Karen advert

[IncognitoMam]

This shouldn't be allowed surely? Who comes up with this shit?
I'm not called Karen but I know Karen's that hate their name now because of the way it's used.

They should.
https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/karen/

I can't find if this is true as it's not coming up on OED. From a horrible article about 'Karens' from the Chester Bugle. https://www.chesterbugle.co.uk/2021/01/18/o-e-d-confirms-collective-noun-for-a-group-of-karens-is-a-complaint/

The OED (Oxford English Dictionary) has confirmed in its latest release that the collective noun for a group of one or more Karens is a ‘Complaint‘.
There's a related article underneath 'Mumsnet to rebrand as Karensnet'.

According to that 'dictionary' link, it became associated with racism in 2020. The 'manager' thing came before.

It's definitely a spoof after reading the Mumsnet/karensnet article

Thank goodness for that

If you want to read it that way. What it says is that it “spread” in 2020. It was associated with calling out racist behaviour long before it “spread”.

Misuse of Karen includes insisting it means something other than what it really means

That’s just gaslighting now.
People insist, because that’s how “Karen” is frequently used nowadays, no matter what the original meaning might have been.

They have a choice. They could agree on the documented, published meaning of Karen and agree it is also frequently misused instead of insisting that the misuse of Karen reflects its intended meaning and use.

There isn’t one single dictionary that defines Karen as ‘misogynistic and ageist slur used against middle aged women for being assertive’

So there is no documentary evidence that the the usage they have experienced is its actual meaning or the intended usage of Karen.

They are insisting based purely on the experience of misuse.

But it is Karen, and that’s not because women on mumsnet object to it.

The thing is that it doesn't really matter what the origin or 'intended' meaning is. Firstly because it's not always used like that and secondly because why the hell should hundreds of women called Karen have their name turned into a nasty punchline?

They are insisting based purely on the experience of misuse.

Oh is that all? Dafties. Silly them reacting to actual insults instead of comforting themselves that it doesn't match a dictionary definition somewhere.

Many people still find "queer" extremely offensive but that hasn't stopped it being repurposed as an identity and a word that others use to describe themselves. All those that find it offensive can do, is ask that they don't be described that way. They can't jump up and down and insist on a particular usage.

Edited to add, I personally still cringe when I hear "queer" before anyone thinks I'm happy about the changed usage.

Sort of. If you get called a Dick when you’re not being a Dick you shrug and you move on with your life.

BillaBongGirl It's arrogant and pointless to claim your use of Karen is the one true meaning, even though in 99% of cases people aren't using it with your meaning. I'm also not convinced at all that Karen did come originally from the African American community . It looks like it spread from different sources and with different connotations

Exactly, if you’re offended by Karen, you can’t jump up and down and demand it be banned as some sort of hate speech slur. Just ask not to be described that way, especially if you’re not acting like a Karen.

Sort of. If you get called a Dick when you’re not being a Dick you shrug and you move on with your life.

What other words would you like people to shrug off? Careful, saying that people just need to suck up whatever terms of abuse others choose to use against them is a slippery slope.

Exactly, if you’re offended by Karen, you can’t jump up and down and demand it be banned as some sort of hate speech slur. Just ask not to be described that way, especially if you’re not acting like a Karen.

Could you please stop using the term in that context? Thanks.

And while you're at it you can stop jumping up and down over its changed/disputed/varied usage. It's not in your power and not your call.

Nice victim blaming. So it’s the fault of the women who are being called “Karen”, because they “accept its misuse”.

Yep

No, you're not.

It's not up to me to convince those who abuse me that they are using a derogatory term incorrectly. I can just tell them to fuck off.

It's not up to me because I don't care if 'karen' as a derogatory term falls out of use altogether, even when discussing race.

It's for those who want to continue to use the word to fight for it to only have the meaning they think it has. Have at it and good luck. Language evolves rapidly so you'll need it.

This thread has reminded me that I have 'Hags' waiting on my kindle. This, also from Victoria Smith, is excellent:

https://thecritic.co.uk/one-day-mhairi-black-will-be-a-karen-too/

Exactly, if you’re offended by Karen, you can’t jump up and down and demand it be banned as some sort of hate speech slur. Just ask not to be described that way, especially if you’re not acting like a Karen.

Can you imagine how that would go.

Woman: <Has opinion>

Rando: That's rubbish, Karen.

Woman: Excuse me, but according to BillaBongGirl on Mumsnet, Karen can only be used for racist middle-aged white women. I didn't say anything racist, so you shouldn't call me a Karen.

Rando: OK Karen.

It’s not just me though, there’s been several WoC on here saying the same as me and we have posted numerous links to sources that back up not only the meaning and intended usage of Karen as well but also it’s origin within the Black community in Black Twitter in 2010.

When Karen was questioned in 2020 by Julie Bindel, hundreds of WoC also tweeted asserting what I am saying as well about the meaning and usage of Karen. Those tweets are still there.

No one has provided any substantiation for this 99% of cases number either.

There were also several WOC who said it was a sexist slur against middle-aged women but they got roundly ignored.