to hate what my name has become

[tohatemyname]

I have a name which is ridiculed a lot in society and is frequently used as an insult. I already have low self esteem after years of abuse and depression and anxiety as a result. MN and other social media was my respite from all the emotional fallout of the abuse.
On MN now my name is used as an insult and thrown around casually like it doesn't matter.
It fucking does matter. My one safe place to escape my feelings has been pulled from under my feet.

Vectura

So you think stereotyping is okay then?
I was told that was bad in school - weird how some adults haven’t moved on from that.

I work retail and have worked with two junior managers called Mohammed. Both were arseholes who treated the young Saturday girls like shit.
Would making up a meme of an Asian man saying all Mohammed’s should die be acceptable?

Thought not. But rock on with your justification of the karen memes.

I've seen my name used in this way.

It's lazy stereotyping of a particular type of middle aged woman. It has no actually meaning other than that known to the writer and to just be generally insulting to middle aged women.

Not surprising on MN really, given the amount of ageism on here.

The use of my name was in an article written by a young female journalist and when I read it my first thought was 'oh I bet she's a MNer'.

Don't like stereotyping, whether it be related to age, sex, or colour. It never gives a good impression of someone's opinion.

• The use of my name was in an article written by a young female journalist and when I read it my first thought was 'oh I bet she's a MNer'.

Don't like stereotyping,*

....except of MNers?

I'm 34 and seem to have largely missed this Karen thing except for references on MN. I'm sure many friends have too.

Honestly OP it's a really lovely name. I know a Karen, a Karina and a Karenina and all 3 are lovely women.

I'm not stereotyping MNers as a mass.

However, given that there is so much ageism on MN it seemed like a natural progression to make the assumption that someone who uses middle aged women's names as an insult might be a MNer; I've never seen it used anywhere else.

Just to add, I assumed it was actually a MN thing, which is why I thought she might be a MNer. I didn't realise it was a general thing.

The enthusiasm for the idiotic "Karen" meme by some MNetters is extremely depressing. Although it says far more , and none of it good, about the accuser not the accused.

I would quite like MN to ban "Karen" unless a thread is actually about Karen Carpenter, Karen O, Karen Armstrong, Karen Black, Karen Gillan, Karen Elson, Karen Blixen, Karen Matheson, Karen Dalton or Karen Dotrice.

I would like to see all posts calling a woman a "Karen" deleted along with all the half- witted posts trying to justify its use.

I know a bloke called Boomer. Seriously. For like forty years.
It makes him laugh.
I also have one of the names popularized by Viz. I dunno whether being a Karen is worse than being a Fat Slag, but honestly, give it five or ten years (!) and these sorts of cultural markers do fade.
It isn’t about you. If anyone makes a comment, an eye roll and a ‘grow up’ will absolutely suffice.

My best friend is called Karen.
I don’t associate the meme with her at all

Some of the most belligerent customers I have met have been men, but that's okay, they don't get ridicule. Some young women can be awkward, but they are just fiesty. Karen is an ordinary name common in the 1960s. The ridicule and stereotyping is clearly aimed at middle aged women. Of course, personalities li!e "Karen" exist but it's the stereotyping that's the problem. I am starting to see "Shut up Karen" more and more. Just like okay boomer. First it was Susan, now Karen, next it will be you, Becky, Emma or Sarah. Do you want Ava and Olivia to ultimately be in line for this? It says a lot that it was started with a bloke who was pissed off with his ex. I am seeing more women using it.

YABU. Focus on building up your self-confidence and blame the OG Karens.

I dunno whether being a Karen is worse than being a Fat Slag

They are both equally appalling, though I suppose some would try to say you get to choose to be a slag or not !

Some of the most belligerent customers I have met have been men, but that's okay, they don't get ridicule.

So - it goes something like:

a woman (of a certain age) complaining about faulty goods or shoddy service is called 'Karen' and told to shut up.
Whereas a man complaining about faulty goods or shoddy service will be called .....'Sir'.

That's about the size of it.

It’s so damaging to many middle aged women. Many struggle to be assertive or to advocate for themselves, to even see that they should be questioning things or speaking up for themselves. Even if they want to, there’s often a loud voice inside already telling them to not make a fuss, to accept things, not question things when they ought to be doing so.

Yes @daisypond exactly that.

Errrrr. The Fat Slags. They had names. So for a good five or six years anyone with those names put up with ‘fat slaaaaaaaaaag’ being used in their place. Because it was funny, right. You’re a fat slaaaaaaag. Can I make you drop yer chips?
I mean, I get that ‘oh you’re such a ‘Karen’’ is demeaning and ridiculous. And dismissive. And unpleasant. But being called a fat slag for years and asked if you drop your chips and worse... I find your response really weird. ‘Some would say you can choose to be a slag or not’. Er, yes. But you can choose whether to emulate the characteristics of the Karen meme or not... (That was kinda my point - people who make assumptions based on nothing more than a name are pretty dim. People who use your name as a reason to call you a fat slaaaaaag are... equally dim. But I dunno. I’d rather get called Karen.)
I’m no more a fat slag than you are a ‘Karen’. If you didn’t live through it, you won’t get it. ‘Karen’s aren’t special in any ‘ohhhh it’s awful how that name is being used’ sense. It’s teenager-ish nonsense. Don’t let it completely consume you.

@Manfender

I believe the male alternative is Darren as it rhymes with Karen and generally most Darrens OR Karens fit the stereotype unfortunately.

Are you this prejudiced in other areas of life?

Errrrr. The Fat Slags. They had names

Sorry, I didn't realise people had been called that, I thought it was an example to highlight a point.