An algorithm to remove 'Karen'?

[BIWI]

It's a horrible misogynistic and ageist term.

I know you have an algorithm that deletes posts that mention certain other websites; is it possible to have an algorithm that at the very least deletes the word if it's being used? And then automatically posts to say that a word has been deleted because it breaks Talk Guidelines?

(I appreciate that if anyone is on the Baby Names board asking about 'Karen' that might be more difficult!)

The thing is, there are posters who don't seem to realise just what a horrible thing it is to say, but then the rest of their post is filled with people calling them on it, so they never really get an answer to their question.

Agreed
I find it offensive

Agreed, it's really unpleasant term.

It’s a really horrible term.

Hi @BIWI thanks for flagging this to us. We'll have a think about what we could do - but for now we'll rely upon people reporting posts and we'll try to step in quickly and moderate.

oh please yes

Agreed

Could we get the same rule for mentions of Piers Morgan and cries of “burn down the house!” whenever a spider is mentioned too?

and cis

I agree.

(and also 'tat')

Definitely do it with cis too please

Please - no more suggestions (even if funny!). Otherwise it dilutes what I'm asking MNHQ to consider. There are very few things that really should be deleted, even if we don't like the words, but this one does fall foul of key MN Talk Guidelines.

It’s guaranteed to derail a thread, as well, as it always descends into a bit of a fight about the origins of the word, who is OK to use it, and whether it’s offensive or not. Which is generally not what the OP is ostensibly asking about.

I don't think that's the way to go to be honest. Right now people use this term in person and online. Using it here they are rightly always pulled up on it. I think better to educate than eliminate.

Maybe we should all change our username to Karen and reclaim the Karen. We could greet each other by saying "Hey Karen, let me see the manager!" But if anyone else says Karen we get offended that they would say the K word and demand to see their manager.

@SummerHouse

I don't think that's the way to go to be honest. Right now people use this term in person and online. Using it here they are rightly always pulled up on it. I think better to educate than eliminate.

That's an argument often used when it comes to deleting posts that are racist, ableist, ageist etc. But why should we have to be educating people?

The more important point here is that all those who start to 'attack' the OP for using Karen, end up derailing the thread, and the OP never gets their issues/questions dealt with.

I've seen worse words used on here than Karen (and cis for that matter). Fully typed out raviak slurs. They do usually get deleted, eventually, but not automatically.

All I get when I report it is “We’ll take a look”. MNHQ obviously don’t see it as a problem, which is very disappointing.

I find it more offensive than term.

All changing our usernames is a good idea! We could have a Karen day.

*terf not term!

I agree that something needs to be done. I've never been comfortable with the apparent trend of using a perfectly good person's name as an insult.

How the hell do people who do this think it makes those who have that name feel? Or are they really just too thick to think that one through? Either that or they simply don't care.

I know a couple of women called Karen. Hearing the current abuse of their names must be cringeworthy and embarrassing.

On the most recent of the million Karen threads on here, someone directly compared Karen to the N and P words, which the typed out uncensored. Mumsnet did not automatically filter them out.

Not to mention you would be unable to talk about anyone named Karen.

My name is Karen and it started out being a bit of fun on a couple of cat memes, then turned into something much more nasty and became ok for everyone to use it as a form of abuse.

People just think it funny, but how would they like it if it was their name always being used to make out you are a certain type of person?

and you can't comment or complain because they then point out that you are being a ........

It is time that the name was reclaimed for something good!

I don't think that's the way to go to be honest. Right now people use this term in person and online. Using it here they are rightly always pulled up on it. I think better to educate than eliminate.

I think I agree with this; although I do see the counter argument for why should we have to educate people.

But I think if this is done for “Karen”, it needs to be done for other words considered widely offensive, like the racial slurs that others have mentioned, CIS, terf…

I doubt you could remove someone's name. Does it mean people can never mention the name Karen (not as an insult)?

If MN is removing something, also remove "woke". Tired of seeing people use it thinking they sound clever.

Typical mumsnet thinking karen is the worst thing you can call someone, not the racist insults that Karen's use.