Posted on 05/18/2020 11:35:12 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Are you the type of gal who demands to speak to the manager when you feel you’ve been wronged? You just might be a “Karen.”
Karen is the latest in a growing line of internet memes poking fun at real-life archetypes. Names such as Karen, Becky and Chad have been co-opted to call out social faux pas online, think: calling the police to shut down a kids’ lemonade stand because they don’t have a permit, or as slangy put-downs like, “Don’t be such a Becky.”
Other names have become so entangled in pop culture that they’ve taken on a new meaning: Who can think of anyone but the Kardashians when they hear “Kim”?
But while the internet directory is fun, real-life Karens (or Beckys, Debbies, Chads and Kyles) bear the brunt of the jokes.
Here’s some of the names ruined by the internet, where they came from, and what the people named before the meme think about their online personas.
KAREN
“Karen” has become social media shorthand meaning a middle-aged white woman — potentially with an asymmetric haircut a la 2009 Kate Gosselin — who makes a big fuss, and is not-so-blissfully ignorant. While the origins of “Karen” are oft debated, some point to Dane Cook’s 2005 bit about the lamest gal in a group of friends being named Karen, others to the “Mean Girls” character played by Amanda Seyfried who is admonished for asking pal Cady (Lindsay Lohan) how she can be from Africa if she’s white. Some view it as a righteous motivator for the creation of Black Twitter — the world wide web knows a Karen when it sees one.
One recent example of a Karen? A woman brawling with the Red Lobster staff, reduced because of the pandemic,
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
I’ve often wondered if Sir John Harrington and Thomas Crapper regreted their innovations in plumbing.
“How about Carl? Linked to many military comic meme’s.”
Carl? How about Jody? That’s even in Israel.
Yep also linked with common generic names like John Smith and John Doe.
Every, ‘Linda’ I’ve ever known has been her own certain brand of ‘special,’ too.
Can anyone explain that?
“Chad” is a pretty widely established meme of some years among young people. I’ve never heard this “Karen” nonsense until the Chicom flu hit.
Not to start a Jewish conspiracy, but I suspect the Karen meme was started by Jewish women named “Yenta”.
I know three women named Karen, and none of them fit the stereotype.
How about Caledonia?
Mark Steyn referred to her as Gruppenfuehrer Whitmer
Where is that information from about Hawaii?
Decimate will be next!
lol
What does it mean to be a “LeRoy”, “Jamal”, “Ta’quisha”, or “Mo’nique’?
~~~
I don’t know about Jamal, but LeRoy aint got time fo day when a bunch of Chads are sitting around in a dungeon chat trying to figure out how to take the boss down. Ahleeeeeeroooooyyyyy AhhJennnkkiiiiiiiinnnzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I love how the mass media pretends to hate bullying but this name calling is totally ok. Immediately sussing someone up as a member of some less-than group.
Geez. His parents had nine whole months.
“I know three women named Karen, and none of them fit the stereotype.”
I know one, and that’s too many.
I know of a george who by the name bryan .
and i work with an asian female named karen, easy on the eyes but mean on the inside ..
I agree. If you can’t single out young Asian girls or chubby black men, and insult them according to their group, then you can’t single out middle aged white women. If they behave like a b*tch, call them a b*tch. Stick to behavior, not ethnic/age groups.
Gentlemen, hint of advice - wife mentioned some busybody neighbor and I said to her - “Sounds like a Karen.”
Wife asked me what I meant by that - I couldn’t explain so I said: “Google it.”
I think I’ll have the feeling back in my arm by Friday.
(Don’t belittle a 5’2” Italian - you can’t win.)
Is your wife named “Karen” by any chance? :)
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