And, for me, Sundays bring the image of a “Nancy” who is frequently immersed in a large book and making progress even though Frank is smooshed up next to her and yipping into her ear.
One aspect of female talk (aka gyno-speak) is changing the meaning of a word by saying it twice. “I like him, but I don’t like him like him.” “She’s a friend, but she’s not a friend friend.” Ad nauseum.
I really wish Luann is talking with Prudence here, I really miss her, her positivity and her being always supportive with her “lil sis” Luann. But it’s more likely that Luann is talking to Tara. Also, I’d like to see Luann and Tara together more often. Frank is at least trying to understand. There are so many fathers who don’t care at all.
Doing a sermon series where I’ll talk about the difficulties of translation (and point to some places where traditional Bible translations get things wrong)… Be nice (but a copyright violation) to print this strip in the bulletin.
Frank it’s a subset; “Teenage Female.” Although isn’t Luann out of her teens now? She’s been in college a couple of years now. Usually that means one has entered their 20’s.
As everyone already knows by now I really hate that turn of phrase and in fact I am against any sort of phrase where a proper name is used to insult and degrade someone. I feel sorry for anyone who is linked to such a name and especially if that person is a young child. Today’s society has virtually insured that few if any will ever name their daughter KAREN again. I’m sure this is just Greg and Karen’s way of telling people like myself to LIGHTEN UP and that it doesn’t bother Karen so it shouldn’t bother me etc. etc. But that doesn’t change my opinion. I’m still appalled by the blanket cruelty of it and the fact that my Beloved Luann is using this hateful and degrading phrase today just makes me cringe. So much so, I think I’ll take a long break from commenting for a while. It’s very disappointing.
BJShipley1: Right-on! Should we create a completely nonsensical string of characters for certain types of people? Stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason. That said, we should draw the line at racial and other stereotypes that serve no useful purpose other than hate-speech. But, don’t expect “Karen” to go away soon. Think “Dick”, “Peter”, “John”, etc. I can remember those monikers being used for at least the past 70 years.Reminds me of that old joke:
“Mrs. Presley, doesn’t it bother you when people call your son: “Elvis-the-Pelvis.”Mrs. Presley: “No, but I hate what they call his brother, Enis.”
Rather disappointing to equate teenage & women. Not all women are infantile communicators, some are quite well spoken. Given a LARGE part of child rearing & k-12 schooling is focused on teaching behavior/impulse control, ie, “use your words instead of hitting people” and the ever popular emphasis on being “kind” in any interaction, Luann’s unintentionally insulting communication skills would seem to be a parent/school failure on teaching respect and honest communication. Once again Luann needs to grow the heck up. Though it might be fun to criticize people for being a Luann when they resort to name calling vs. facts.
Great dialogue, or half-of-a-dialogue. Some people in this wildly over-thought thread try to make out Luann’s and Brad’s parents as creepy and uncaring, but I don’t think that’s the case at all.
1. Teen talk: In the early 80s, when Val-Speak became popular, it was just another same for the same old high school teen girl speak—with the same sing-song tonal vocalization.
2. I understand names get shortened, but where did the first letter change kick in? Pleez ’splain.
Examples: William—Will—Bill.
Robert—Rob—Bob.
Richard—Rich—Rick—Dick.
Margaret—Meg—Peg (only girl’s name I could come up with)
lvlax over 2 years ago
Luann disrespectfully calls people Karen?? Isn’t Greg’s daughter (the writer of this comic) named Karen??
Templo S.U.D. over 2 years ago
tough, huh, Frank?
sallymargret over 2 years ago
How many million women named Karen have to put up with this?
TheThingIs over 2 years ago
Debbie(s) everywhere are grateful to get a break.
Joe1962 over 2 years ago
Frank girl lingo that’s way Nancy can break it down for you.
J. Scarbrough over 2 years ago
This is why whenever I talked on the phone as a kid, I never did it within earshot of my parents.
Airman over 2 years ago
And, for me, Sundays bring the image of a “Nancy” who is frequently immersed in a large book and making progress even though Frank is smooshed up next to her and yipping into her ear.
Caldonia over 2 years ago
I only ever see the Karen slang kicking around on YouTube. Stop watching so much YouTube, Luann!
rklynch over 2 years ago
Karen…. Ugh! I hate that term..
Enter.Name.Here over 2 years ago
And women wonder why we can never understand them.
ronaldspence over 2 years ago
Frank, just let it go…
mangapackrat over 2 years ago
(˵ᵒᵕᵒ˵❁)
wheaters over 2 years ago
Maybe, but NO-ONE is naming their newborns Karen, apparently.
linus82 over 2 years ago
Fun fact: in spanish the name Karen is used as a joke in cat memes to represent female cat owners. Male owners are called “Karen macho.”
econtheory over 2 years ago
What a great comic today. Every panel is amusing. I always enjoy Luann, but this particular episode is excellent.
Brdshtt Premium Member over 2 years ago
I used to know a Karen. Ooh, laa laaa…
.
Then my wife came along. Ooh, laa laaa laaaa laaaaa
The Reader Premium Member over 2 years ago
Dad’s Karen too much.
Otto Knowbetter over 2 years ago
One aspect of female talk (aka gyno-speak) is changing the meaning of a word by saying it twice. “I like him, but I don’t like him like him.” “She’s a friend, but she’s not a friend friend.” Ad nauseum.
Susan00100 over 2 years ago
Will Luann EVER grow up??
fuzzbucket Premium Member over 2 years ago
It’s a shame that such a nice name as Karen got destroyed.
Johnnyrico over 2 years ago
I guess there’s no good place for Greg to write his name in today’s comic…
Billavi Premium Member over 2 years ago
Heard Luann’s first bubble in Lil’ Wayne’s voice (dated reference). Her third in Pat Cooper’s on Stern (super dated reference)
The Joke Explainer Premium Member over 2 years ago
You can use my name – Dan – instead of Ken, Chad or even Karen. I’m don’t feel damaged because my name is the same as a meme.
Aladar30 Premium Member over 2 years ago
I really wish Luann is talking with Prudence here, I really miss her, her positivity and her being always supportive with her “lil sis” Luann. But it’s more likely that Luann is talking to Tara. Also, I’d like to see Luann and Tara together more often. Frank is at least trying to understand. There are so many fathers who don’t care at all.
Ignatz Premium Member over 2 years ago
Really dislike the term. Not only do I know some lovely people named Karen, I think it’s misogynist.
Mordock999 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Frank.
After all these years, you STILL eavesdrop on your daughter’s phone conversations??
LawrenceS over 2 years ago
Doing a sermon series where I’ll talk about the difficulties of translation (and point to some places where traditional Bible translations get things wrong)… Be nice (but a copyright violation) to print this strip in the bulletin.
Ellis97 over 2 years ago
Karens have taken over the world of entertainment.
Kalkkuna over 2 years ago
Hey Evans forgot to draw a cord on the phone, first frame. HAHAHA!.
WilliamVollmer over 2 years ago
Frank it’s a subset; “Teenage Female.” Although isn’t Luann out of her teens now? She’s been in college a couple of years now. Usually that means one has entered their 20’s.
DawnQuinn1 over 2 years ago
People who call someone a “Karen” is being very disrespectful to women who’s name is Karen and is actually a very kind and generous person.
ctolson over 2 years ago
Mom’s are multilingual.
Serial Pedant over 2 years ago
‘Karen" = ’beyotch’ Got it?
lorenkinzel over 2 years ago
Finally! We got some Nancy action. It’s about time. I bet if she walks around in the rain that steam comes off of her.
eladee AKA Wally over 2 years ago
As everyone already knows by now I really hate that turn of phrase and in fact I am against any sort of phrase where a proper name is used to insult and degrade someone. I feel sorry for anyone who is linked to such a name and especially if that person is a young child. Today’s society has virtually insured that few if any will ever name their daughter KAREN again. I’m sure this is just Greg and Karen’s way of telling people like myself to LIGHTEN UP and that it doesn’t bother Karen so it shouldn’t bother me etc. etc. But that doesn’t change my opinion. I’m still appalled by the blanket cruelty of it and the fact that my Beloved Luann is using this hateful and degrading phrase today just makes me cringe. So much so, I think I’ll take a long break from commenting for a while. It’s very disappointing.
Bruce1253 over 2 years ago
There are somethings which must be forever be a mystery. . . . Females, regardless of age, are one of them.
raybarb44 over 2 years ago
Ignorance can be bliss….
Otis Rufus Driftwood over 2 years ago
I won’t address this one. Too much low hanging fruit.
timbob2313 Premium Member over 2 years ago
I don’t think any male over 30 can speak either teen ager or female
myematode over 2 years ago
BJShipley1: Right-on! Should we create a completely nonsensical string of characters for certain types of people? Stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason. That said, we should draw the line at racial and other stereotypes that serve no useful purpose other than hate-speech. But, don’t expect “Karen” to go away soon. Think “Dick”, “Peter”, “John”, etc. I can remember those monikers being used for at least the past 70 years.Reminds me of that old joke:
“Mrs. Presley, doesn’t it bother you when people call your son: “Elvis-the-Pelvis.”Mrs. Presley: “No, but I hate what they call his brother, Enis.”
astahl2003 over 2 years ago
Rather disappointing to equate teenage & women. Not all women are infantile communicators, some are quite well spoken. Given a LARGE part of child rearing & k-12 schooling is focused on teaching behavior/impulse control, ie, “use your words instead of hitting people” and the ever popular emphasis on being “kind” in any interaction, Luann’s unintentionally insulting communication skills would seem to be a parent/school failure on teaching respect and honest communication. Once again Luann needs to grow the heck up. Though it might be fun to criticize people for being a Luann when they resort to name calling vs. facts.
CoreyTaylor1 over 2 years ago
STOP EAVESDROPPING, YOU MORONS!
BuckarooDave over 2 years ago
Monday: Tiff gets pulled over by police for having too much junk in her car.
drewpamon over 2 years ago
I feel like people who are offended by the term Karen tend to be those for whom the term applies to.
The Quiet One over 2 years ago
Don’t feel bad Frank, I don’t either.
skunky1960 over 2 years ago
Not funny. The dumb-Dad schtick is tiresome….
mindjob over 2 years ago
Karen’s have a bad rep, since Marie Antoinette, whose real name was Karen
AndrewSihler over 2 years ago
Great dialogue, or half-of-a-dialogue. Some people in this wildly over-thought thread try to make out Luann’s and Brad’s parents as creepy and uncaring, but I don’t think that’s the case at all.
asrialfeeple over 2 years ago
Happy Pentecost! Jesus isn’t dead. He’s just given up the ghost.
sedrelwesley2 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Wait a minute…(!) : isn’t a Karen a female racist? Named after a woman who called cops on a black bird watcher?
Rhetorical_Question over 2 years ago
Nancy Degroot, Luann Translator? 11 dollars per hour?
Sisyphos over 2 years ago
Give up, Frank. You’re just a man in a household; nothing is expected of you beyond obedience and financial support….
spaced man spliff over 2 years ago
1. Teen talk: In the early 80s, when Val-Speak became popular, it was just another same for the same old high school teen girl speak—with the same sing-song tonal vocalization.
2. I understand names get shortened, but where did the first letter change kick in? Pleez ’splain.
Examples: William—Will—Bill.
Robert—Rob—Bob.
Richard—Rich—Rick—Dick.
Margaret—Meg—Peg (only girl’s name I could come up with)
Ol' me over 2 years ago
I wonder how difficult it would be for this to be translated into en Espanole where the social rhetoric is probably pretty different.
Don Draper over 2 years ago
Every man named Dick is laughing at this thread.
vickie.105 over 2 years ago
And I thought Luann was a mentally balanced young woman.
HARLAND DORRINSON about 2 years ago
life goes on.