STOP calling people "a Karen"

[PaperwhiteTheFriendlyGhost]

Why are people so lazy and ignorant? Ironically they use it in some instances to berate someone for a perceived insult. Maybe this should be on Pedants' Corner, I don't know.

That's horrible 💐

Not never. I’ve seen plenty of reels calling out men for acting this way, particularly over the mask thing during Covid.

It doesn’t happen nearly as often but it isn’t never.

I think they might be confusing it with synonymous?

Ah, could be! I was wondering why biology was coming into it 😂

Who knows. If they did mean synonymous I’m a bit lost for words.

There’s quite a lot of casual bigotry on this thread from posters who probably consider themselves woke in other respects.

Yes, I would agree!

This. Absolutely this

A fair few posters with this as their actual name have described how lazy use of it impacts them. In real life. Actual real people.

I notice those defending it and thinking it’s such a laugh don’t have the balls to justify why making all these women feel bad, is ok?

My real name is Karen and this is exactly my experience. It's horrible. I'm quite resilient normally, but it really comes to something when you're nervous of telling people your name.

That's so horrible, demeaning and unpleasant. 💐

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

Stop importing tropes wholesale from the US on racial issues?

@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.

Beautifully put

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

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'?

😂alright

It is a name spelled that way. I know one.

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

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.

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.

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.

@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".

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.