Graphic by Darlene Maes.
By Darlene Maes, Staff Reporter
Has anyone stopped to think that although the Coronavirus has made it hard to go out and be social, for some people it’s still the same? A majority of college students are still having to get up every day to work a job that doesn’t make them happy in order to pursue a higher education.
Even during a whole ass pandemic, it is still the same shit just a different day. But if you’re lucky, you have co-workers who make the shifts fly by and seem somewhat bearable. But all tricks in the world cannot be enough when it comes to dealing with a “Karen” at your job.
Now there is yet to be a definition for the type of person a “Karen” represents. The words arrogant, pretentious, and egotistical quickly come to mind. I’m referring to those customers who insist on talking over you. The customers that they are right, and you are wrong, and you may or may not even have the answer to solve their problem. In addition, we cannot forget their most notorious superpower, chanting the phrase, “I wAnT tO sPeAk tO yOuR mAnAgEr.”
It is unfortunate if you can relate to what I am talking about, but it is shocking that with our current COVID-19 state of living, people are still acting like assholes to those who can’t afford to stand up for themselves. I mean sure, we all have had our fair share of “customer abuse” and dealt with unpleasant people. But employees who are working for a company that cares more about sales rather than personal protective equipment (PPE) to stay safe is already bad enough. The “Karens” seem to just be the icing on top of the shit cake.
These types of individuals at first may have every reason to bring up an issue. Maybe their food was made wrong, a purchase was not done correctly, or a place ran out of an item you needed. But to be so emotionally invested in belittling someone for a mistake just highlights the scumbag quality within a person.
In our current state of consumerism everyone is shopping for almost the same thing. Non-perishable food because they believe the world is ending, household essentials due to fear of running out and certain electronic items to remain sane while staying home. The outcome of all of these unnecessary shopping habits will inevitably have long term effects according to Forbes.com and the overwhelming amount of “Karens” making their way onto the scene of businesses that must remain open are only making it harder for everyone involved.
One very important factor to remember when shopping during this uncertain time is that workers/employees are just that. They do not own the company they work for nor do they control what policies and procedures they are told to follow. It is not their fault that they cannot bend the rules for the “Karens” who try to make a giant deal of a small problem. Because if they do, it can cost them their way of living.
Having the ability to look past an issue and approach it in an adult and polite manner seems to be a common lacking trait of customers who are so self-entitled. Now let us imagine just for one second if these shoppers decided to talk to you and not AT you about a concern. After dealing with a “Karen,” this type of exchange between a worker and customer can be appreciated.
At this moment we should all be attempting to minimize how often we are out and about. However, the gratitude for those having to risk their well-being because they have no choice but to work due to being “essential”, should last past the state of COVID-19.
So for those who decide to risk it all for a few moments and step outside to run some errands. If the guilt sets in and you ask yourself, is this trip an “essential” one? Well that just shows you have a conscious bigger than most. And by most, I mean the “Karens.”
