Calling someone a Karen to their face is cringy

r/

I understand and accept that it’s a pretty universal term, but the word doesn’t quite hit as hard when used in real life. I’ve noticed that often times it’s an older person showcasing “Karen- like” behavior, and when they’re called out as such, they don’t even know what the hell it means. I think it’s a word better used on the internet.

Comments

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  2. whichdoobieub Avatar

    Karen wrote this

  3. Old_Sign3705 Avatar

    It’s also sexist and probably racist. But if white women don’t care, who am I to say.

  4. PineapplePikza Avatar

    OP demands to speak to the manager

  5. SnootyTooter Avatar

    What if her name is KAREN?

  6. notabear87 Avatar

    Karen….everyone’s tired of your bullshit.

  7. jimothyhalpret Avatar

    Have you talked to the manager about it?

  8. Dystopiaian Avatar

    Plus what if their name is actually Karen…

  9. New_General3939 Avatar

    I also feel like it’s gone from meaning somebody who is rude and entitled with customer service people, to literally anybody who has any kind of issue at all with customer service, justified or not.

  10. roxywalker Avatar

    Karen just accept your fate

  11. tiromancy Avatar

    Such a Kayden thing to do, smh

  12. Optimal_Cellist_1845 Avatar

    It’s also lazy; You should find much more apt and precise methods of creating emotional damage.

  13. Eis_ber Avatar

    Is “asshole” a more suitable term to you?
    Either way, a lot of Karens are old enough to understand this part of meme culture. It may be cringe, but if the term works, then one should use it.

  14. FletchLives99 Avatar

    Yh, it’s just a catch-all term laced with misogyny, ageism and dumb classism these days.

    Plus it sounds stupid when people do it in the UK where Karen tends to be a lower-middle class or working class name. But they still do it.

  15. icepyrox Avatar

    > often times it’s an older person showcasing “Karen- like” behavior, and when they’re called out as such, they don’t even know what the hell it means.

    Say Susan then. That’s the name of the Karens before they came to be called Karen.

    Or Nancy if you need to go back another generation.

    Or call them what they are actually acting like and there are no algorithms to censor you: bitch.

  16. Emcee_nobody Avatar

    As is “cringy”

  17. AwesomeeeeeeeeAcc Avatar

    r/randomthoughts thats where this belongs

  18. SmellyBaconland Avatar

    Look for “karen” videos and you’ll find a lot of people making fun of normal women having a bad moment. The misogynists have appropriated it. The original usage is over.

  19. And_Justice Avatar

    At this point, referring to “Karens” out loud it cringy regardless

  20. berryllamas Avatar

    I’d say anyone 40 and under should know the term by now.

  21. AstroWolf11 Avatar

    Using Karen at all is cringe

  22. Raileyx Avatar

    It also just kinda sucks to use the term, because everyone who is friendly and happens to be named Karen is collateral damage lol.

    But yeah fully agree, bringing “online”-language to the real world is just kinda meh, unless you know you’re talking to someone who gets it. Always better to confront people in a mature, clear and concise way. Hits harder too.

  23. Hand_of_Doom1970 Avatar

    The term has been so overused and misapplied that it has been rendered meaningless. Probably best to stop using it, and just let it die at this point.

  24. laurieb90 Avatar

    Also doing it in the heat of things it is just a terrible idea. Like telling someone to calm down, it’s just going to get them more annoyed

  25. DukeOfGreenfield Avatar

    OP is at this minute talking to lawyers to sue all the negative commentors in this thread, they will shut down the internets!

  26. somethingdouchey Avatar

    Sounds like op got called Karen to their face recently

  27. youmustbeanexpert Avatar

    The Karen meme has made white ladies think twice before being jerks…I approve.

  28. tamponinja Avatar

    This term is also sexist.

  29. hopseankins Avatar

    Being a Karen is cringier.

  30. MalfoyHolmes14 Avatar
  31. Square-Raspberry560 Avatar

    The term has lost its entire meaning and purpose. “Karen” is now anyone, mainly women, who have a problem with customer service even when it’s justified. Or just women not behaving the way people think they should in general. 

  32. Shadowy_2 Avatar

    Might be cringe but if it makes them stop acting like one then is it really that wrong

  33. Anakin-vs-Sand Avatar

    Karen’s are cringe. Videos calling them out are entertainment

  34. Visit_Excellent Avatar

    Just out of curiosity, but how/who decided to use the name “Karen”? I feel bad because I know a lady born with that name and she really is the sweetest thing 🙁 shame it became a meme/insult. 

  35. cherinuka Avatar

    I had an old friend Karen, when we caught up once we joked about how everyone dragged her name through the mud.

    Her mom was an immigrant in the US from El Salvador now living in Canada; Karen was a foreign and beautiful name to her, didnt have the same associations it would for someone born in US or Canada; all her siblings have Spanish names. It’s a shame really.

  36. EvilSnack Avatar

    This year’s name list for Atlantic tropical storms has Karen on it.

    The jokes write themselves.

  37. Lost-In-The-Horizon Avatar

    Wait is this an unpopular opinion? I’ve literally never heard this opinion or it’s opposite

  38. RabbitEquivalent9350 Avatar

    Don’t call Karen by her name. Got it