What do you think of the term Karen?

Mountaindewed · Aug 21, 2020 at 02:30 AM

For very rude obnoxious people often women in their mid 40’s-60’s who give retail employees and other people a hard time and will ask to speak to the manager and will sometimes call the cops?

I have dealt with many people like this before but I kind of feel bad giving them a human name since I’m sure there are many good natured people out there name Karen who are now cursed wherever they go.

sarahsweets · Aug 21, 2020 at 03:06 AM

I feel bad for anyone actually named Karen.

splitimage · Aug 21, 2020 at 05:05 AM

Yeah, I have a cousin named Karen, and she's really nice.

splitimage

LiteraryLark · Aug 21, 2020 at 10:52 AM

I think calling people Karen got blown way out of proportion. That's what can be bad with memes, they get so popular that it spreads like wildfire. But I do think its very hurtful and hopefully the trend won't last.

divine1966 · Aug 21, 2020 at 11:25 AM

I never use it. It’s rude. Overall associating nasty qualities with particular name is just wrong.

WovenGalaxy · Aug 21, 2020 at 11:32 AM

Its rude.

*Beth* · Aug 21, 2020 at 11:41 AM

I'm so glad you've asked, Md.

I think use of the name to indicate something mean and negative is just plain stupid. For one thing, when I hear "Karen" I immediately think of Karen Carpenter, who was such an immensely talented and sweet woman, and one who battled with mental illness all of her life.

Aug 21, 2020 at 01:30 PM

I have heard worse.

at least in england, (I'm not sure if in america), we have a saying, net curtain nelly, for people who spy on others through the window.

I have also heard peeping tom, but not sure how common that one is these days

Tamster · Aug 21, 2020 at 02:22 PM

we got a kitten who at first was stubborn and snippy , my 17 & 19 year old grandsons immediately named her Karen. At first i refused to call her that but now she is just our little Karen and we love her.

mote.of.soul · Aug 21, 2020 at 02:27 PM

Yeah, I don't like it either. It's rude and it comes off as sexist.

Nammu · Aug 21, 2020 at 02:37 PM

I too think of Karen carpenter so the intended effect is nullified. I’ve also never heard it irl only on the internet.

Taylor27 · Aug 21, 2020 at 02:50 PM

I think it's very rude and offensive

unaluna · Aug 21, 2020 at 04:50 PM

I think it was really associated with a trailing end of boomer name, like the reality tv lady with all the kids, not the octomom, her h's name was john. She had the first iteration of the haircut. What was her name? Kate! John and kate make eight or something like that. Karen might have spun off of kate. People were getting pretty negative towards kate. But i dont think karen shows up the "darling girls babies names" lists like Serafina and Cherubima.

mugwort2 · Aug 21, 2020 at 09:08 PM

I totally agree with you. IMO its called lumping everybody with the name as being the same.

WastingAsparagus · Aug 22, 2020 at 12:01 AM

I have a friend named Karen. Personally I don't care for lumping everyone who behaves in a certain way into one category. I don't know much about this phenomenon, though. Perhaps it's accurate in some ways, but aren't there more inventive ways of describing people's behavior?

unaluna · Aug 22, 2020 at 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WastingAsparagus

Perhaps it's accurate in some ways, but aren't there more inventive ways of describing people's behavior?

Youtube transcripts often use "EM - Entitled Mom" or "EC - Entitled Child" when describing conflicts, as i read recently when an EM wouldnt give up their seats on a bus for a wheelchair user, as required by law!

Mountaindewed · Aug 22, 2020 at 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unaluna

Youtube transcripts often use "EM - Entitled Mom" or "EC - Entitled Child" when describing conflicts, as i read recently when an EM wouldnt give up their seats on a bus for a wheelchair user, as required by law!

These people may have an invisible illness. Social anxiety or autism or some other type where they need the seat just as much as the wheelchair user. I’m not trying to be rude or anything these situations just annoy me sometimes

divine1966 · Aug 22, 2020 at 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unaluna

Youtube transcripts often use "EM - Entitled Mom" or "EC - Entitled Child" when describing conflicts, as i read recently when an EM wouldnt give up their seats on a bus for a wheelchair user, as required by law!

I was once on a bus ages ago in a different world entirely, I left work early because I was sick, I think I had fever or something, I know I was sick enough to go home early and was breathing heavily as to not throw up. I sat on a bus and I was yelled at by a woman who believed I had to get up and give her a seat, she actually smacked my shoulder for me to get up. People don’t really know why someone is sitting.

divine1966 · Aug 22, 2020 at 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

These people may have an invisible illness. Social anxiety or autism or some other type where they need the seat just as much as the wheelchair user. I’m not trying to be rude or anything these situations just annoy me sometimes

Yup. Might have mobility issue that’s not visible: neuropathy in their feet, spinal issue, who knows, might even have no legs and wearing prosthesis. “Entitled” my *****.

unaluna · Aug 22, 2020 at 11:48 AM

I was just positing the use of the word "entitled" so as to no longer malign persons named Karen.

If you are living in a world where everyone is kind, you are blessed.

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sarahsweets Threadtastic Postaholic Member Since Dec 2018 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,006 (SuperPoster!) 5 192 hugs given	Aug 21, 2020 at 03:06 AM #2 I feel bad for anyone actually named Karen. __________________ "I carried a watermelon?" President of the no F's given society.
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splitimage Moderator Community Support Team Member Since Mar 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 11,278 18 75 hugs given	Aug 21, 2020 at 05:05 AM #3 Yeah, I have a cousin named Karen, and she's really nice. splitimage __________________ "I danced in the morning when the world was begun. I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun". From my favourite hymn. "If you see the wonder in a fairy tale, you can take the future even if you fail." Abba
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LiteraryLark Crowned "The Good Witch" Member Since Jun 2009 Location: Wonderland Posts: 11,535 (SuperPoster!) 14 1,318 hugs given	Aug 21, 2020 at 10:52 AM #4 I think calling people Karen got blown way out of proportion. That's what can be bad with memes, they get so popular that it spreads like wildfire. But I do think its very hurtful and hopefully the trend won't last.
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divine1966 Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Dec 2014 Location: US Posts: 22,375 (SuperPoster!) 9 1,277 hugs given	Aug 21, 2020 at 11:25 AM #5 I never use it. It’s rude. Overall associating nasty qualities with particular name is just wrong.
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WovenGalaxy Magnate Member Since Sep 2019 Location: Earth Posts: 2,854 4 4,842 hugs given	Aug 21, 2020 at 11:32 AM #6 Its rude.
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Beth catches the flowers Member Since Jul 2019 Location: Downtown Vibes, California Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!) 4 23.7k hugs given	Aug 21, 2020 at 11:41 AM #7 I'm so glad you've asked, Md. I think use of the name to indicate something mean and negative is just plain stupid. For one thing, when I hear "Karen" I immediately think of Karen Carpenter, who was such an immensely talented and sweet woman, and one who battled with mental illness all of her life. __________________
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Anonymous32451 Guest Posts: n/a	Aug 21, 2020 at 01:30 PM #8 I have heard worse. at least in england, (I'm not sure if in america), we have a saying, net curtain nelly, for people who spy on others through the window. I have also heard peeping tom, but not sure how common that one is these days
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mote.of.soul Legendary Member Since Jan 2018 Location: New Zealand Posts: 13,126 (SuperPoster!) 6 21.9k hugs given	Aug 21, 2020 at 02:27 PM #10 Yeah, I don't like it either. It's rude and it comes off as sexist.
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Nammu Crone Member Since May 2010 Location: Some where between my inner mind and the solar system. Posts: 71,359 (SuperPoster!) 13 53.6k hugs given	Aug 21, 2020 at 02:37 PM #11 I too think of Karen carpenter so the intended effect is nullified. I’ve also never heard it irl only on the internet. __________________ *Nammu* …Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …... Desiderata Max Ehrmann
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Taylor27 healing from trauma Member Since Dec 2017 Location: Alberta Posts: 30,425 (SuperPoster!) 6 24.3k hugs given	Aug 21, 2020 at 02:50 PM #12 I think it's very rude and offensive
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mugwort2 Poohbah Member Since Aug 2015 Location: Philadelphia PA. Posts: 1,291 8 28 hugs given	Aug 21, 2020 at 09:08 PM #14 I totally agree with you. IMO its called lumping everybody with the name as being the same.
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unaluna Elder Harridan x-hankster Member Since Jun 2011 Location: Milan/Michigan Posts: 39,867 (SuperPoster!) 12 66.4k hugs given	Aug 22, 2020 at 11:48 AM #20 I was just positing the use of the word "entitled" so as to no longer malign persons named Karen. If you are living in a world where everyone is kind, you are blessed.
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