Karen is my Name

MawBe

^It isn't something you can ignore if your actual name is Karen^

Actually it is.

End of

How rude!

It isn't something you can ignore if your actual name is Karen

Actually it is.

End of

Sara1954

If my name was Karen, I’m pretty certain I could ignore it, I wouldn’t bother to put my name in an empathy generator, if I did, I certainly wouldn’t take the result seriously.

I didn't think you could be bothered to put your name in.

It's not a 'result' as such, it's just, as the name suggests, a means of seeing how a person called Karen might feel.

This is the description from the website itself:

*A person’s own name produces a special response in the brain; take your time and notice what this is like. Imagine that the internet and mainstream media are full of examples like this, with your name. You can remind yourself that of course, they aren’t talking about you personally. Does that make it better or worse?

All quotes and images are reproduced exactly. Numbers of Likes, Shares, Views, group members, etc. are all accurate. Except where writers specify that they are speaking of “real-life Karens” etc., none of the people described or addressed here as “Karen” were actually named “Karen”.*

If my name was Karen, I’m pretty certain I could ignore it, I wouldn’t bother to put my name in an empathy generator, if I did, I certainly wouldn’t take the result seriously.

Yes, I can ignore it because it`s a load of bunkum!!

Sara1954

Surely the best way to deal with it is to ignore it, if hoards of Karen’s go around changing their perfectly nice names, it will mean these idiotic people will have won.

It isn't something you can ignore if your actual name is Karen.

Did you put your name into the empathy generator? If so, how did you feel seeing your name being trashed? Could you ignore it?

Surely the best way to deal with it is to ignore it, if hoards of Karen’s go around changing their perfectly nice names, it will mean these idiotic people will have won.

I have a few friends called Karen. This doesn't bother them but of course we're all different.

Just wanted to point out that it appears that whatever name you put in the empathy generator the results are the same. For men and women's names.

Originated mainly in the States I believe.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-53588201

@Musicgirl

Thank you for your understanding.

I think there are massive differences between the current Karen meme and the earlier Sharon, Tracey, Essex girl references.

The difference is the absolute hatred conveyed against older women in the Karen meme and of course the insult to those unfortunate enough to be named Karen.

The Sharon, Tracey, Essex girl things were pretty innocuous and light-hearted in comparison.

I can only assume that women called Karen who aren't concerned or offended by it simply haven't realised the extent of the abuse.

I don't know about Karen's but my husband is an Eddy. If you make a movie, TV show etc and the character is a thick, working class, devious criminal, he's usually called Eddy.
DH is an elderly white working class male of good character, well educated to degree level.
Very boring but he hasn't been driven to changing his name yet.

I’ve just googled that link. It is horrific. I cannot imagine that any men’s name would be used in such a nasty way. You have my complete sympathy .

BlueBelle

Oriel I can’t answer that, why are Kevin’s dumb, Tim’s are dim, Sharon’s are daft and over Essexy, Hyacinths are snobs
I ve no idea perhaps the very first woman caught on camera shouting racist comments happened to have the name I ve no idea !!!
Maybe a US poster can help us on that one

It doesn't sound likely that the origin of the meme came via that route.

One random woman shouting racist comments isn't likely to have spawned something as widespread as the Karen meme.

As you say, perhaps someone can shed some light on the origin of it.

Out of interest, have you looked at the link to website which has the empathy generator which I posted. It shows the extent of the issue and how it has affected people.

I know several people named Karen, at least one on this forum, and including a couple of relatives, they`re all perfectly nice people, with no hang ups or embarrassment about the name Karen. This is the first I`ve heard of anything like this, I quite like the name.

We have two Karen’s in our extended family, and neither take a blind bit of notice,

I was shocked when i first heard this especially as all the Karens i have ever met are lovely. It's a lovely name. Horrible misogynism used by women too. It is a vile way of being horrible toward older women. I totally understand how you feel Oriel. Sorry you felt the need to change your name.
I hope you aren't one of the lovely Karens i was at school with especially one who had the biggest smile ever. It's nasty.

It’s another form of misogyny and ageism as Karen is a name that is quite common in ladies aged 50+. As we get older, we are supposed to be devoid of opinions and completely lacking in self-assertion according to some. The only Karens I have known have been lovely ladies. I believe it started in the USA. It will pass as all these things do but it is very unfair on ladies who have this perfectly normal, nice name.

Oriel I can’t answer that, why are Kevin’s dumb, Tim’s are dim, Sharon’s are daft and over Essexy, Hyacinths are snobs
I ve no idea perhaps the very first woman caught on camera shouting racist comments happened to have the name I ve no idea !!!
Maybe a US poster can help us on that one

Chewbacca
Yes, it’s an asymmetrical bob which is long at the front with lots of highlights.
It’s actually called a ‘Can I speak to the manager’ haircut

There is even a particular hairstyle that women are being advised to avoid having because "it makes you look like a Karen". It's a horrible, derogatory, sexist trope that's used to silence and diminish middle aged white women.

The only Karens I know are nothing like that!!

Oriel
I guess they just don’t let it bother them, as others have said, other names have been used in similar ways, and I can only speak for the Karen’s I know, but they honestly don’t care, I’m amazed that so many Karen’s seem to.

@BlueBelle

It wasn’t black calling white ‘Karen’ it was a group of white women who were very vocal racists and homophobes ( probably trump fans or similar ) who got called Karens they happened to be white racists so then it moved to any woman

Why call them Karen though? Why not call them racists?

I heard of this for the first time recently on Mumsnet, someone posted about a situation and said 'am I being a Karen'. Everyone bit her head off and said her post was offensive.

I've just had an ebay enquiry from someone called Sharon, she definitely isn't dumb.

On a slightly different angle, I read that girls called Alexa are being bullied at school and having to change their name. How awful for them.

None of the Karen’s I have known have been nasty, the nasty people I know all have different names, glad I wasn’t named Sharon, plenty of dumb blonde jokes there.