YouTube has recently become home to an unsettling phenomenon known as “Karens.”
These people, when frustrated with the state of the world, tend to go full Kuren and demand an explanation from someone.
Many people interpret these videos as evidence of racism, but social commentators contend they typically stem from economic disenfranchisement, entitlement and/or rage.
1. Don’t Take It Personal
Dealing with a Rude Karen doesn’t have to be difficult. With these tips, you can go into your next confrontation confident and leave the experience behind.
First and foremost, it’s essential to remember that everyone has struggles they must contend with on a daily basis. These can cause them to act out rudely, defiantly, and with little consideration for others’ feelings or needs.
That is why it is best not to take things personally when someone does something that enrages or frustrates you. Doing so only adds fuel to the fire and may lead you down a path that does not serve either yourself or your cause.
You need to learn how to take a step back and assess what’s actually occurring. Doing this will enable you to remain calm and collected when someone begins to get cranky or throw you a tantrum.
It’s essential to remember that most of the time, an rude person isn’t thinking about you at all. They could simply be having a bad day or feeling particularly peeved off.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you don’t need to respond to their behavior with anger or sarcasm. You can use the same patience and understanding when dealing with friends or family members who are acting out.
No matter the workplace situation you find yourself in, it’s essential not to take things personally. Doing so could make you appear defensive and hinder genuine professional connections with others.
Taken too personally can be draining and overwhelming, leading to negative self-limiting beliefs that prevent you from reaching your career objectives. But it is possible to combat the tendency to take things personally at work and build genuine connections with colleagues. Here are eight strategies you can use to stop taking things personally at work.
2. Don’t Get Angry
When dealing with a rude customer, it’s essential that you know how to manage them effectively. Don’t let their complaints and bad attitude get to you – especially if you work in customer service!
Have you ever seen those videos of angry Karens at restaurants and service establishments who appear to be trying to intimidate the employees there? These types of people will demand answers about their meal or throw fits over trivial matters — even if everything has been done correctly!
They often exhibit a very loud and aggressive demeanor. They might yell or threaten physical harm while you’re speaking to them, or simply try to scare you with their fury.
These daring but rude customers can make your job a real challenge, so it’s essential to have some strategies for handling them when they come along. You might be amazed at how beneficial a little common sense can be!
To avoid becoming angry, the best course of action is to simply not get angry. Venting your emotions only serves to escalate your levels of rage and do nothing to help you address the underlying problem at hand.
Though it may seem obvious, applying common sense can be challenging when you’re surrounded by rude and angry individuals. The last thing you want is to lose your temper and get into an argument with someone you don’t even like.
If you find yourself in a confrontation with Karen, it is essential to remember that your anger may stem from something deeper than just what they’re doing to you. According to Lillian Glass – a communications expert and author of several books on dealing with toxic people – the causes behind such social media incidents often go much deeper than just rudeness.
She believes the anger displayed in these viral videos is likely displaced and stems from multiple causes, including COVID-19 (a coronavirus which affects disproportionately white people). Furloughs, layoffs and the recent Black Lives Matter movement have all contributed to an atmosphere of anxiety for many Karens and Kens, according to She.
3. Don’t Make It Personal
Many people advocate for not taking someone’s behavior personally. However, this doesn’t mean you should ignore someone who exhibits rudeness and disregards their words or actions.
If someone is calling you a Karen, it likely stems from an attitude of entitlement and the desire for control. They could be acting out of anger or frustration with someone else or something in their life at the time.
This kind of behavior is not only irritating, but it could lead to more serious problems like a broken heart or PTSD. Therefore, it’s best not to let it get the better of you. In some cases, avoiding these situations entirely might even be recommended if you feel uncomfortable with either the situation or person involved.
Recently, video emerged of a woman having an emotional breakdown at Red Lobster while waiting for her food. This type of behavior can be difficult for many people to manage and cause immense stress.
But if you find yourself dealing with a rude Karen, remember they are not alone and there are others going through the same thing. Additionally, it could simply be that there has been an misunderstanding between you two.
It is possible that this behavior was inspired by social media. It has become common practice to shorten names and use acronyms in online conversations; while not exclusive to “Karen”, it could have played a role in creating this meme.
Some social media users have criticized the Karen phenomenon as misogynistic and sexist. But Stephanie Younger, an 18-year-old Black activist, insists this is not true at all.
She noted the Karen phenomenon as a common internet meme that plays on real-life stereotypes. Basic names like “Karen,” “BBQ Becky” and “Permit Patti” serve to identify this same type of person, she told CNN.
4. Don’t Take It Personal
The term “Karen” has become a meme that has been used to shame people for acting out in an inappropriate or offensive manner. But it’s essential to remember that not all those labeling themselves a Karen are necessarily doing something wrong.
This slang term has often been employed as a joke, particularly among teenagers. But there have also been instances where it has been employed to shame individuals for engaging in various obnoxious behaviors like making sexist or racist comments.
Fuck_You_Karen, created by a 17-year-old in California, serves as an excellent example of this type of mocking others by using their names. He originally created it as a joke but soon noticed some posts had grown increasingly angry so he decided to use it as inspiration for creating humorous content based on these posts.
Cleve Evans, a professor at Bellevue University in Nebraska who studies onomastics (the history and etymology of proper names), noted that names have long been fodder for slurs. But he added that social media may have played an increasingly large role in fueling this trend.
He noted that names can be used as shorthand for certain behaviors, such as rude entitlement. They can also be used to disparage someone’s ethnicity or religion; he pointed out that names have been used as racial slurs since slavery began.
Another possible origin of the “Karen” meme may be found in Americans’ tendency to use shorthand and abbreviations in everyday speech. This practice is widespread among many industries, particularly those dealing with technology.
No matter its source, “Karen” has long been used to shame people for being obnoxious or abrasive in public. This was especially evident during the recent coronavirus pandemic when an entirely new generation of such people took to social media platforms to vent their angst at this situation.
Some obnoxious Karens are taking their anger out on others, often using it to call upon the police when they feel their neighbor has done something wrong or is causing them to have a bad day. You can see them engaging with officers, asking people of color for explanations, and making sexist or racist comments.
