7 Comments

There's the stereotype of the "Karen" who will angrily demand concessions from a restaurant or retail business for no good reason, threatening to leave a bad review, and the stereotype is that the "Karen" will usually be given what she wants. The retail staff don't want to give her anything but the manager doesn't want to get a bad review.

Expand full comment

A thought-provoking comparison.

Expand full comment

The introduction of the printing press ~1455 led to some two hundred years of Wars of Religion in Europe (until ~1648 with the Peace of Westphalia). How long will our birdsite-induced Age of Discord last?

Expand full comment

I'm puzzled by the description of artists as complaining more as an apparent fact.

What would you cite in support of this?

Expand full comment

Do other species like chimps really not have social norms?

Expand full comment

Yes many norms favor polite complaints.

Expand full comment

The bit about artful complaints is very important and I think can be combined with polite complaints.

Complaints that are done in a respectful manner are much more likely to receive something in exchange for the reason behind their complaint (bad food, wrong order, etc.). When someone complains disrespectfully, it almost seems the mission of the complain-receiver to make the "complainee" even more miserable, or, sometimes completely denying of them of any offering all together.

Expand full comment