Can we please stop misusing the name "Karen"?

[BetteTheRed]

He has had a lifetime of being called by middle name, and doesn't mind it at all.

This didn't become much of a problem for my old guy, until he became an old guy. He's now often ill, sometimes confused, and it adds an extra layer of confusion to the situation when he forgets that his name is John. And it's fine to say you can tell them, but when you're in and out of hospitals, doctors, clinics, etc., you need to get used to being called by the wrong name.

And I don't care as much about the alt spellings, except when they make the pronunciation questionable, which yours doesn't, but which Bradely's does.

 

[Northwind]

You (we) don’t have the right to judge a cultural phenomenon that is being used by black feminists to make a point, lest you end up being the point they’re making. ...and the people here missed the point, of course.

I'm not getting into this again. To be clear, my statement was not made in judgement. I admire Christian Cooper's response period.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

The intent of this thread is to try to name and shame those who came up with the Karen moniker to easily identify entitled, racist behaviour.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

I'm not getting into this again. To be clear, my statement was not made in judgement. I admire Christian Cooper's response period.

His response would not have been seen if he and his sister (on his behalf) had not posted it - so your point is moot. The posting of the video with the use of “Karen” was indeed part of the response.

 

[Northwind]

Whatever Kimmio.

 

[BetteTheRed]

The intent of this thread is to try to name and shame those who came up with the Karen moniker to easily identify entitled, racist behaviour.

Except that it's quite clear that it casts a wide net, and is more useful in making the self-righteous feel self-righteous than the badly behaved change their behaviour.

 

[BetteTheRed]

So, if you'd like to call people Karen in order to make yourself feel smug, go for it. If you're doing it to change specific behaviours in specific people, I'd suggest you're doing it wrong.

 

[Northwind]

Except that it's quite clear that it casts a wide net, and is more useful in making the self-righteous feel self-righteous than the badly behaved change their behaviour.

Especially when the self-righteous can claim it comes solely from black feminist women.

 

[ChemGal]

The intent of this thread is to try to name and shame those who came up with the Karen moniker to easily identify entitled, racist behaviour.

I'm not so certain the origins had anything to do with racist behaviour.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

I'm not so certain the origins had anything to do with racist behaviour.

They had to do with entitled white woman behaviour - which is inherently racist. And black people adopted the use of the name for the purpose of calling attention to the behaviour.

 

[ChemGal]

They had to do with entitled white woman behaviour - which is inherently racist.

I disagree. It can be, but not all entitled behaviour is racist.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

So, if you'd like to call people Karen in order to make yourself feel smug, go for it. If you're doing it to change specific behaviours in specific people, I'd suggest you're doing it wrong.

I’m not using it smugly. I’ve pointed out that the Karen label could apply to myself at times - entitled white woman who doesn’t get it (yup, i’ve been that person - though never been close to an Amy Cooper level Karen). The very fact that a bunch of white women are arguing about this, shaming people who use it - showing their Karen colours - is proof it’s working. Because first it’ll make you angry...then eventually those who have ears to hear will get it. And you are the ones being smug (and entitled) to insist that it’s so offensive.

 

[Northwind]

I decided to start to look up how "Karen" got started. Of course, this is a very unscientific and very informal research endeavor. Here's one article that suggests the meme has more to do with Kate Gosselin of Jon and Kate Plus 8 and that it goes back over ten years. Another possible beginning was a Dane Cook comedy special.

Here's the article where I got this information Karen meme origin. I tried to copy and paste a few paragraphs but couldn't make it work today. The article notes that there's a danger in using a name like "Karen" for someone like Amy Cooper because her actions had the potential for disastrous consequences for Christian Cooper and using the label gives her anonymity. Instead of anonymity, her name needs to be known so she can be held accountable.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

I disagree. It can be, but not all entitled behaviour is racist.

It’s inherently, not consciously, racist. It has the effect of supporting systemic racism.

 

[ChemGal]

I decided to start to look up how "Karen" got started. Of course, this is a very unscientific and very informal research endeavor. Here's one article that suggests the meme has more to do with Kate Gosselin of Jon and Kate Plus 8 and that it goes back over ten years. Another possible beginning was a Dane Cook comedy special.

Here's the article where I got this information Karen meme origin. I tried to copy and paste a few paragraphs but couldn't make it work today. The article notes that there's a danger in using a name like "Karen" for someone like Amy Cooper because her actions had the potential for disastrous consequences for Christian Cooper and using the label gives her anonymity. Instead of anonymity, her name needs to be known so she can be held accountable.

Also a reddit thread where a man posted about his ex-wife.

 

[ChemGal]

It’s inherently, not consciously, racist. It has the effect of supporting systemic racism.

Not all entitled behaviour is about support systemic racism.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

Moot point again, Northwind. They posted the video - Christian took the video and posted it with his sister - and called Amy Cooper a Karen. She was anonymous and would’ve remained anonymous had they not posted the video. They used the moniker Karen, because a lot of people get it. Apparently you don’t. But it was after they posted the video, that people who knew who Amy was, identified her. Some of you were also arguing that her behaviour shouldn’t have been made public, she shouldn’t have been shamed into losing her job, etc. You want it both ways. The truth is, you would never have known about it if it wasn’t for Chris and Melody’s actions. Those actions, including the moniker Karen, were the public action they took to identify Amy and her behaviour.

Of course, he’s not going to call her names while she is being threatening. If someone in an unhinged state had you physically cornered and was threatening you, would you call them names? Would you tell them they were acting like an unreasonable idiot, at that moment? Would you call them a dick? Or a bitch? If your life was being threatened? Of course not! Now, think of how many black people have been in that position, anonymously, over centuries. They just had to say “yes ma’am”, to survive. Then they came up with names amongst themselves like “Miss Anne”. Amy was displaying the left over cultural remnants of the slave owner’s wife, in her character and behaviour.

To call her a Karen after the fact, to get attention to the problem. I see why they did it, and it’s not a big deal - in terms of widely insulting people named Karen for that purpose - unless they get uppity about it - to use the name.

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

Not all entitled behaviour is about support systemic racism.

It all has that effect coming from white people. The entitled behaviour is the source of the system that still supports systemic racism.

 

[ChemGal]

It all has that effect coming from white people. The entitled behaviour is the source of the system that still supports systemic racism.

Not all of it does.

 

[BetteTheRed]

The very fact that a bunch of white women are arguing about this,

You've made another assumption here. Are we all white women? I mean, it's entirely likely, but not necessarily so.