No matter how kind or polite you are, every once in a while you’re bound to run into someone who, for no reason at all, goes out of their way to be rude. Whether it’s a minor inconvenience or full-on drama, one thing’s certain, they’ll ruin your day. Online, these people have earned a name: Karens.
And of course, Redditors have no shortage of stories about their run-ins with them. Below, we’ve gathered some of the most patience-testing encounters people have shared. Scroll down to read them all—and maybe vent a little, too.
#1

Best Karen story: I used to be a butcher and was having a really stressful day at work last year around Thanksgiving time,when my mom stopped into my store because she was in the neighborhood and on a whim decided to bring me my favorite food: Lamb Rogan Josh and a Mango Lassi. It made my day
My mom's name is Karen
She is not a Karen
My mom's name is Karen
She is not a Karen
83points
#2

Once upon a time, on the train, a young man tried to travel from A to B without a ticket. I politely informed him that this wouldn't work, he needed to buy a ticket with a surcharge or we'd be saying a sensitive goodbye at the next station. The young man immediately went into attack mode and started telling me who he was, that he was somebody important, his mother worked for the railway, and that I wouldn't have to come to work tomorrow. I told him that was fine, but to give me enough notice that I didn't need to come to work, because I'd be really pissed off if I got up early for nothing the next day. The gentleman was put off the train at the next station and, as I later found out, his mother really does work for the railway, she's a waitress at a restaurant.
60points
#3

She told me off for bringing my daughter to the playground while we were eating ice cream, because her "little son is allergic to dairy, and he'll be sad if he sees the ice cream and can't have any".
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59points
#4

When I worked at the Home Depot a Karen told me that she didn't want any black men to install her flooring. I was in charge of arranging her order and told her that we don't select which individuals exactly will install her floor and that she'll get who she gets. She proceeds to have a fit about it, demands white installers, asks to speak to my manager.
I'm so glad she did, because my manager's name was Dwayne and he was a real big black dude.
Turns out she didn't want to speak to the manager
I'm so glad she did, because my manager's name was Dwayne and he was a real big black dude.
Turns out she didn't want to speak to the manager
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57points
#5

My aunt used to do some embarrassing stuff at restaurants. Her favorite was order something, eat ninety percent of it then insist that it was inedible and absolutely awful and she shouldn't have to pay for it. Apparently back in the day this worked and she would frequently receive free meals. Until one time when it didn't. The waitress looked her dead in the eye and said something along the lines of "you ate it, therefor you will pay for it and I hoped you enjoyed it because this will be the last time you are allowed here."
According to my dad she got super embarrassed, paid and rushed out of there. After tucking her tail and running, her Karen core recharged and she called the restaurant to complain. Not sure if she got the manager or the owner but they essentially told her the same thing as the waitress. Her husband, who had no issues with her scamming places, got mad and wanted to pursue some sort of legal action. Nothing came of it.
According to my dad she got super embarrassed, paid and rushed out of there. After tucking her tail and running, her Karen core recharged and she called the restaurant to complain. Not sure if she got the manager or the owner but they essentially told her the same thing as the waitress. Her husband, who had no issues with her scamming places, got mad and wanted to pursue some sort of legal action. Nothing came of it.
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50points
#6

He was a man, but such a Karen...
I was a manager, and they wanted to disconnect the client. Totally justified. He hadn't paid in almost 4 years... He wanted to pay in installments, but the internal rules were that after a certain level of warnings, it wasn't possible anymore.
The point is, the guy first wanted to see a manager. That's where I came in. After the information, he stood up and started yelling. Police... we'll be reported. I tried to calm him down, where he could go, there are state agencies here that provide support, protection, etc...
It was during Covid, by the way.
Then the guy grabbed, recoiled to spit. He needed momentum. Then he realized he was wearing a mask... pulled it down. Spat again, like a cobra. It landed on the plexiglass.
That's when I asked him if he wanted me to go to the other side of the plexiglass so he could spit on me.
He couldn't answer because the security guard had had enough and dragged him out of the office in a chokehold.
He didn't come back to complain!
I was a manager, and they wanted to disconnect the client. Totally justified. He hadn't paid in almost 4 years... He wanted to pay in installments, but the internal rules were that after a certain level of warnings, it wasn't possible anymore.
The point is, the guy first wanted to see a manager. That's where I came in. After the information, he stood up and started yelling. Police... we'll be reported. I tried to calm him down, where he could go, there are state agencies here that provide support, protection, etc...
It was during Covid, by the way.
Then the guy grabbed, recoiled to spit. He needed momentum. Then he realized he was wearing a mask... pulled it down. Spat again, like a cobra. It landed on the plexiglass.
That's when I asked him if he wanted me to go to the other side of the plexiglass so he could spit on me.
He couldn't answer because the security guard had had enough and dragged him out of the office in a chokehold.
He didn't come back to complain!
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42points
#7

Man Karen: bought a PC Star Wars Battlefront, in 2015 and comes back the next day to get his money back immediately, saying this doesn't work. Did he activate the code? Don't take me for a fool? I said we can't take back PC games if the code's been activated. Well, he'd already tried activating it with his IT expert friend, the code's no good, it won't download, it won't run, and besides, he's got a law degree and he's gonna sue us. This went on for five minutes. I said thanks, but we still can't take it back, but let's have a look, show me what you activated?
He takes one of the two papers from the box and shows me: this. I look at it: I said, this is the pre-order DLC code. Look, here's the PC activation code, it even says so right here, this is what you need to activate.
He takes one of the two papers from the box and shows me: this. I look at it: I said, this is the pre-order DLC code. Look, here's the PC activation code, it even says so right here, this is what you need to activate.
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41points
#8

Worked as a bank teller. I was there maybe a month. This lady comes in. Says she wants to withdraw some cash. I said ok no problem. Just insert your bank card and punch in your code.
"I lost it. And need a replacement too."
"That's no problem. I need some I.D. and if you sign this I can verify your signature."
Big sigh.
"No. Im sick of this. Every time I come here its a new teller. This has been my bank for years!"
"I just started here last month and I have never helped you before so I can't circumvent procedure."
"I don't care."
"So you don't want me to verify your identity before I take money out of your account and give it to you?"
I just sat there staring until she gave in.
"I lost it. And need a replacement too."
"That's no problem. I need some I.D. and if you sign this I can verify your signature."
Big sigh.
"No. Im sick of this. Every time I come here its a new teller. This has been my bank for years!"
"I just started here last month and I have never helped you before so I can't circumvent procedure."
"I don't care."
"So you don't want me to verify your identity before I take money out of your account and give it to you?"
I just sat there staring until she gave in.
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40points
#9

There was an older but actively aggressive woman who kept calling me by mistake, I guess she wrote down the wrong number. For God's sake, she didn't understand that I'm not Ferenc Horváth... she did this on a daily basis. By the way, I'm a woman...
38points
#10

Once, a customer wrote in the complaint book because one of the entrances wasn't working, and on the sign that said "Dear Customers!" we wrote "customers" with a lowercase letter... bUt YoU sHoUlD wRiTe It WiTh A cApItAl LeTtEr
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35points
#11

I've only encountered one up close in the wild. I was at a Petco to get my dog's nails cut down and she was mad at an employee because they wouldn't groom her dog without rabies vaccine records. Even though they tell you that you need them when you book the appointment.
She put her little rat dog on the counter and refused to take it off, then berated the poor groomer girl for a few minutes. Ended with her calling the groomer a jerk and storming out.
I felt so bad for the employee, I was next in line and she was super nice and professional with me even though I could tell she was trying her hardest not to burst into tears. It just confounds me that some people can get so worked up and be so mean over things that really don't matter at all.
She put her little rat dog on the counter and refused to take it off, then berated the poor groomer girl for a few minutes. Ended with her calling the groomer a jerk and storming out.
I felt so bad for the employee, I was next in line and she was super nice and professional with me even though I could tell she was trying her hardest not to burst into tears. It just confounds me that some people can get so worked up and be so mean over things that really don't matter at all.
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35points
#12

Not an exact re-enactment but it went something like this.
I was stocking a shelf and a bag of sweets fell on the floor.
Some guy: it fell, pick it up
Me: sure, once my hands are free (I still have merchandise in my hands while it's happening)
Guy: pick it up.
Me: (hands still full) yeah will do asap, no worries
Guy: I said pick it up at once! You lazy piece of s**t
Me: ????
Guy: if I were the store manager I'd fire you right on the spot
Me: I'm sorry sir, but you're not my manager
Guy: I own a store
Me: not this store
Guy: walks off in a huff
Guy's wife who was apparently watching the whole thing: yeah your behaviour is unacceptable and I'd totally get you fired.
I was stocking a shelf and a bag of sweets fell on the floor.
Some guy: it fell, pick it up
Me: sure, once my hands are free (I still have merchandise in my hands while it's happening)
Guy: pick it up.
Me: (hands still full) yeah will do asap, no worries
Guy: I said pick it up at once! You lazy piece of s**t
Me: ????
Guy: if I were the store manager I'd fire you right on the spot
Me: I'm sorry sir, but you're not my manager
Guy: I own a store
Me: not this store
Guy: walks off in a huff
Guy's wife who was apparently watching the whole thing: yeah your behaviour is unacceptable and I'd totally get you fired.
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35points
#13

Ugh, I was the Karen, unfortunately.
I was uploading documents for an OTP online loan application, and they sent it back for resubmission a second time. I misunderstood them, I thought my bank statement wasn't good enough for them, so I wrote a super arrogant letter saying I also work at a financial company, and it's not true that they won't accept it because it's perfect for income verification, and they should know what they're doing.
Then I realized I sent them their general information sheet instead of the statement. Twice.
I was uploading documents for an OTP online loan application, and they sent it back for resubmission a second time. I misunderstood them, I thought my bank statement wasn't good enough for them, so I wrote a super arrogant letter saying I also work at a financial company, and it's not true that they won't accept it because it's perfect for income verification, and they should know what they're doing.
Then I realized I sent them their general information sheet instead of the statement. Twice.
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33points
#14

Had a Karen threaten to report me to my manager for talking with other customers I was serving.
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33points
#15

I'm pregnant, and lately, I've been sitting down on the bus because I'm struggling with nausea. Today, I got a really humiliating comment from a woman, saying I was rude because I didn't give up my seat. I even apologized and told her I was pregnant and not feeling well; otherwise, I wouldn't have sat down. She said I was lying because it didn't show. I didn't quite understand what she meant by that. Doesn't show = not pregnant?!
32points
#16

Mine was a dude with his kid, while I was working zmedia at Best Buy during the holiday season.
I was cleaning up the area because it was trashed after a monring rush. So as I was putting gaming accessories back on their legs this father with his kid on the cart started looking at stuff. Took GameCube controllers off the peg, looked at it, then threw it down into the base of the shelf. Didn't even try hanging it up.
So I let it be a while. No big. But I kept hearing it. And it was post rush, so I caught up and essentially started cleaning up behind him. He's take memory cards, whatever was on the end cap, look at it, then toss it. Even through a guide book on the floor.
So, I told him to please put it back where he picked them up from. Just sneered at me and said, "F**k you". I was kind of taken aback. But whatever, just kept cleaning up after him.
Then he almost went ballistic because I was following him messing up my department. Started yelling at me. Luckily boss came by and asked what the hell was going on. Dude told my boss that "This idiot's been following me".
Boss said, "Because he's been cleaning up after you, get the hell out".
Man just sneered again, then walked out with his kid. Sneered at me again, and I just shrugged.
I was cleaning up the area because it was trashed after a monring rush. So as I was putting gaming accessories back on their legs this father with his kid on the cart started looking at stuff. Took GameCube controllers off the peg, looked at it, then threw it down into the base of the shelf. Didn't even try hanging it up.
So I let it be a while. No big. But I kept hearing it. And it was post rush, so I caught up and essentially started cleaning up behind him. He's take memory cards, whatever was on the end cap, look at it, then toss it. Even through a guide book on the floor.
So, I told him to please put it back where he picked them up from. Just sneered at me and said, "F**k you". I was kind of taken aback. But whatever, just kept cleaning up after him.
Then he almost went ballistic because I was following him messing up my department. Started yelling at me. Luckily boss came by and asked what the hell was going on. Dude told my boss that "This idiot's been following me".
Boss said, "Because he's been cleaning up after you, get the hell out".
Man just sneered again, then walked out with his kid. Sneered at me again, and I just shrugged.
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32points
#17

She didn't get that when printing, we look at the side, not the page, and double-sided printing costs 200 forints, even though it's one sheet. She pulled out all the stops, saying she'd call my boss (who she doesn't even know) and report me to the tax authority (!) etc. In the end, she said she'd write in the complaint book. When I offered it to her, saying "Here you go," she stormed out, offended. It was a magical 20 minutes.
31points
#18

I worked in a restaurant. The mom and her daughter brought back the food they bought from the buffet, asking for a refund because the cheese was spicy, the nachos were tasteless, and the popcorn was cold. Yeah, but they ate everything. They practically licked the cheese clean. When I said I couldn't give them a refund for that, they got outraged and wrote in the complaint book.
Seriously, if something's [bad], why eat it?
Seriously, if something's [bad], why eat it?
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31points
#19

I was still in high school, on the 4-6 tram, the old version with steps. It stops, I stand by the door so people can get off. Our Karen stood right in front of the door, they could barely get past her. When everyone who wanted to get off was off, I hopped in front of her and sat down in the first seat, and she started yelling at me, saying things like "these young people nowadays," etc. (by the way, there was another seat two away)
31points
#20

I'm sitting on the number 49 tram at Astoria, just staring into space, when suddenly a woman stops in front of me and asks me to give up my seat. I look around; there are at least four or five empty seats nearby. I ask her if those aren't good enough. She starts freaking out, calling me rude and lazy! She says those seats are facing the wrong way, that I should just accept that she'll get sick, that she can't travel like that, and she went on a rant about how awful the world has become and the lack of respect for the elderly, etc. Fine, I moved, she sat down, and she kept going!! Everyone was staring at me, it was incredibly awkward. It looked like I'd kicked a puppy or something
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30points


