provocative phrases

Referring to white skinned women, of a certain age range, as a "Karen". It was used quite recently on GN to simply dismiss the opinions or thoughts of those that they didn't agree with. There is no male equivalent so it's not only racist, it's misogynistic too.

Chewbacca I thought the male equivalent was Gammon ?

I don't understand why the term 'karen' being used to refer to a particular female stereotype is racist. It is certainly used as a derogatory term but it excludes other white women too. More class related I would say. Not nice whatever we call it!

Don't think so GrannyGravy; In 2018, it became particularly known as a term to describe either those on the Right-wing politics|political right or those who supported Brexit, a "gammon". The term refers in particular to the colour of such a person's flushed face, especially when expressing their strong opinions

Ok Chewbacca I wasn’t 100% sure hence the question mark.

Because the term "Karen" is us as a derogatory term specifically about white, or pale skinned, middle aged women with blonde or fair hair. If the same term was used as a descriptive derogatory term for any other ethnicity, would that be acceptable?

I do think it is unfortunate when ordinary names suddenly become terms of abuse,

Fortunately I'm not called Karen, but I do know some lovely inoffensive Karens and this new Karen trope must be very hard for them.

common stereotype
Karen is a pejorative term for someone perceived as entitled or demanding beyond the scope of what is appropriate or necessary. A common stereotype is that of a white woman who uses her privilege to demand her own way at the expense of others.
en.m.wikipedia.org › wiki › Karen_...
Karen (pejorative) - Wikipedia

I didn’t think hair colour came into it but either way both Karen and Gammon are IMO awful

I agree with you there Varian ??

PECS

I don't understand why the term 'karen' being used to refer to a particular female stereotype is racist. It is certainly used as a derogatory term but it excludes other white women too. More class related I would say. Not nice whatever we call it!

It became an internet meme.

There were hundreds of videos of American white women being racist. Most of them were stereotypical and were somewhat plump. I don't know why they were called "Karens" - I guess the fad started with a video of a woman called Karen. She's an elderly version of Vicky (?) in Little Britain.

This is really interesting about the origin of Karen
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-53588201

Thank you lemon that must be a first!

Agree varian; and it's particularly unpleasant when it's women who are using that term as an insult to other women, not because they presumably fit the trope, but just as an easy form of abuse.

Here's the definition of a "gammon" from EngLangBlog, a blog for A Level English Language students and teachers:

"So what does this new type of 'gammon' mean? It first appeared on Twitter in 2016 in association with David Cameron, whose face was on occasion described as resembling a boiled ham (and after that story about Cameron and a pig's head had been circulated, it took on a slightly more disturbing tinge). But it was in 2017 that it really took off when it was used to describe a post-Brexit vote phenomenon that many had observed but few had been able to nail so accurately: namely, a certain type of man whose anger about the modern world had made them turn the colour of ham or what Urban Dictionary's (now mysteriously removed) top definition describes as "a particular type of Brexit-voting, middle-aged white male, whose meat-faced complexion suggests they are perilously close to a stroke".

Thank you growstuff

suziewoozie

This is really interesting about the origin of Karen
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-53588201

Interesting. I didn't realise it had developed. I've only ever come across it in the context of white women being abusive towards people of colour. I guess they must have been some of the original videos.

@suziewoozie at17.11 you asked me to articulate more clearly a post I'd made. I did so at 17.18. You have posted 5 times since my reply but have not responded. If you didn't intend to respond I can only assume your 17.11 post was indeed intended as a snarky put down. Tells me all I need to know.

PECS

Ah well I use FFS in frustration ..a habit I know but I do not mind an occasional expletive. Either in my direction, if I have been a dumb-cluck about something, or at others who have messed up! I don't like to hear it as a regular part of someone's speech 'effing& blinding' but I do not consider an occasional swear word a sign of ill education or inability to use the English language with skill.

Ah, but PECS, there is a huge difference between swearing in frustration and swearing at someone.

I don’t swear at people, either in full or acronyms......but if I did I expect I would be superb at it.?

well, we are all different, and that is good. But I'd rather someone swore at me than use some of the awful backstabbing insults people us on the internet to avoid being deleted or banned. So two faced and hypocritical.

Ah but some use swearing and backstabbing insults as weapons in their armoury....a double whammy.

I am sure we all have failing and ways of annoying others. None of us is perfect!

We are still like the kids I watched so often in the playground: some cry wolf, some provoke then play innocent when someone kicks back, some wisely stay on the periphery and others blunder in and are surprised when everyone gets upset!

PECS

I am sure we all have failing and ways of annoying others. None of us is perfect!

We are still like the kids I watched so often in the playground: some cry wolf, some provoke then play innocent when someone kicks back, some wisely stay on the periphery and others blunder in and are surprised when everyone gets upset!

The difference is some of us are open in our behaviour and it’s clear to others - whereas others are absolutely first class at playing ? Pearl clutching is one manifestation of the latter type of poster.

Who swears at anyone on GN? A response to a post eg FFS or WTF is not the same as saying posterA just FO you f***er.. That would clearly be not on.

Suziewoozie I think I feel that type of poster is the kid who is sweetness and delight in the classroom gaining the approval of the teacher but is sly and spiteful in the corridor and toilets!