STOP calling people "a Karen"

I was piled on when I posted a query on our village FB page about an apparently abandoned large vehicle taking up 4 spaces in our village car park (parking is at a premium in our village and residents are entitled to park in the car park under their residents permits). Some of the comments were so appalling and upsetting about my name and profile picture - 'typical Karen she looks a snotty bitch' was a mild comment, they got progressively worse - that I got really upset and my DH was so furious, I had to ask for the post to be taken down in the end.

Interestingly a male villager posted the same query a few days later as the vehicle still hadn't moved, and the comments were nowhere near as bad.

I’d also like them to explain how using this slur has helped anyone - have rates of racism declined? Are people safer? Are more people convicted of racial hate crimes?

My understanding is that this isn’t the case and in fact there has been a rise in racism, depending on the “category” of racism (such as Islamophobia and anti-semitism).

And to these people: What do you achieve calling someone a Karen? Except for congratulating yourself on being oh so witty at the expense of women everywhere?

No they aren’t no matter how much gaslighting people do on these threads about “Men are called XYZ”.

And yes I’m going to say something if I’m brought the wrong food in a restaurant. No I don’t expect to be called a Karen and I certainly won’t sit there simpering and apologising (or even worse saying nothing and eating something I haven’t ordered) for wanting the correct food I’ve paid money for. Ditto if any service I’ve paid for isn’t delivered properly

I couldn’t agree more, though that isn’t to say that there aren’t middle-aged women who do treat staff badly. But there are also very legitimate reasons why a customer would want to call for the manager.

For me, the real point is that the same standards aren’t being applied to men. Surely no one is suggesting that men don’t also complain and ask to see the manager?

As far as I can see the “behaviour is being called out” because usually women are standing up for themselves or making a legitimate complaint. Such terrible shocking unbecoming behaviour and yes we do deserve to be called out for this utter cheek.

Exactly this. Why should UK women suffer for a meme about something happening across the pond and used by 20 something incels as a way to feel superior ?

@Icanhearabee @KateDelRick @tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz it absolutely is that they want us middle aged women to wheesht. Well we won't . Why should we?

I'm sick of hearing that it's to do with racism, that may be true in the US, it's not got the same meaning here.

Yes, that's absolutely the intention.

It’s awful and intended to make women of a certain feel like they can’t complain or speak up against anything they don’t agree with. It feels like you become invisible when you get older and aren’t allowed to have an opinion.

And still no fans of the use of Karen as a slur have justified why this lazinesss (why are you so scared to address this individuals actual behaviour?) and sheep like behaviour is ok when it actually impacts on real people called Karen and makes their day to day difficult?

The fictional character comparison makes no sense at all.

Bet you would not like it if your first name randomly became a global universal by word for shit behaviour. How dare people say those called Karen should examine their own behaviour!

Am sure like the rest of us they’re just been minding their own business and trying to treat people as they would wish to be treated then due to dimwits and misogynists their perfectly normal ordinary name brands them as hideous moaning racist bitches. Great.

@ARealitycheck those are all fictional characters and the names are not directed AT anyone. Thinking or commenting to your companion that "he's a bit of an Arfur Daly" is not saying to someone "alright Arfur, stop ripping me off".

I've never heard any of those first names used as an insult on their own. You might hear "He reminded me of Basil Fawlty' or "He was just like Del/Rodney from Only Fools and Horses" but you don't hear "He's a Basil" "He's a Rodney" or "He's a Del".

Comparing someone to a specific television character or personality is completely different from the use of a name not attached to any individual.

Also lets be honest with ourselves, how many have described a male restaurant or hotel manager as a Basil-Especially by those working in hospitality. Likewise Manuel for a waiter.

Dodgy Dave or Arfur that sells used cars anyone? The guy that can lay his hands on almost anything, Del (Derek). A bit easily confused a Trigger or Rodney you plonker, Or even poor Tim nice but dim.

I'm sure there will be countless names used as an insult.

The origins of using a persons name as an insult go back to Black people in America. They would use derogatory terms to describe their employers or slave owners who they considered to be 'hard work' and demanding.

As an insult in the UK, I am sure we can all think of far worse things to be called.

What's your name? I'll start using it as a slur and see how you feel about that....

😂alright

You're very mistaken if you think only raging women are referred to as Karens. And I've never heard of 'Daren' in this context. That's not even a name. Do you mean 'Darren'?

It’s not the same as Sharon and Tracy was in the 80s. Those were never used hatefully in the way that Karen is.

Beautifully put

@Anotherparkingthread It’s a term because illiterate, ignorant people like you (and I’ll stand by that assertion until you can tell us why the words Karen and moron have a co-dependent biological relationship,) like you perpetuate its use despite being given pages and pages of reasons why it is offensive. It essentially means ‘shut up old lady.’ Want to speak to someone about poor customer service? Okay Karen (ie shut up old lady.) Want to put across your opinion on a perceived wrong? Shut up Karen (ie shut up old lady.) It is used as a word to shut women up by men and young people who feel older women should be irrelevant. And by saying it’s acceptable, you are condoning the belittling of older women. You can’t opt out of being old or female, and I would put money on every single one of us here (including @Anotherparkingthread) being called a Karen for no good reason other than to shut a woman up. Because we will all hopefully be old women one day and that will be our only crime.

Stop importing tropes wholesale from the US on racial issues?

Exactly, you hate it because it is your name. The Tracys and Sharons hated it in the 80s because it was their name ( but didn't have SM to moan on). Undoubtedly the Tims. Dave's and Nigel's hate it too

As someone said up thread 'policing the evolution of slang terms is like pissing in the wind'. Relax it will all be over in a few years

That's so horrible, demeaning and unpleasant. 💐