Just got called Karen. I dared to voice my feelings

[leftyladyfrommo]

about fireworks going off in my neighborhood. It will just get worse and worse until the 5th.

Fireworks are illegal.

I have 3 dogs that are all terrified. The week of the 4th is just awful for me. I do have drugs for them and I need to start using them in the afternoons.

I live in a red state in a redneck neighborhood.

I guess Karen now means any woman who disagrees with you. .

It was meant to be very derogatory.

[egduj]

1. Two or so years ago they would've called you a b****.

That word was made unacceptable so a new word had to be found and "karen" is it for the time being.

[Jirel]

16. "Karen" is much more specific than "bitch."

Karens are white. They are usually middle class, sometimes upper class. Karens assert their white privilege to complain about usually petty matters to authority because they will not accept being told “no” by someone they believe is beneath them, especially a person of color.

The Urban Dictionary top definition is a little different, but same jist:
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Karen

You may not like the term, but it’s here to stay, and it’s not the same as “bitch.”

[Mosby]

21. So it means "white bitch", not just "a bitch"?

That's so much better.

[Jirel]

25. Nope, much more specific than that.

Just like “Ok, Boomer” is not just calling a boomer a bitch.

I’m amused as hell at the folks who are so offended by the existence of these terms, usually because they suspect they might do something that fits the definition.

[Mosby]

29. So who's the Karen?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213655882

[Jirel]

42. In case you mean that seriously...

It’s the entitled, racist white female customer cussing out the black woman, calling her a n****r.

Which is classic Karen behavior.

[efhmc]

57. That may have been the start but have seen it used for other races and for (gasp) men.

[Jirel]

71. Misuse of the term doesn't mean it's a problem term.

There are multiple terms that fall into this category:

Karen
Ok, Boomer
Chad
Mansplainer

are all examples. Will any descriptive, insulting term get misused at some time? Of course. Note the now useless genericization of “bastard.” Does ANYONE care any more about whether someone is born out of wedlock? But the term persists. It also has taken on a much more generic meaning.

Misuse by some people doesn’t make a term invalid or bad. Every generation will coin new words of insult to fit the times, and they’ll be spot on for their purpose at first. Eventually they’ll either fall into disuse (“eater of broken meats”) or take on new meanings (“bastard,” “nice,” etc.).

[efhmc]

77. I would say that this is a spot on example of mansplaining.

[Jirel]

85. LOL - I'm not a guy.

But I’ll take that comment as a perfect example of misuse of a term to disagree generically with a point of view you dislike.

[delisen]

107. Female patriarch-lovers are mansplainers too.

[Jirel]

116. You're hilarious.

You don't own feminism, or definitions, because you dislike commonly used terms.

[treestar]

118. I thought it was any service person

like a waitress or a store employee. The definition at the link above does not mention race of the Karen targets.

[treestar]

119. I'm not "so offended" at the term

but you would not say that about other group terms that are considered derogatory. No, I don't think I fit the category at all. I'm rather meek in public.

[ramen]

100. Here is a link with some history of that term's origin and application:

https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/karen

There is indeed a usage of it that is specific towards white women. But all usages of it seem to be more about the overly entitled, aggressive, petty, and controlling behaviors alleged by the user. I've heard people apply it to animals of unknown gender.

Anyhow, this is not a term I use, but there's some context about where it's from.

[whistler162]

135. Next up it will be okay to call

black woman Jemimas when they do or say something that others don't feel is right!

[delisen]

106. It is nasty prejudice against women and

Is used to maintain the status quo male rule in the US.

[obamanut2012]

23. this

[ancianita]

89. Same thing. Different spelling. Like "boogaloo" appropriated from black people to mean "civil war."

Now all the bitches not called Karen get called Karens.

[BannonsLiver]

108. Oh please, that term has not been retired.

[USALiberal]

2. The "karen" posts here are disgusting. Nt

[PTWB]

3. Was it someone here who called you that?

I love the week of the 4th with fireworks going off every night. My dog barks like hell but seems to enjoy the ruckus.

[leftyladyfrommo]

17. No. It was on Neighborhood. nt

[lapucelle]

4. I was called a Karen here on DU when I disagreed with someone.

It is deliberately dismissive and derogatory towards women, but for some reason permissible.

[cwydro]

62. It's ugly, and it's most definitely sexist.

Sorry that happened to you. DU has changed so much in the years since I joined.

There are folks here who seem to really get a charge out of stirring the pot. Most of us know who they are.

[Throck]

5. I knew this would happen.

The context of this was predicted early on.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213487970

[Siwsan]

6. I bought a new, high spraying oscillating sprinkler for my street side yard

Unfortunately, fireworks are legal, here, and in the past my neighbors, directly across the street, have fired them over my property. I live in fear of something catching fire. And, calling the police is a waste of time because the home owner actually works in law enforcement.

So I'll have it hooked up and set to go at the first pop or bang, come sunset on the 4th.

[Sukee]

7. Hate the term!

I'm an African-American, and I CANNOT stand the term. What the hell is a Karen? I have a best friend whose name happens to be Karen and she refuses to tell anyone her name.

With that being said, and while I do understand your situation, you cannot expect others to NOT celebrate something because it affects you. I feel for you and your pets, but it's an observed holiday even with a virus / pandemic / idiot president. It's one day. Give the pets the medicine and ride it out until next year.

Sorry you were subjected to being called that term. I can't stand it!!!

[frazzled]

30. Do realize that fireworks can be dangerous, though

Not just to those setting them off, but to others as well. I used to live in a neighborhood in New York City way back in the day where the Fourth of July was sort of like a militarized zone. And the Italian Catholic church across the street was the instigator (no kidding). It would start in the morning with the priests handing out firecrackers to the little kids, who used them to blow up the mailboxes on the corners. (You learned not to mail in any bills in the few days before that.) It progressed during the day until nighttime, when the infamous "wall of fire" descended from the church roof: strings and strings of firecrackers that, while beautiful, went on forever. And a barrage of M-80s in the middle of the street that were terrifying.

One elderly man in our apartment building, which was directly across the street from fireworks central, had one eye, because the other was blown out during the event because he was sitting at his window watching. Another year, the printing business down the street was set on fire from the firecrackers, not only burning it down but sending dangerous chemicals into the neighborhood. Cars parked on the street were singed and burned—almost always with an out-of-state license plate, because all us locals knew not to park there on the Fourth.

There was no use calling the police. (Police were still the "pigs" anyway back then.) It was a tradition, and you didn't mess with tradition there. But every year we would pack up our giant dog and drive somewhere far away for the entire day and night, to Pennsylvania or somewhere rural.

If you live in an urban area, the fear of fireworks is real. It's fun, it's exciting, but the fear of fire or injury in dense neighborhoods is real. It's of course worse this year, because the city-sanctioned displays have been canceled, so more individuals are taking it upon themselves.

[leftyladyfrommo]

32. I would agree with a lot you said except:

The 4th is 8 days away. Fireworks are illegal here but Riverside is just down the road about 3 miles and huge fireworks tents go up there about 2 weeks ahead of time. If it was just the 4th it wouldn't be bad.

The reason fireworks are illegal is because t. hey are really dangerous. And you can't breathe the air for about 2 days. Every year several houses burn to the ground. The 911 lines are so jammed up it's impossible for people who need emergency help to get it. if you have a heart attack you are just dead. If your house catches fire it just burns to the ground. You just can't believe how bad it gets. The whole city turns into a giant war zone.

And every year children have fingers blown off or lose eyes.

The thing is no one in my poor neighborhood has any idea what the 4th even is. If you asked them what it is that people are celebrating they would have no idea. It's just a day to get drunk and blow their hands off.

Well. So much for that rant. We will make it through. We always do and then we are good fir another year.

[PTWB]

53. This sounds horrible. What city is this?

[leftyladyfrommo]

55. KANSAS CITY. MO. nt

[PTWB]

65. I'm sorry you're dealing with this.

While I enjoy fireworks, I’d like folks to be more considerate of those who do not.

[Ms. Toad]

33. Two points

Fireworks are illegal, per the OP.

Its obviously not "one day", since the fourth is more than a week away, and the interaction was yesterday.

[curlyred]

50. It's not just one day

Fireworks have been going off for over two weeks here in Denver. And it's not just my neighborhood, it's everywhere and is widely covered in local news. I've read some conspiracy theories about the origin of this year's excessive fireworks having something to do with an anti-BLM movement but who knows? It is definitely worse than in years past.

[leftyladyfrommo]

59. That's interesting. I hadn't thought of that. nt

[Sukee]

102. ????

I know, and that is nothing but propaganda.

[RhodeIslandOne]

69. It's still over a week away though

[cwydro]

72. What the OP and others here have pointed out, is that it is NOT just one day.

Many people are being subjected to this noise daily. There've been numerous posts about it.

Observed holiday or not, many states and localities have laws against fireworks. This is what people object to, not the sanctioned celebrations.

[ProfessorGAC]

132. Goes On For A Week Here

At least.
Not supposed to be able to buy them here, but tents get set up.
And, NW Indiana is only 45 or 50 minutes away. They're legal there.
They started here Friday night.
I'd expect at least another week.
The guy who used to go nuts with them, 2 doors down, moved.
So, I won't be finding a bunch of spent bottle rockets in my yard anymore.

[Sukee]

104. To add to this post....

I read your replies, and for myself, I cannot be a hypocrite. My friends and family can attest to me absolutely hating hypocrisy. So, if we are to ban the 'celebration' of the Fourth of July (and I'm no fan of fireworks), are we to ban New Year's? Valentines? What about Christmas (and I an atheist)? Easter? Okay, it's more than a week and the fireworks should be in a controlled environment. So, make sure Disney is contacted and other events in not having fireworks otherwise, it's hypocrisy.

[Tribetime]

130. I don't see anyone saying not to celebrate the 4th of July

You can have parties cookouts drinking just not loud fireworks you can have fireworks without the loud noises

[sarisataka]

8. A lot of people have argued that calling a woman "Karen"

Is neither derogatory nor sexist. The most recent is here https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=13654822

In other cases the standard of determining if a term is derogatory is based on the opinion of the person who is the subject of the term. The label "Karen" seems to be an exception.

[RobinA]

74. The Meaning

of "Karen" has changed drastically in the past six months.

[RobinA]

80. Back When I First Heard It

it wasn't derogatory or sexist. And it had absolutely nothing to do with race. Now it seems to be getting turned around into exactly those things.

[samsingh]

9. i don't know why people are destroying a good name. We should stop it. It's not a fair thing to do.

[USALiberal]

10. +1000 nt

[obamanut2012]

11. Yup, it is the "woke" way to say bitch

And to shut up women with valid opinions.

I hate it. There is also zero male equivalent (no, there isn't).

[ChazII]

15. In my mind,

(which is warped) I always thought the term bastard could be applied to males. Yes, I know it was used to define offspring of an unmarried couple. I am probably using out dated thinking.

[obamanut2012]

24. there is no male equivalent gender slur

[Freddie]

28. I've heard "Chad"

But not often.

[Jirel]

47. "Chad" is slightly different, but also valid.

You may have heard it less because it refers normally to entitled, obnoxious white men, such as cruel hitler-youth frat boy types. Affluenza-boy was a Chad.

[GopherGal]

113. What about "Kevin"?

I thought that was the masculine of "Karen".

[LizBeth]

37. But that term is not really even "unmarried couple". More readily define as an unmarried woman.

[marie999]

27. How about Ralph.

Especially when you can look at them, give them 2 quick shrugs of the right shoulder, a scowl, and say "Really Ralph".

[kcr]

127. Exactly

100%

[WhiskeyGrinder]

12. Firework complaints are rarely taken seriously.

[HotTeaBag]

13. If the shoe fits, wear it - the problem is with many such things

the shoes doesn't always fit - but it's all the rage right now so we'll be seeing more and more (and more) of it.

And it seems that you're right that 'Karen' now appears to refer to a woman who disagrees with someone else over just about anything - regardless of whether she is right or wrong.

Seems like a lifetime ago now, but 'OK Boomer' was akin, but not racially charged.

It's dismissive and sexist and overused and welcome to the new normal.

[efhmc]

63. "It's dismissive and sexist and overused and welcome to the new normal."

Well said. Thanks.

[betsuni]

14. ...

[Beringia]

136. That was good

[roamer65]

18. My mom was a wonderful, caring woman with a big heart.

Her name was Karen.

[Devil Child]

19. It is a sexist and racist slur, damn right it's meant to be derogatory

[Azathoth]

20. 'Karen' is to middle-class white women what 'Shaniqua' is to poorer black women

It's just another example of people being fine with using racialized insults as long as they target a racial group they think "deserves" it.

[Skittles]

121. the only Karen I know is black

oddly enough

[Jersey Devil]

22. At least you don't have guns going off every Sunday

Every Sunday down here in NC the yahoos shoot Tannerite targets with their trusty guns just to let the rest of us know how manly they are.

[leftyladyfrommo]

34. What is it about things that go "boom." ?

I just don't get it.

I live in a poor neighborhood. People here struggle to afford even the basics.

But they will go out and spend a lot if money for fireworks. Then they come home and blow all that money up.

[treestar]

26. A way to get women

To shut up.

[LizBeth]

36. +1

[Celerity]

38. No, a valid meme to expose white, racist women who use white privilege and systemic racism to attack

us people of colour, all whilst exhibiting tremendous hubris, arrogance, senses of entitlement, and white fragility.

I reject these silencing attempts that try and falsely conflate it (the Karen meme) with other things.

[Jirel]

49. This

“Karen” is a useful and highly descriptive term.

[leftyladyfrommo]

68. I think it originally meant that.

Mow it means any woman of any color that dares to have an opinion different than the slingers.

I am certainly not wealthy or entitled. And I live in a really poor neighborhood.

I am a Karen because I don't like thinks that go Boom.

[Celerity]

75. It has a very specific meaning.

I do not use it any other way. Also, the fact that some people are named Karen has nothing to so with it. If the shoe fits, wear it, if not, then ignore.

All this angst over it just proves the point it is a valid meme.

[Sympthsical]

86. Precisely

Karen has a very specific definition and use.

On reddit the other day, there was a thread about what to call a group of Karens (like a murder of crows). Someone came up with “an entitlement of Karens.”

So perfect.

[Celerity]

87. Also, many on this board seem to think this is some shiny new thing. It has been out there for years

and yet still maintains its original meaning.

[Sympthsical]

103. I think it's an age thing

I’m a Millennial, so I’ve been around meme culture my entire adult life. And even I sometimes have to look things up. I had to look up what a “thot” was. And I’m still not sure I entirely understand it.

If you’re not hanging around places like Reddit, you may not have ever seen Karen before.

With the ramp up of BLM in the wake of Floyd’s death, we’re seeing more and more of this behavior caught on film. Now it’s on Twitter everywhere. Now older people are seeing what’s been a meme to my generation for years.

From reading and lurking, it’s my impression DU is much, much older than your average internet space. So, I get why it may seem sudden. But most people adhere to the original definition when sharing videos of Karenism.

I don’t think the OP fits the bill. She has a legitimate gripe and wasn’t leaning on privilege or entitlement to oppress anyone. Sometimes people will misuse the term. It happens. I feel for her for being called it when she wasn’t behaving that way.

But I’ve been called far, far worse, as have most minorities. It just doesn’t register much to me.

[Celerity]

109. indeed, there was a 'whats your age' poll a while back and I plus 2 others (19 year olds who almost

never post) were the only 3 out of close to 500 people who responded who were under 25.

I am close to you (unless you are a very early Millennial), I am a Zennial/Zillenial (micro gen of those born from 1992 or 1993 to 1998). I am 1996 born, so literally right on the cusp of the millennial and the Gen Z cohorts.

and lol at thot

that takes me back to 2014 or so

Vines! (which I sooo miss, now its all about TikTok)

[JonLP24]

129. I agree

Those that call it childish are probably correct as most internet memes are childish.

[kcr]

128. That's why it's so popular on DU

[Corgigal]

112. Or,

to post a picture of her corgi dog.

I do have entitlement, I have a friend who’s a corgi dog.

[treestar]

117. I thought Karens attacked anyone

and asked for the manager, wherever they were, and it was not just people of color they would bother with their demands.

[beachbumbob]

31. so you are in a redneck state surrounded by rednecks and expecting a different outcome???

[leftyladyfrommo]

39. I am orginally from Spokane and I think there is

a $500 fine for setting off fireworks. But they are in a high fire risk area.

The only fire risk here is burning down houses and commercial buildings.

Probably the most truly dangerous thing is that tge 911 lines are jammed for hours. Poluce and fire are completely overwhelmed for about 12 hours.

[LizBeth]

35. Right. It has circled around to now I and oh so gently correcting mistakes while I am out and

about so as not to offend, as a karen. $5, but the sign say $3. YOU Karen.

[MineralMan]

40. In the city where I live, St. Paul, MN,

fireworks that explode or fly in the air are against the law. That law is not enforced, however, by the City of St. Paul, so many people drive to Wisconsin, where fireworks stores can be found just across the border on I-94.

For three or four nights around July 4, our dogs cower under the furniture out of fear of the loud noises. Our neighbors are among those who set off those fireworks.

Since the law is never enforced, there's no use calling the police. Fires get started. People get injured. That's why those fireworks are against the law. Laws that are not enforced are useless and stimulate defiance of all laws, really.

What do I do? Nothing. The same people shooting off fireworks are also right-wingers and general assholes. Most are 2nd Amendment supporters. So, I say nothing about their fireworks.

The law is not enforced. It should be.

[leftyladyfrommo]

44. Some of the worst offenders here are police officers.

You would think they would know better.

Someone told me they confiscate them abd then take them home for their kids. I have no idea if that's

But i was taking care of dogs in 2 different places and the worst offenders on the block were police officer's houses. I do know that was true.

[MineralMan]

45. I have simply given up on fighting against exploding and aerial fireworks.

It does no good at all.

[leftyladyfrommo]

48. That's true. I am just trying to not get upset this year.

It isn't worth having a stroke.

It's just that it's so awful for my dogs. They get so upset and it just goes on fir hours.

[wnylib]

92. Can you go someplace with the dogs

to get yourself and them away from it?

My town's Memorial Day parade was cancelled this year, but in the past, it went past my apartment building. I can watch from my window and like the bands. But all the local volunteer fire departments each have an engine in the parade. For some reason, they think that blaring their sirens in competition with each other is "cool." they drown out the bands and any radio, TV, or DVDs I try to play.

So each year except this one, I leave in the morning until early afternoon.

[leftyladyfrommo]

101. I tried that once. Fireworks were everywhere I went.

I was clear out in the country. It didn't matter.

Fireworks are legal in all the small towns. These huge fireworks companies come into every town and set up these giant tents. They sell everything under the sun except for the M80's or what ever they are called.

And fireworks are expensive. I don't know how people can afford it.

[notinkansas]

41. I don't think the fireworks have anything to do

with July 4 celebrations. Fireworks are illegal here, but people have using them for at least a month now. And their preferred time to do it is late at night. Trying to shock people awake?

I suspect that since so many community fireworks displays have been cancelled that prices have been seriously reduced and so people are buying them like crazy.

I don't understand what motivates people to want to do that, though.

[Marcuse]

43. I have some combat veteran friends who hate firecrackers, etc. in the neighborhood.

[leftyladyfrommo]

46. I know. There are veterans around here with PTSD

and fire works are a nightmare for them.

[oregonjen]

61. Also, the wildlife around the area get traumatized

[leftyladyfrommo]

51. Anyway. Being calked a Karen really pissed me off.

And I wasn't being rude or even confrontational. I was just asking people not to set off fireworks right now, a whole week before the 4th.

[egduj]

60. Well, be comforted in the fact that a lot of people on this board think you're anti-BLM, pro-police,

and unconcerned about other major issues going on in this world, simply because you were called a "Karen" and didn't like it.

[irisblue]

67. That seems to be a mighty big brush there egduj.

[egduj]

76. Thankfully, I used an ambiguous term like "a lot."

If someone orders 4 hamburgers for one meal, I'm thinking "That's a lot of hamburgers." But it's still only 4, which is a relatively small number.

[demmiblue]

70. Good lawd. Shoo.

[maxrandb]

52. Yes, because with all that's going on in the world

Getting exercised about a term to describe a white woman acting entitled, or like some kind of neighborhood "Guvner" is important.

Makes me think Vlad and the Bots are desperate.

"Hey! Maybe we can use this as a wedge. What you think Vlad?"

[Hortensis]

54. Figures. Almost every derogatory term becomes adopted by mean

people on both sides, spinning the meaning to suit.

I never know what insult to be offended by when I'm called a snowflake unless I have identifying data for the insulter's race, gender, politics, etc.

[leftyladyfrommo]

58. I don't know what a snowflake even is. nt

[Hortensis]

73. Lol, me neither. Sure, I can tack down gender, race,

right or left, geographic location, etc., etc, but then I'm still left wondering if the insulter knows what it's supposed to mean for his or her sort.

[efhmc]

56. As a feminist I see the usage of this word just another way to subjugate all women.

[LizBeth]

83. +1

[yaesu]

64. I hate fireworks and they do scare the hell out of many pets. They can blast away here

until 11pm. Luckily I don't hear them often here in trumpland.

[leftyladyfrommo]

81. Ours finally let up about 3 am.

There are always kuds in cars driving around throwing bombs out the window. They think it's hilarious.

[cwydro]

66. I wish I had a soundproof room for my one dog, who is absolutely terrified by fireworks.

My two small ones are not bothered by the noise, but they pick up on her anxiety. She pants, yawns, shakes, paces....you name it.

I've tried numerous drugs for her, even giving her Ativan, but nothing works. She hates thunder too, but at least that's not caused by idiots who like to make things blow up.

She has a best friend pit bull owned by a friend of mine, and we've learned that he's kind of a support dog for her. So he'll be coming over during that week. He seems to calm her.

It's really awful that you're having them already. So far, I've heard a few, but not many. I dread the fourth.

Screw those people who called you names. It says much more about them than it does about your opinion.

It's a derogatory and sexist term that unfortunately some on DU have embraced with enthusiasm.

[leftyladyfrommo]

114. I have trued to fugure out a way to sound proof

A crate but couldn't figure out a way to get fresh air in.

If you had an interior barhroom you could sound proof it.

I know exactly how you feel. These days can get just awful. Dogs can get so upset they can die.

[tiredtoo]

78. An internet search will provide you with

A picture of a veteran with ptsd suffering from fireworks going off. Don't know if that will do any good but it may help.

[mudstump]

79. I hate the 4th of July....

and all the idiots with fireworks. I have horses and they go ballistic when the fireworks go off. I have been hurt trying to calm them down at 1am as they have torn their stalls apart in a panic. The 4th is the worst holiday of the year imo.

[jcgoldie]

90. Same here...

They scare hell out of my livestock guard dogs...

Oh and my dad died on the 4th of july 13 years ago

[leftyladyfrommo]

97. oh my gosh. That would be just awful.

Do you just stay out there with them?

I never even thought of that. They could really hurt themselves.

[Caliman73]

82. being stereotyped or pigeon holed sucks.

The words used to describe a list of traits or behaviors, in order to insult people change, and they can change frequently because as you said, people start to expand the meaning to include people they find annoying.

Karen was initially used to describe particular White women, who used their status to attempt to intimidate others, particularly people of color.

It likely is now used to describe any woman who argues too much, in the opinion of the person bestowing the name. It's original purpose has been changed.

Other words, like retarded (which was a clinical term) to describe intellectual disabilities, is now meant as a synonym for "bad" or "stupid".

There will never be a want for words invented, or taken, and used to insult people. Sorry it happened to you. I hope you and your dogs are okay over the next week. People started with the illegal fireworks in our area about 2 weeks ago, and it goes on for at least another couple of weeks after the 4th.

I do have a question for you though.

What did you mean to convey by using the term "Redneck"?

[leftyladyfrommo]

91. I live in Missouri. Redneck has a very specific meaning

here. I would say it's negative but it's not really. It's a certain way of dressing and speaking and dressing. And everyone here knows exactly what you mean.

You might say "He's a really nice guy but he's a redneck" and everyone would know exactly what you mean. It's a lifestyle. It's left over from a style of work that was physical and still is. if you say redneck bar everybody knows what kind of place it is. It's laid back with country music, line dancing sometimes, lots of beer. Usually fun. Unless a fight gets started.

And if someone needs help for just about anything those people all pitch in to do what they can. They are just ok as long you don't talk politics. [

[Caliman73]

94. Redneck has different meanings to different people though.

On the West Coast, or specifically where I grew up in Los Angeles County, redneck was not a term of endearment.


Words change and are corrupted sometimes. Like Karen or Retarded, or Redneck. We all have to be careful how we use words.

[leftyladyfrommo]

99. It's different here. Thus is farm and cattle country.

Just about everyone I know came from farms. They have family in Kansas or Ohio or Indiana. I don't think it's the same even in St. Louis. St. LOUIS has a much more big city vibe.

I know what you mean though. Some places redneck means big, dumb and mean. I'm sure we have some people who think like that.

Mow if you would say someone is a biker that's a whole different ballgame.

[AllaN01Bear]

84. i have a friend who was in viet nam, in saigon. has ptdsd ,

couldnt stand the fourth and new years for 5 years . he has a vial on a chain around his neck at all times . some sort of emergency med if things get too bad i take it. i feel for those who never recover from pstd. we had a border collie /husky mix dog when i was little . we tranked him 4 weeks out before the 4th and on the fourth , hed be chained to our stove and yet hed drag that stove trying to escape the noise .

[jcgoldie]

88. I thought they were legal in Missouri?

If not in your community call the cops... unless its on the 4th they may do something.

[lastlib]

96. Not inside most city limits. Local ordinances govern.

In Jackson County fireworks can only be sold for ten days prior to the Fourth of July. A hundred feet past the county line there is a fireworks store open 362 days/year.

[leftyladyfrommo]

115. Riverside is just full of tents right now.

But they pack up and go pretty fast once the 4th is over


I guess Smithville and Kearney are the same way.

[roamer65]

93. I wonder how women of color named Karen feel about this phenomenon?

Be interesting to hear their viewpoints.

[Polybius]

95. It's only one more week

There's really no way to avoid the noise util the 5th, I'm hearing it here every night myself.

[ramen]

98. Ugh, I feel for you. Our dogs don't take kindly to fireworks, either.

But your neighbors take the ___ing cake. Wow. That is some entitled behavior on their part.

[EllieBC]

105. Karen is now used against anyone who doesn't agree. It'll end up

like “ok, boomer” and be useless and lose its punch really fast.

They said, I’ve seen a lot of people talking about the ridiculous amount of illegal fireworks all over this whole month and I’m dumbfounded as to why they are everywhere. Those can cause fires, people.

[phylny]

110. I'm sorry this happened to you, and I understand about the fireworks.

We had a dog, Jack, who was the best dog ever, and he was terrified of thunder and fireworks. Nothing helped take away all of his anxiety, although we did try a Thundershirt and Rescue Remedy, which took the edge off.

When we lived in Indiana in the early 90s, we had two neighbors who lived across the street. They would light fireworks, which made the entire street stink and left remnants of the fireworks littered all over our yard, our front steps, and our roof. One year our puppy needed to go pee outside for the night and they couldn't let up one minute. She was terrified, too. Anyway, one of the guys was an orthopedic surgeon, the other a dentist. I thought, "How idiotic can you be when you make your living with your hands and are lighting explosives?"

I'm over the "Karen" thing. I cannot respect people who think it's okay to use derogatory names of any kind toward others. The reason is never constructive. Unless it's a derogatory name for Trump. That I'm okay with.

[Corgigal]

111. Well, I'm sorry.

You were just trying to help your fur family.

I don’t use incel words, because women have died because of the makers of these terms. I hope it goes a quick death.

[mopinko]

120. i started setting off my car alarm every time i heard a boom.

these clown by me are shooting m-100s. that's not fireworks that's dynamite. but the mayor herself said cops wont write tickets for fireworks.
shooting an m-100 is about 5 class a felonies, but sure.

the whole hood was going nuts. starting memorial day weekend until i shouted their asses down it was day and night.
my chickens stopped laying and my dog was losing his hair.

took about 3 days for them to start getting the message, and another week of twice daily test booms on their part. but it is quiet here now. girls are back to work, tho not back to the 3 doz a day i was getting.

i didnt get a lot of support from the people who are all whining and wringing their hands. but....

lotta folks are gonna be glad to have eggs again, tho, and mostly the same households.

[Skittles]

122. why are fireworks going off right now?

4th of July is still a ways away, you know?

[MustLoveBeagles]

124. Where I live they've been going off everyday for a couple of weeks now

I'm hearing them right now.

[Skittles]

125. OK that is just.....ridiculous

seriously

[MustLoveBeagles]

126. It is

Especially when we're trying to go to sleep. It's stirs up our dogs too.

[BGBD]

123. Before I moved out of town

my neighbors used to shoot them off around this time of year. This was in a pretty tightly packed area, and I found plenty of these things in my yard. Found one on my roof. It wouldn't take a lot for one to catch something on fire.

It's not unreasonable to ask that people not set off explosives in your neighborhood.

[leftyladyfrommo]

131. Yesterday wasn't bad but then i heard them at

3:30 this morning.

I just don't get what the fascination with blowing things up is. You spend a lot of money buying them and then you go home and blow them up.

[Takket]

133. sorry to hear that.......

The Karen thing started as a gag about women who always complain to the manager about ANYTHING, now it seems to kind of be spiraling out of control to "any woman that expresses an opinion about anything anywhere".......

[leftyladyfrommo]

134. It's like your feelings or opinions or emotions

are just mot even worth considering. Condescending doesn't even describe it.

I felt tge same way with Ok, Boomer. I am almost 72. It made me feel like i was simply worthless.

It's a horrible feeling.

[WestCoastYellowDog]

137. If "Karen" now means silence all women, I'm not supporting that

I also believe trying to dox a witness for reporting a crime in good faith is witness tampering, but I’m sorry to hear this happened to you.