Is it OK to use the term Karen now?

[Anonymous]

I see it on so many threads. It’s awful.

[Anonymous]

It's a phase. It will pass.

[jsteele]

I am deleting it when it is used gratuitously, but I can't catch them all.

[Anonymous]

It’s a racial slur. It should be retired...quickly, Otherwise, we’ll keep spinning in the mud of inflammatory name calling and not improve as a society.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:I am deleting it when it is used gratuitously, but I can't catch them all.

Thanks Jeff. Some are especially gratuitous, like the Trader Joe’s thread currently in Off Topic, which uses the term in the OP’s Twitter screen shots. I reported that one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:I am deleting it when it is used gratuitously, but I can't catch them all.

Thanks Jeff. Some are especially gratuitous, like the Trader Joe’s thread currently in Off Topic, which uses the term in the OP’s Twitter screen shots. I reported that one.

^^But it’s still there. So hence my question, is it OK to use the term in that context, as the OP there did? Or is that thread getting so many clicks that it is worth your while to overlook it? Some clarification would be helpful. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a racial slur. It should be retired...quickly, Otherwise, we’ll keep spinning in the mud of inflammatory name calling and not improve as a society.

It isn’t a racial slur.

[Anonymous]

I feel bad for people actually named Karen. The two I know are very nice.

[jsteele]

I have removed "Karen" from the Trader Joes thread where it was used by posters. The original poster embedded a tweet in which the name is used. If I remove the tweet or the original post, the thread would no longer make sense. So, in that case, I will leave it. The sad reality is that right now trying to prevent all use of the name is a losing battle.

I have said many times in multiple threads that I find the usage of "Karen" as a derogatory term to have racial, misogynistic, and ageist connotations and I think it is very unfortunate that the term has been seized upon by those who consider themselves "woke". I think they still have some awakening to do. For those who think the use of the name is harmless, how likely are you to name your daughter "Karen" at this point?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:I have removed "Karen" from the Trader Joes thread where it was used by posters. The original poster embedded a tweet in which the name is used. If I remove the tweet or the original post, the thread would no longer make sense. So, in that case, I will leave it. The sad reality is that right now trying to prevent all use of the name is a losing battle.

I have said many times in multiple threads that I find the usage of "Karen" as a derogatory term to have racial, misogynistic, and ageist connotations and I think it is very unfortunate that the term has been seized upon by those who consider themselves "woke". I think they still have some awakening to do. For those who think the use of the name is harmless, how likely are you to name your daughter "Karen" at this point?

Or Felicia for that matter. She is the crackhead sister begging Craig in Friday.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:I have removed "Karen" from the Trader Joes thread where it was used by posters. The original poster embedded a tweet in which the name is used. If I remove the tweet or the original post, the thread would no longer make sense. So, in that case, I will leave it. The sad reality is that right now trying to prevent all use of the name is a losing battle.

I have said many times in multiple threads that I find the usage of "Karen" as a derogatory term to have racial, misogynistic, and ageist connotations and I think it is very unfortunate that the term has been seized upon by those who consider themselves "woke". I think they still have some awakening to do. For those who think the use of the name is harmless, how likely are you to name your daughter "Karen" at this point?

Exactly. It's the "woke" people who think Karen is hilarious and try to throw it into every BLM thread. As a progressive, I really don't get that and think it's hypocritical.

[Anonymous]

The woke are the most intolerant bunch around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The woke are the most intolerant bunch around.

That's not true. But the woke crowd should know better than to create new scapegoats based on racist misogyny.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:I have removed "Karen" from the Trader Joes thread where it was used by posters. The original poster embedded a tweet in which the name is used. If I remove the tweet or the original post, the thread would no longer make sense. So, in that case, I will leave it. The sad reality is that right now trying to prevent all use of the name is a losing battle.

I have said many times in multiple threads that I find the usage of "Karen" as a derogatory term to have racial, misogynistic, and ageist connotations and I think it is very unfortunate that the term has been seized upon by those who consider themselves "woke". I think they still have some awakening to do. For those who think the use of the name is harmless, how likely are you to name your daughter "Karen" at this point?

Thanks Jeff. It’s just that I have a number of family members (not young, but also not particularly old) with that name, and so I am particularly sensitive to its use as a derogatory understanding. Thanks for your efforts to curb that term, and for all you do for the DCUM community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:I have removed "Karen" from the Trader Joes thread where it was used by posters. The original poster embedded a tweet in which the name is used. If I remove the tweet or the original post, the thread would no longer make sense. So, in that case, I will leave it. The sad reality is that right now trying to prevent all use of the name is a losing battle.

I have said many times in multiple threads that I find the usage of "Karen" as a derogatory term to have racial, misogynistic, and ageist connotations and I think it is very unfortunate that the term has been seized upon by those who consider themselves "woke". I think they still have some awakening to do. For those who think the use of the name is harmless, how likely are you to name your daughter "Karen" at this point?

Thanks Jeff. It’s just that I have a number of family members (not young, but also not particularly old) with that name, and so I am particularly sensitive to its use as a derogatory understanding. Thanks for your efforts to curb that term, and for all you do for the DCUM community.

^^PS, I obviously would lean in favor of deleting the thread entirely given that the embedded original posts cannot reasonable be removed, but it’s your site and I assume you have your reasons for allowing the thread to remain, despite the misogynistic consequences of the misuse of an innocent female name.