This Tumblr Thread Goes Viral After Proving That Asking For A Refund Doesn’t Necessarily Make You A Karen
There she is, an enraged suburban white woman calling on the National guards on the underpaid Target employee simply for refusing her refund. Shrieking, stabbing the air or calling for your manager after you politely ask them to put a medical mask on. They want what they want when they want it. Try to tell them any different and you might just get yourself into ‘a Karen situation’.
Fed up with the joke that all Karens must be these entitled and hysteric Medusas with ponytails, visors and high-pitch voices ready to attack, people all over the internet started sharing their stories countering this silly (and occasionally absurdly entertaining) female archetype. As the Tumblr user ‘ruffboijuliaburnsides’ explains in her post that quickly went viral, there’s a big difference between being reasonable about the problem at hand and having a fit every time Starbucks’ employee serves you oat milk instead of an almond one with your Frappuccino.
This is how the entire conversation goes. And if you’re hungry for more Karen content – check this out.
A couple of Tumblr users started discussing reasons why the Karen meme is still alive and kicking
Image credits: Ümit Yıldırım
Then one Karen shared her ‘unusual’ story and the whole thread went viral soon after
Image credits: kyraneko
Words are haunting. Just ask Chad or Becky. Hearing your name used as an insult has become a norm to them. Still, when a few white self-entitled ladies in their mid-50s have a power not only to call a military on you for being a person of color or simply wearing a mask; but to drag the name down to pre-Depression levels in terms of its popularity in the US — it doesn’t sound like a harmless meme no more.
A lot of folks couldn’t agree more
!["Karen Complains To HR About My Body, I Uno-Reverse Her Complaint, [And Now] Everyone Hates Her"](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/coworker-complains-to-hr-about-womans-body-revenge-latest.jpg "\"Karen Complains To HR About My Body, I Uno-Reverse Her Complaint, [And Now] Everyone Hates Her\"")
I don't think anyone was saying you're automatically a "Karen" if you ask for a refund. The world at large understands pretty well what "normal customer behaviour" and "entitled customer behaviour" is.
Exactly. I thought the whole 'Karen' thing was about asking for a manager unnecessarily, usually because even though the staff are perfectly capable, they want someone more senior because they see themselves as so important or the staff as automatically beneath them. Utter rubbish like that. Refunds if you haven't the goods or services that you have paid for are fine. Asking for senior staff when anyone can deal with it, not fine but obviously if they can't then you have that right. Also not fine is being rude. Be polite, let staff do their jobs. If it's more serious or they can't handle it then management can be involved. I've been the manager that people asked to talk to - usually unnecessarily as my team could deal with things. Though I never minded being a resource for my staff to use if people were being unpleasant. Hope that makes sense (migraine just starting... 😕)
But companies shaming you for the former is gross.
Man, who TF cares, what companies are saying about you, when it is about your money? First, "companies" are a bunch of strangers, and who in his/her sane mind would care, what a stranger thinks about you? Second, they need much more your money, than you their product.
Pretty sure the downvote says enough 😊
Anyone who thinks asking for a refund automatically makes you a Karen has completely misunderstood the point of the meme. Irrational, entitled and abusive behavior was always the main issue that was meant to be brought to light. As someone who has worked in customer service I have no beef with reasonable, rational consumers.
Sadly I think you are overestimating the general good sense of the world at large.
I remember posting something here on BP about me asking to talk to the hotel manager about something and I got slammed and downvoted to hell. It could be an American thing that asking for the manager is wrong but I have had to do this in Thailand (friend fell through the deck around a pool - not funny) and in France (dirty bathroom). If done politely and with good reason it's ok.
Oh I feel you. It's surprising that far too many people take a binary view to life. It's either you agree or disagree. Completely. Apparently gray isn't a thing. There are nuances and context to everything. And in order to really observe these, you need to place yourself in the other person's shoes. The alleged "victim" or "aggressor". I would like to think, we as a society has that much intellect to actually process empathy into objective thoughts. I'm still hoping. But I ain't holding my breath.
Yeah. We don't live in a black and white world. Color exists.
50 shades??? :)
Probably more lol...
Hahaha bless you!
Maybe it was because they assumed you ignored the staff (supposedly) available who could have dealt with the problem...??? I'm just guessing of course but it's the only reason I can come up with. 😕 Usually the staff on duty are perfectly capable of dealing with whatever issue is of concern but saying that sometimes it is necessary if the staff aren't dealing with it either at all or properly. I've never had to ask for the manager personally as I've always had things dealt with in an acceptable way. Maybe I've been lucky!
Dealing with a manager is also "an acceptable way". And falling through the pool deck of a very very expensive hotel is not something that a thai pool boy or bar personnel can deal with. We needed a doctor and transport at least. And sometimes cleaning personnel is not always around when you check in. So you call reception, they send manager (house keeping) not general manager.
Oh, I do agree - I genuinely wasn't commenting on what you had done or suggesting you had ignored perfectly capable staff. I was merely pondering on the potential reasons why you had been 'slammed and downvoted to hell' previously. People make a lot of assumptions. I worded it badly as I was rushing out the door.
Oh sorry. OK then Remi.
I think in the US, in my experience, the employee up front (waiter, clerk, etc.) who fetches the manager is the one who catches all the sh*t form the manager, which may be part of the problem? Dunno. Still waking up!
Good morning Leo love! It depends on how you approach the people involved. Always be polite but to the point.
What's with the downvotes for a perfectly reasonable comment?!?! Have a +vote from me, and a great day to you!
Thanks There is No Plantet B. I don't get it either. Leo and I have always gotten on well. Maybe some think I'm being condescending??
Or they really hate being the one to fetch the manager? I know I've seen employees harangued by the manager for "bothering them", but if the customer has a reason to see the manager, then they need to see the manager. Sometimes in a hotel, that's the only way to fix a booking issue for a large event, or you need to ask about an order, etc. UPVOTES!
I didn't downvote you. Heck, I agree. Polite, succinct. "Hi, I need the manager. XYZ has occurred. Please get the manager." Upvoting!
I wasn't implying that! Somebody has been downvoting perfectly reasonable and non controversial comments for no apparent reason, and I really couldn't understand why. Probably some basement dwelling troll...
Grrrorg upvote from cellarrrrrr
I got dissed on Bored Panda for mentioning that I had requested a refund on delivered food that was wrecked because it was packed poorly.
Sounds perfectly reasonable - the refund request, not the dissing!
I don't think anyone was saying you're automatically a "Karen" if you ask for a refund. The world at large understands pretty well what "normal customer behaviour" and "entitled customer behaviour" is.
Exactly. I thought the whole 'Karen' thing was about asking for a manager unnecessarily, usually because even though the staff are perfectly capable, they want someone more senior because they see themselves as so important or the staff as automatically beneath them. Utter rubbish like that. Refunds if you haven't the goods or services that you have paid for are fine. Asking for senior staff when anyone can deal with it, not fine but obviously if they can't then you have that right. Also not fine is being rude. Be polite, let staff do their jobs. If it's more serious or they can't handle it then management can be involved. I've been the manager that people asked to talk to - usually unnecessarily as my team could deal with things. Though I never minded being a resource for my staff to use if people were being unpleasant. Hope that makes sense (migraine just starting... 😕)
But companies shaming you for the former is gross.
Man, who TF cares, what companies are saying about you, when it is about your money? First, "companies" are a bunch of strangers, and who in his/her sane mind would care, what a stranger thinks about you? Second, they need much more your money, than you their product.
Pretty sure the downvote says enough 😊
Anyone who thinks asking for a refund automatically makes you a Karen has completely misunderstood the point of the meme. Irrational, entitled and abusive behavior was always the main issue that was meant to be brought to light. As someone who has worked in customer service I have no beef with reasonable, rational consumers.
Sadly I think you are overestimating the general good sense of the world at large.
I remember posting something here on BP about me asking to talk to the hotel manager about something and I got slammed and downvoted to hell. It could be an American thing that asking for the manager is wrong but I have had to do this in Thailand (friend fell through the deck around a pool - not funny) and in France (dirty bathroom). If done politely and with good reason it's ok.
Oh I feel you. It's surprising that far too many people take a binary view to life. It's either you agree or disagree. Completely. Apparently gray isn't a thing. There are nuances and context to everything. And in order to really observe these, you need to place yourself in the other person's shoes. The alleged "victim" or "aggressor". I would like to think, we as a society has that much intellect to actually process empathy into objective thoughts. I'm still hoping. But I ain't holding my breath.
Yeah. We don't live in a black and white world. Color exists.
50 shades??? :)
Probably more lol...
Hahaha bless you!
Maybe it was because they assumed you ignored the staff (supposedly) available who could have dealt with the problem...??? I'm just guessing of course but it's the only reason I can come up with. 😕 Usually the staff on duty are perfectly capable of dealing with whatever issue is of concern but saying that sometimes it is necessary if the staff aren't dealing with it either at all or properly. I've never had to ask for the manager personally as I've always had things dealt with in an acceptable way. Maybe I've been lucky!
Dealing with a manager is also "an acceptable way". And falling through the pool deck of a very very expensive hotel is not something that a thai pool boy or bar personnel can deal with. We needed a doctor and transport at least. And sometimes cleaning personnel is not always around when you check in. So you call reception, they send manager (house keeping) not general manager.
Oh, I do agree - I genuinely wasn't commenting on what you had done or suggesting you had ignored perfectly capable staff. I was merely pondering on the potential reasons why you had been 'slammed and downvoted to hell' previously. People make a lot of assumptions. I worded it badly as I was rushing out the door.
Oh sorry. OK then Remi.
I think in the US, in my experience, the employee up front (waiter, clerk, etc.) who fetches the manager is the one who catches all the sh*t form the manager, which may be part of the problem? Dunno. Still waking up!
Good morning Leo love! It depends on how you approach the people involved. Always be polite but to the point.
What's with the downvotes for a perfectly reasonable comment?!?! Have a +vote from me, and a great day to you!
Thanks There is No Plantet B. I don't get it either. Leo and I have always gotten on well. Maybe some think I'm being condescending??
Or they really hate being the one to fetch the manager? I know I've seen employees harangued by the manager for "bothering them", but if the customer has a reason to see the manager, then they need to see the manager. Sometimes in a hotel, that's the only way to fix a booking issue for a large event, or you need to ask about an order, etc. UPVOTES!
I didn't downvote you. Heck, I agree. Polite, succinct. "Hi, I need the manager. XYZ has occurred. Please get the manager." Upvoting!
I wasn't implying that! Somebody has been downvoting perfectly reasonable and non controversial comments for no apparent reason, and I really couldn't understand why. Probably some basement dwelling troll...
Grrrorg upvote from cellarrrrrr
I got dissed on Bored Panda for mentioning that I had requested a refund on delivered food that was wrecked because it was packed poorly.
Sounds perfectly reasonable - the refund request, not the dissing!