Who else hates the term “Karen”

[DeniseJH]

Ehh, Karens don't just have opinions. Most people applaud others for standing up for themselves in situations that warrant it. Karens tend to do it in a way that represent themselves poorly and with the goal to make other people feel less than. In more extreme examples, they feel like they have the right to negatively impact other people because they personally don't like something.

I've never heard Kyle and I am on Twitter... a lot.

I've seen "Chad" used, as well. Seems to be no consensus there.

 

[KristinU]

Yeah, it bothers me too. My mom is a Karen and my SIL is a Karen. Neither of which are anything like the stereotype.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I've seen "Chad" used, as well. Seems to be no consensus there.

A Chad is a different thing entirely. It’s usually used by Incel or MGTOW groups to refer to alpha males. Very toxic groups!

 

[Summer2018]

It annoys me too, mostly because it’s only used on women. I’ve seen men post a certain comment online and people have a respectful conversation with that person, but if a woman posts the same comment the response is “ok Karen”. It sends the message that what the person is saying isn’t worth even discussing because they are just a silly woman. Also I feel badly for anyone named Karen.

A guy did that to me recently, so I responded, "No problem, Ian." (Ian is Karen's male counterpart according to Urban Dictionary.) I can't stand that rude term.

 

[NotUrsula]

LOL, I actually do feel sorry for the people who happen to have the names that get dragged through these stupid memes. Fortunately people have short attention spans so this too shall pass.

Slightly off topic, but I still feel sorry for the people named Katrina. It was one of my favorite names, a name that I was considering for a future (theoretical) child, but then the hurricane happened. Even to this day, 15 years later I'll bet most people when they hear the name Katrina still think 'hurricane'.

Killer hurricane names are a slightly different thing;. for those of us who have lived in areas where they are frequent, there has always been a taboo against using the names because they are considered bad luck. It was definitely true in the old days when all Hurricane names were female, but I still hear it said even when names are male. You will be really hard-pressed to find many Camilles under age 50 in Mississippi, or in Louisiana, Betsies of any age, or Katrinas under age 15. (There are plenty of Elizabeths in Louisiana, but almost no one uses the nickname Betsy anymore.)
I was in third grade when Camille hit, and a Camille at my school came back after the storm with a request from her parents that the teachers switch to using her middle name.

 

[VandVsmama]

Doesn't bother me. I think it's pretty darn funny. First it was Heather. Then Becky. Now Karen. Give it enough time and "they" will pick a new name.

You guys remember that "dab"ing craze? That eventually went away. This will too. Life is too short to get worked up over something like this. There are a lot more causes that could use assistance.

But I've got to say...if somebody decided to do an in person public protest against the Karen thing, just think about how great the protest signs would be for the opposing side.

 

[WDWJDS]

A Chad is a different thing entirely. It’s usually used by Incel or MGTOW groups to refer to alpha males. Very toxic groups!

I was today old when I found out what Incel means

 

[Kestryl]

It’s overused and has become mired in sexism. It plays into binary troupes. Women are hysterical; men are sensitive. Women are bossy; men are assertive.

How come the Costco guy who refused to wear a mask wasn’t branded Karen, while the lady at the grocery store shopping for personal items who refused to wear a mask was?

I’m on Twitter (and Reddit and FaceBook and...). I’ve seen “OK Kyle” but not nearly as much, and many times there’s a follow up asking what “Kyle” means.

 

[DisLiss]

I dislike it when it is used in a very serious situation. It's supposed to be a joking, mocking type of thing. So when I see it describing someone who has behaved truly terribly, I just don't like it.

 

[DeniseJH]

A Chad is a different thing entirely. It’s usually used by Incel or MGTOW groups to refer to alpha males. Very toxic groups!

Didn't know that, but that isn't how I've seen it used.

 

[katie01]

It’s overused and has become mired in sexism. It plays into binary troupes. Women are hysterical; men are sensitive. Women are bossy; men are assertive.

How come the Costco guy who refused to wear a mask wasn’t branded Karen, while the lady at the grocery store shopping for personal items who refused to wear a mask was?

I’m on Twitter (and Reddit and FaceBook and...). I’ve seen “OK Kyle” but not nearly as much, and many times there’s a follow up asking what “Kyle” means.

you expressed what I was trying to say earlier, in a much clearer way. I totally agree

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I was today old when I found out what Incel means

I’m so sorry! Ignorance is kind of bliss there!

 

[VandVsmama]

It’s overused and has become mired in sexism. It plays into binary troupes. Women are hysterical; men are sensitive. Women are bossy; men are assertive.

How come the Costco guy who refused to wear a mask wasn’t branded Karen, while the lady at the grocery store shopping for personal items who refused to wear a mask was?

I’m on Twitter (and Reddit and FaceBook and...). I’ve seen “OK Kyle” but not nearly as much, and many times there’s a follow up asking what “Kyle” means.

The Costco guy TOTALLY was a Karen.

 

[DisneyOma]

I've figured out the people who throw that term around are usually the bigger jerks, but they're hiding behind their screens

 

[Jennasis]

I know a Karen who IS a "karen". The whole thing hits close to home.

 

[nkereina]

I don't know why it would be bothersome. The term isn't used to degrade real women named Karen or even the name Karen. The term is used because its a common white middle-aged woman's name. It just is what it is, not necessarily positive or negative.

 

[BrokeMack]

Best rebuttal I heard was white people have been referring to Hispanic women as Consuela or Juanita or whatever and black women as Keisha or Shanaenae and now that white women are getting a taste of their own medicine it's suddenly a big deal.

 

[BrokeMack]

In no way is Kyle used to the same extent Karen is. Not even comparable.

I've heard Bryan (specifically with a y) as the male Karen.

 

[DeniseJH]

I've figured out the people who throw that term around are usually the bigger jerks, but they're hiding behind their screens

Really? I haven't seen this at all. I've only seen it used where people are calling out others for their obnoxious behavior. It's always been justified. Examples include the white woman calling the police on the black family having a cookout in the park, the white woman calling the police on the black women talking in the parking lot of their apartment building, etc. Again, just stating how/when I've seen it used.

 

[easyas123]

It was funny for a while, but I feel it's been done to death now.

exactly-