Remember when a name was just a name? You could walk into a room with your head held high, a grand smile and say "Hi. I'm Karen or Chad (or a few other now infamous names)," and people wouldn't snicker or sneer. Now thanks to pop culture and the popularity of a few high profile tv shows and films, some names have taken on meanings to describe people in a "certain" unflattering light. It has to be wearing on the nerves for Karens and Chads and their peeps. But also, there is some truth when it comes to a few of these people.
Redditor u/BringBackWaffleTaco wanted to hear from all the people out there who know some Chads and Karens and what the life effect is by asking.... To all of those actually named Chad, Stacy, or Karen, how does it make you feel knowing that your names are used as insults?
Perfect Fit.
GiphyMy mom's name is Karen and a stereotype has never fit a person more. MeggieAC
My mom is Susan, and I too feel personally vindicated by the memes. jvanderh
A Little Salty.
My mom's name is Karen and she is the sweetest lady on earth and i cannot recall a single time she has ever asked for a manager. It makes me a little salty. LadyRarity
Same. My mom Karen might be the most non confrontational person in human history. And the only time she took the kids was to take us to the park/swimming pool/shopping. DucksGoQuackQuack
Gosh Karen...
GiphyAm a Karen. I'm also asian so... I don't immediately fit the stereotype for the jokes to come. Still get a lot of "gosh Karen, you're so stupid!" and jokes (hopefully) about me being a witch. I think I am nice. :(
BONUS edit: in Vietnamese, "khai rình" (read: cai-rin) means smelly/stanky, like how pee smells. I am Vietnamese. Guess what my relatives called me growing up :D
And then there are the Beckys....
My old baby sitter is named Becky. She was a mega witch. I find it funny. LouTenant6767
I'm a Becka and have never gone by Becky, but the amount of times I got "Becky with the good hair!" yelled at me was insane. I eventually found a sweater that said "NOT BECKY" on it and would wear it to functions where I knew I might get it. TwinkiWeinerSandwich
Chad Here.
Chad here. Never played lacrosse. I'd never be accused of going to the gym on face value alone. My hygiene is quite good... shower every day. Am also a standup comedian, and the worst part is other comics using your name as a punchline when you're following them, but I get by. 3rdCoastChad
And then there is Jake.
GiphyI'm a Jake. Damn State Farm.
Edit for the confused Frazzman
Had a couple of friends in high school named Jake. Both of them owned it to the point of wearing red shirts and Khakis (and in one case a name tag that said Jake) on Halloween. ironlion99
REPORTED HIMSELF TO HIS MANAGER!!
Am Karen as well. I don't relate to the Karen memes at all as I am of Asian decent and super shy and introverted. I find the memes hilarious though! The only thing that stinks is I feel like I'm not allowed to complain about anything.
However, I guess I am so Karen that a server at a restaurant forgot an appetizer we ordered, we told him it was fine, and he REPORTED HIMSELF TO HIS MANAGER. Everything was fine! I told him not to worry about it and it was okay!
Manager comes to our table to apologize and I anxiously had to tell her we were good and nothing was wrong. We got free dessert though. karencakes
Truth.
Am Karen. I think the memes are hilarious and sometimes, very accurate. I never ask to speak to the manager because irl, I am a manager, and I believe strongly in retail Karma.
Side note: I used to date a guy named Chad, who was actually cheating on his gf Bunny with me. He was a real Chad.MorbidlyObsolete
Wine and.... Cherd?
GiphyI had two friends who both have suburban white moms named Karen. Karen 1 drinks wine and Karen 2 posts facebook memes. Reddit
A friend of mine is both super buff and very nerdy so we just call him a Cherd. Hydrys
Family Affair.
Dad is named Chad, mom is named Karen, and little sister is named Stacy. My family is painfully aware of their names being used on the internet to the point where we try to see who can find the best insult bonus points if you use it in a appropriate setting. zerogear5
Nice Girl.
Perhaps worse, when my daughter was in middle school, she had a lovely classmate named Isis. No idea what became of her, but she really was a wonderful kid. stupidlyugly
I'm still friends with a woman named Isis. She said it was bad when they (the terrorist group) was on the news a lot, but it's mostly calmed down. reutermj
Kyle is Over it!
GiphyAs a dude named Kyle I can honestly tell you Im so damn over the Monster Energy drinks memes. poornose
Preach. I thought it was dead for a bit but it came back with area 51 memes. kwehbber
'Despacito'
Its honestly probably better than being named Alexa.
Edit: from this point forward if your comment comes into my inbox and it contains a story of someone you know named Isis or the word 'Despacito' just know I'm the only one who's going to see it and I'm downvoting you. LegendOfDylan
Not a Cheerleader!
I can honestly say my mum most certainly doesn't 'got it going on.' I'm neither popular, hot or a cheerleader. I'm probably closer to being a Karen! rapidbubbles
My sister is named Stacy, and my mom has never been more flattered than when that song got big. meeeehhhhhhh
My Friend.
GiphyMy friend is a Chad but it doesn't bother him. He was a total Anime nerd back in HS and has two kids with his adorable wife and they are walking Mormon stereotypes. notjawn
Middle Class....
It was weird at first to see my name everywhere, but now... well, I'm a white, middle-aged, upper middle class suburban mom named Karen, so stereotypes exist for a reason, I guess. KLWK
"Oh my God, they killed Kenny!"
Not a Chad, Stacy, or Karen, but I am a Kenny so 90% of the time when people hear my name they have to make the joke "Oh my god, they killed kenny!"
It's died down a lot since the shows focus has shifted from killing Kenny all the time.
I haven't heard it too often in public, but when I'm playing a video game of some sort, everyone thinks they're HILARIOUS when they say it to me. Technicallykenny
Thanks Bro...
GiphyI got called a Chad the other day by a co-worker and it honestly made my day. Thanks for noticing the gains bro. I guess I was just thirsty for anything resembling a complement. gigglemetinkles
Jewish Karen.
My lady friend is a middle aged white woman named Karen. It amuses her greatly. She frequently threatens to ask to speak to life's manager. DashCat9
My sister's an older white woman named Karen. I just got off the phone with her and introduced her to Internet Karen.
She finds it absolutely hilarious, and wants bonus points for being a Jewish Karen. disgustipated
The Drywall...
Hi, my name's Kyle. I use to binge monster cans and while I never punched drywall i did get angry enough to punch a concrete wall very hard. This is my story. blackrose4242