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Original poster

Karen advert

1000 replies

IncognitoMam · 26/08/2023 07:29

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.

Karen advert
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17
CloudyMcCloudy · 27/08/2023 20:52

PencilsInSpace · 27/08/2023 20:47

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/

Show quote history

All of this. Those who want the word will have to let the men and some women who use it as an insult know

No point in telling those who bear the brunt of the insult. We don’t want the term at all

BillaBongGirl · 27/08/2023 20:52

SomeCatFromJapan · 27/08/2023 20:42

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.

Edited

So it was ok for someone to use queer in the exact same context, but not Karen? Why is that?

BillaBongGirl · 27/08/2023 20:54

NotTerfNorCis · 27/08/2023 20:12

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

Edited

No. It says it “spread” in 2020.
The reason it spread in 2020 is because Julie Bindel questioned Karen and then Twitter had to explain to her the Black history of it.
Which came before.

WolfFoxHare · 27/08/2023 20:54

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BillaBongGirl · 27/08/2023 20:55

inamarina · 27/08/2023 20:43

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

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No, that’s not what I’m saying.

SomeCatFromJapan · 27/08/2023 20:55

So it was ok for someone to use queer in the exact same context, but not Karen? Why is that?

My point is that people will use queer and Karen however they choose, and there's nothing you or I can do about it, regardless of if the current meaning of the word makes us uncomfortable.

MorrisZapp · 27/08/2023 20:56

Zapp got Zapped! Sorry. I shouldn't have used that word.

BillaBongGirl · 27/08/2023 20:57

SomeCatFromJapan · 27/08/2023 20:50

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

I wouldn’t say they were ignored 🤣
Theyre the only ones you have listened to.

wayyour · 27/08/2023 20:57

SomeCatFromJapan · 27/08/2023 20:50

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

Yes, and very early in the thread I gave the example of my SIL who was called a Karen. The teenagers said she even looked like a Karen. My nephew (20) said it's rife among that age group particularly.

I was told, on this thread, that the boys misused the term. I suppose she should have told them so 🤔. That would have gone down well I'm sure.

ChillysWaterBottle · 27/08/2023 20:58

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BillaBongGirl · 27/08/2023 20:59

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No, I’m not.

WolfFoxHare · 27/08/2023 20:59

And btw dictionaries are descriptive, not prescriptive - they always lag behind actual real-world usage. So it’ll take a while for any dictionary to record the usage-change and list Karen as a misogynistic ageist slur.

NotTerfNorCis · 27/08/2023 20:59

Fact is BillaBongGirl, you're just as likely to be called a Karen as anyone, because you're a woman with strong opinions. At some point it will happen to you.

wayyour · 27/08/2023 21:00

MorrisZapp · 27/08/2023 20:56

Zapp got Zapped! Sorry. I shouldn't have used that word.

Grin
MasterGaveDobbyASock · 27/08/2023 21:00

NotTerfNorCis · 27/08/2023 20:59

Fact is BillaBongGirl, you're just as likely to be called a Karen as anyone, because you're a woman with strong opinions. At some point it will happen to you.

I was just thinking that exact same thing.

MorrisZapp · 27/08/2023 21:02

Roundly ignored? Like you roundly ignored the links about the Karen's Diner chain of restaurants in Australia, a country that you think only uses the racist definition because of their dictionary?

inamarina · 27/08/2023 21:02

CecilyP · 27/08/2023 18:43

Only if you accept that it’s misuse and appropriation are legitimate.

Legitimate? Language doesn’t work like that. It gets used in a certain way and that way becomes common and established usage. We’re hardly going to take people to court if they do it wrong!

Exactly.

Lndnmummy · 27/08/2023 21:03

CloudyMcCloudy · 27/08/2023 17:16

What are examples of women ‘weaponising their whiteness’?

Btw if women do experience misogyny as you accept then they get to talk about it.

Show quote history

🤣 So you want @Socrateswasrightaboutvoting running around doing your homework for you.
Here we go again with endless demands of evidence. How about just taking her word for it. Accepting what she says at face value?

dottyshihtzu · 27/08/2023 21:04

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.

Well no, the links posted don't prove that it started on Black Twitter in 2010, they just say that that's what some people claim, with no evidence to back it up.

BillaBongGirl · 27/08/2023 21:04

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I’ve not blamed anyone for being called a Karen.

I’ve said a person is only complicit if they do not challenge the misuse of Karen - and that was to the posters on this thread discussing Karen and it’s usage not to or about the victims of being called Karen

I haven’t victim blamed at all. I’ve corrected this oft repeated misunderstanding but certain posters seem invested in repeating it anyway.

MasterGaveDobbyASock · 27/08/2023 21:05

I mean, has anyone, ever come out of confronting (usually male) youths calling you a slur?

Reminds me of the time I went ewww because a bloke was pissing in an alleyway I was walking through. I was young and didn't realise that men who get their penis out in public do not like being corrected.

I was called an ugly bitch and nearly bottled.
Obviously I should have explained that whilst I was indeed not pleasing to his idea of femininity, I wasn't actually a female dog.

And then would be an apology. And he'd bake me a cake of rainbows and smiles and we'd be happy again.

WolfFoxHare · 27/08/2023 21:05

@Lndnmummy how about you take your own advice and take our word for it that Karen is used as a misogynistic ageist slur? Or does that only go one way?

MorrisZapp · 27/08/2023 21:05

Not posting in good faith, that's what I meant.

NotTerfNorCis · 27/08/2023 21:05

Because challenging it is impossible, BillaBongGirl. You'd just get called a Karen again. The fact that you challenged it would 'prove' you're a Karen.

wayyour · 27/08/2023 21:05

Quickly edit if you're not on the app @ChillysWaterBottle someone has just been zapped for using a similar word for them and they're not the first 😀

Someone is speedily reporting I think

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