for a Friday, bring on the weekend wonders...


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