Central Park “Karen”

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

This behavior goes beyond someone just being a "Karen". I think this woman is likely a sociopath. Usually they are very good at covering up their behavior, but this was probably the perfect collision of circumstance. I'm not excusing her behavior at all, but I think there is a pathological component to her behavior, not just being a terrible person.

Honestly though I think sociopath/mental illness is like the new entitled. Not everyone is a sociopath nor is everyone simply entitled. I think overusage of the term ends up diluting it. That's not a jab at you personally I just think there's far more people out there who are just jerks than immediately going to the sociopath or psychopath route.

As far as the general consensus of what Karen is used to exemplify this woman does it nearly perfectly so TBH I don't see anything more deep than that but that's my opinion just as yours is she is likely to be a sociopath.

 

[ronandannette]

She strikes me as the type likely to dig in, double down and attempt to cast herself as a victim here.

Well, I heard her apology and it didn't go totally down that rabbit hole but it did step in the general direction. She admitted several times she over-reacted but did say it was because she felt threatened. She said she wasn't a racist and regretted calling the police and that it was an over-reaction. She said she didn't mean to cause harm to Christian Cooper but wouldn't say is name - she referred to him as "that man" twice. Seriously.

Later this afternoon this was published but it's basically the same information under a different, click-baity headline:
https://nypost.com/2020/05/26/central-park-karen-says-life-is-being-destroyed-over-viral-video/

OT from the main thread content, but I agree. Not my name, but have several friends named Karen and I cringe now every time I hear it. Seems kind of sexist, being that there’s no comparable male name that I know of with this particular negative connotation. And besides, Karen was extremely popular during the baby boom, in the 1950’s and 60’s, while the woman being discussed here is clearly at least a generation younger (likely a millennial). So it’s ageist too.

Wasn't there Joe the Plumber there for a while?

 

[JimMIA]

There is only a tiny sliver of the population who are actually sociopaths.

"Sociopath" is the word we use to describe people we disagree with in the strongest possible terms -- incorrectly roughly 100% of the time. It may be incorrect, but it feels good saying it...powerful.

For reference, Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer were actual sociopaths.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

There is only a tiny sliver of the population who are actually sociopaths. "Sociopath" is the word we use to describe people we disagree with in the strongest possible terms -- incorrectly roughly 100% of the time.

It may be incorrect, but it feels good saying it...powerful.

For reference, Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer were actual sociopaths.

IDK it doesn't make me feel good nor powerful thinking about actual sociopaths. I get a very creepy disgusting feeling and horror at how people are capable of doing awful things whilst also looking into reasons why they are that way.

Does it really make people feel good and powerful calling people sociopaths? That's a new one for me I guess.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Judge not lest ye be judged.

Yes it looks bad but you don't know anything about her or her life or what is happening with her. You don't know if this is her on an average day or on a really terrible day. No one wants to be judged by their worst actions. Maybe she is an awful person or maybe she is not. She did issue an apology. Perhaps a side of compassion with the snark and judgement.

STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR RACISTS!!!!

We know exactly who/what she is. She is a racist. She's a racist that lied about being threatened/attacked by a black man. She knew darn well what she was doing. She would have to be a complete idiot not to know the history of death and destruction that has come to black men and black communities based simply on lies told by white women about black men. Rosewood, Tulsa, Emmett Till....

 

[AppleDumpling]

I know a few Karen's my age and I am a Gen X. I do feel bad too for innocent people named Karen, but I guess it "stuck" because it has the multi-generational appeal. IDK why they chose that particular name, but they did. Becky fit the prototype for a little while.

And a man's name that gets raked through the coals, Dick. I may or may not use that term when I am driving and a man behind the wheel of a car makes a jerk move. (I said may or may not!)

True, but not exactly the same meaning and not a meme. And typically Dick is a nickname for Richard, which has better alternatives: Rick, Rich, Richie, etc.

Wasn't there Joe the Plumber there for a while?

Eh, not really the same either. As someone in the targeted demographic (middle-aged white woman), guess I’m more sensitive to it. All I know is, I wouldn’t be happy if it was my name used as a derogatory term.

 

[AnnieBearJamboree]

For those saying there’s no male “Karen” equivalent - does the name “Bubba” not conjure up some sort of imagery? Not really my fight to fight, but my mom’s name is Karen, and she doesn’t have a problem with the whole thing.

The name Karen may have been popular during the 50’s and 60’s, but it is used to describe any entitled woman of any race or age who unreasonably freaks out when faced with a situation she doesn’t like.

 

[JimMIA]

IDK it doesn't make me feel good nor powerful thinking about actual sociopaths. I get a very creepy disgusting feeling and horror at how people are capable of doing awful things whilst also looking into reasons why they are that way.

In my now-legendary law enforcement career, I only met one psychopath. He wasn't especially weird or creepy, he just didn't see anything wrong with killing people. I think his total was 10...that we know of. He sat on Death Row for 34 years before being executed in 2014 I believe.

 

[Donald13]

Judge not lest ye be judged.

Yes it looks bad but you don't know anything about her or her life or what is happening with her. You don't know if this is her on an average day or on a really terrible day. No one wants to be judged by their worst actions. Maybe she is an awful person or maybe she is not. She did issue an apology. Perhaps a side of compassion with the snark and judgement.

oh i will completely judge her!! she knew exactly what she was doing the fake crying and fake panic she could have gotten him killed she is a crap human who deserves all the hate coming her way.

 

[DuskKodesh]

It's very disappointing to hear that apology, it just reeked of insincerity. As for her claiming she's not a racist well she can't really debate that. She had a whole lot of points at which conscious interruption of her thoughts and actions could have occurred but did not. She performed a racist act willingly ergo: racist.

We are all only known by not what we think, but by how we act. No one can read our minds but they can see our actions.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

In my now-legendary law enforcement career, I only met one psychopath. He wasn't especially weird or creepy, he just didn't see anything wrong with killing people. I think his total was 10...that we know of. He sat on Death Row for 34 years before being executed in 2014 I believe.

I just get a creepy feeling thinking about them if that makes sense. Not that they are necessarily creepy. Sure some outwardly are and some aren't. Why the way they are can be interesting but often brings out shudders from me thinking about them that's for sure.

*I'd like your post for your experience you shared just didn't seem right given the topic, but thanks for giving it none the less

 

[AppleDumpling]

For those saying there’s no male “Karen” equivalent - does the name “Bubba” not conjure up some sort of imagery? Not really my fight to fight, but my mom’s name is Karen, and she doesn’t have a problem with the whole thing.

The name Karen may have been popular during the 50’s and 60’s, but it is used to describe any entitled woman of any race or age who unreasonably freaks out when faced with a situation she doesn’t like.

Oh jeez. OK. I know how it’s used and in my opinion, it’s sexist. You can agree or disagree. Didn’t mean to detract from the bigger issue here, which is racism.

 

[JimMIA]

I just get a creepy feeling thinking about them if that makes sense. Not that they are necessarily creepy. Sure some outwardly are and some aren't. Why the way they are can be interesting but often brings out shudders from me thinking about them that's for sure.

*I'd like your post for your experience you shared just didn't seem right given the topic, but thanks for giving it none the less

My guy was not interesting-- he was just a killer. No remorse whatsoever.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My guy guy was not interesting-- he was just a killer. No remorse whatsoever.

I just meant how the brains are wired, the lack of empathy,remorse, chemicals in our brains, behaviors over time, ages of onset, etc that's all. Personality and abnormal psychology back in college were a couple of courses that have stuck with me as the years have passed.

 

[ronandannette]

Eh, not really the same either. As someone in the targeted demographic (middle-aged white woman), guess I’m more sensitive to it. All I know is, I wouldn’t be happy if it was my name used as a derogatory term.

Right. Joe the Plumber slags blue-collar guys. Completely different.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Joe The Plumber

 

[bcla]

I'll just note that whatever she was doing, it didn't exactly seem to be a very effective plan. I guess if there weren't recording devices then maybe we could see a she said, he said situation where she's assuming she'll be believed over him. But they're recording each other while she's telling him how she's going to get her revenge on him like Bond villain discussing an evil plan.

What happens if they both stay around and the police find them. He calmly gets frisked, shows them what he's got on camera, and she gets arrested on the spot for filing a false report or misuse of an emergency response service.

What she ended up doing is more of what I might expect when someone is drunk or otherwise intoxicated. But she seemed lucid. None of that made any sense.

 

[KayMichigan]

Maybe she's just stupid.

 

[WDWJDS]

What happens if they both stay around and the police find them. He calmly gets frisked

That’s a good one

 

[John VN]

..................... I may or may not use that term when I am driving and a man behind the wheel of a car makes a jerk move. (I said may or may not!)

I prefer ...." U A wHole " as it is non discriminatory or sexist.

 

[SaintsManiac]

That’s a good one

More like take a knee to the neck...