The "Karen" Meme

I know for many these memes SEEM like they might be some form of Identity Politics or just another Internet comedy skit...but I think it signifies a BREAKTHROUGH in American Culture. Along with the videos of cops murdering blacks, and women breaking their silence about sexual violence...we, as a society, are learning to recognize Privilege. The "Karen" meme is special though...because it not only recognizes differences in Privilege, but also recognizes the deep problems with being self-interested. There is nothing more core to the problems with our culture than this selfishness...it drives our political tribalism, it drives our blindness to the deep flaws in our economic system, it allows us to ignore Climate Destabilization, it drives our anti-science movements...what these things have in common is they require the ability to ignore Reality and the Structural Construct of society and instead view everything through the distorted lens of "does it personally affect me, and what beliefs are convenient for me?" This is not a sane World View, it is a sign that we have become too complacent; we need meteoric changes in our Values and a much wider breadth of Understanding.

I hope a variety of "Karen" meme spin-offs are created to point out the other archetypal selfish personalities. The Internet has created echo chambers that teach us these bad habits...we must claw it back to teach each other HEALTHY and ACCURATE lessons. If we can laugh/cry AND LEARN with viral memes...there may yet be hope for us.