How to explain the use of boomer, Karen is derogatory?

[NightSpot]

Teen Ds's. They use boomer and Karen all the time. I have said I do not like them. They argue they are not slurs, whereas I think they are. I also say Karen is misogynistic. I am not good with words and they argue rings around me.

Can someone explain in a way I can repeat? I do think though that they should respect that our house is not a playground, where I am sure they all use those words, and therefore they should respect the fact I do not want to hear them.

The same with sticking up for women is seen as TERF behaviour.

I basically need coherent arguments that make them understand why all three terms are horrible.

I've started calling out people over the use of Karen and Gammon. Particular offenders include woke people who want to censure speech in every other area but cannot understand the hypocrisy in using slurs against white people. I've pointed out that if it is not acceptable to label people because of their race, this also applies to white people. It is a huge blind spot for people.

If I went around taking video of people of colour, losing their shit and labelled it with a name common to that group of people, I would be rightly called out. So, I am going to stick with "Unacceptable Across the Board"

Using a term to dismiss the opinions of a class of people is wrong. It’s wrong to say “ok boomer”. Its wrong to dismiss a woman as a “Karen”. It’s wrong to say “millennials are just lazy”.

It’s not just derogatory, it’s lazy. It means the person making the statement can’t or won’t support their own argument, so instead just substitute name-calling. It does not make the speaker look good.

I don't think "baby boomer" is derogatory per se, as it is a term used to describe a particular age group. You have to look at the intention of the person using it, as to whether it's offensive or not.

However, "karen" is always offensive as it's ageist and sexist.

The arguments put forward on page 1 of "I'm an adult and you're a child" are terrible. Please don't do that. There are clear divides between older and younger people in politics etc nowadays in general, and being seen not to listen to arguments just because they come from children is both embarrassing and not at all productive.

Being a member of the baby boom generation, I like to get my retaliation in first! I enjoy reminding woke snowflakes with whom I have had the temerity to disagree, that their next remark is: okay boomer! I find it silences them sharp-ish.

I reported a post on Facebook for using Boomer. Nasty divisive phrase.

But boomers are a group of people. The word itself isn't offensive but like any word it can be used as a taunt.

As pp have said.

@KarenSmith42069 wtaf. Disproportionate nasty response, rein it in.

It's the same as when my generation used 'gay' to describe anything they found bad or 'cringe'. The current younger generation would find that utterly homophobic (quite rightly). 'Karen' is equally sexist/misogynistic as 'thats gay' is homophobic, and lumping all Boomers together is like suggesting all Gen Zers are spoiled, Woke, lazy, entitled 'snowflake generation'.

Gay as an insult is still massively used by young people, though.

And they're not just lumping all Boomers together, they're actually mistaking what even technically counts as one. It's basically "anyone who disagrees with me" or "anyone over 24" (NQT teachers get called Boomers by the kids).

Eh comparing being called a Karen to misogyny is typical Karen behavior - I can see why your kids might call you it.

Boomer is also not a slur

Get a grip OP

lumping all Boomers together
Using a term to dismiss the opinions of a class of people is wrong

But no-one is, "ok boomer" is intended as a slur, but not because they're grouping everyone together or because they're dismissing the opinions of a class. They're specifically saying they disagree with the opinions, they're saying "you have these undesirable views".

They're not dismissing them, they're saying their wrong, it depends on the views themselves if they are wrong to criticise, and certainly they may well be better placed to call you out for being a homophobe, or a racist, or whatever view they disagree with, but if you're complaining about boomer, you're probably not listening anyway.

@Inextremis

Boomer is a slur, it's ageist, dismissive and lazy.

It’s never used in a complimentary way, that’s for sure.

@Rwoolley, what is misogyny - describe it then tell us why the term 'Karen' doesn't fall under that umbrella.

@weebarra

My DS1 (12) used Ok Boomer as an insult to me (77 born xennial) so I laughed at him. I also explained the classist misogyny of 'Karen' . If you're going to use an insult make it accurate.

What is classist about Karen?

@Rwoolley

Eh comparing being called a Karen to misogyny is typical Karen behavior - I can see why your kids might call you it.

Boomer is also not a slur

Get a grip OP

Women disagreeing with misogyny is 'Karen' (ugh) behaviour?! Er, ok.

And yes, as other posters have so eloquently explained, 'boomer' (as in, 'ok boomer) absolutely is a slur. Usually used by people who have no idea what a boomer actually is and just lumps together anyone of any age that's older than them who they don't agree with. I've been called a boomer for and I'm mid 40s!

Oh and how lovely, saying the OP deserves to be spoken to that way by her DC.

Both words are slurs as they are dismissive and intended to be derogatory. To me, they show lack of critical thought skills; that the person using the slurs can't think for themselves, that they don't even know anything at all about the boomer generation.
Making baaaa noises at your kids, as they are definitely sheeple.

Btw I like the idea of calling the DC 'snowflake' until the penny drops!

It's a term I loathe (along with Karen, gammon, boomer, woke, etc. So lazy) but in this instance it's useful as a means of illustrating how pathetic these sorts of 'one size fits all' slurs are.

Baby boomer was used as a descriptor in social geography in my degree 20 odd years ago. Attributes such as a larger cohort, and improved access to education (increase in school leaving age and opportunities for extended education were generally true)

"OK Boomer" is being patronising and dismissive as much as accusing Millenials as being snowflakes.

Karen is a specific sexist and ageist slur.
Gammon doesn't offend me so much because it's more about the attitudes of the person than their demographic, plus they're more likely to be mysogenistic and racist themselves

I enjoy reminding woke snowflakes with whom I have had the temerity to disagree

This is a great example of how "OK boomer" and "Karen" etc insults came about in the first place and why they won't stop.

The older generation were quite happy to call younger people "snowflakes" and to dismiss their opinions simply for having the "temerity to think differently" to them.

Now the young have found their own dismissive insults and they have the exact effect on the older generation they hoped for. As long as people get themselves worked up about being called something it will continue to be used.

My friend karen was asked how she spelt it

She said ‘the derogatory way’

Which i was thought was funny

The 18 and 17 year old used ‘karen’ at me the other day...they won’t be doing it again

The people offended by Karen and especially boomer have been happily categorising certain demographics as 'gammon' and white, pale and male. It was only a matter of time for idpol to catch up

I hate both of these terms. One is ageist the other is misogynistic. Both are used by people who don't have the intelligence to engage in constructive debate.

@Justanotherlurker

The people offended by Karen and especially boomer have been happily categorising certain demographics as 'gammon' and white, pale and male. It was only a matter of time for idpol to catch up

How coudl you possibly know this? Anything concrete to back it up?