‘He called me a Karen, because I asked him to see logic’

Screenshots of the chat with Betzmann

Being active on social media means that you may run into a troll one day or another. Little did I know that it would be over a polite comment I wrote on a reel posted by German blogger Chris Betzmann. On December 16, I came across the reel that showed Betzmann getting into a tiny lift in Mizoram. The caption, which stands edited now, seemed to indicate that it was tiny for him, as he was a "Tall German in India", and Indians on an average are tiny. Trying to make him see logic, I commented saying that most Indian lifts are small due to lack of space. Many Indians, as you move across states, could be tall and well built.

The fun (NOT) started when he replied, calling me an Indian Karen, adding he hates them. According to Wikipedia, and many memes we have seen, "Karen is a term often portrayed in memes depicting white women who use their white privilege to demand their own way." In fact, as events show later, I feel I was attacked by a German male version of Karen.

Chris Betzmann. Pic/Instagram

Soon, he slid into my DMs, saying, "Hey Karen, here is some education." He sent me a link to an article by an Indian newspaper that said, "Indian children may no longer outgrow parents", confirming my doubt that he had put the reel trying not to talk about tiny lifts, but trying to assert his superiority as a "tall German". When I pointed out that the article was meant for the future, he answered with a rejoinder that didn't even make sense (see screenshots). At one point, he told me he would share the screenshots on his story to show the world how dumb I was, to which I said he should, so that people know that he isn't as amiable as he seems. He didn't post anything.

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I stopped replying soon after, as I realised you can't fight with a person not open to dialogue. I would have appreciated it if he respectfully disagreed, and we could have had a conversation.

Two days ago, I came across his name as he had crossed the line again when he put up a reel of a hawker selling pineapples, saying, "Every f'''''' day...[they're] screaming to sell their f'''''' pineapple...Shut up!" Indians all over reacted, some reminding him of the culture of hawkers coming to the doorstep, especially to help old people out. And he said, "This country will never evolve because of ignorant people like you... You would probably justify rape cuz it's been going on for years, and call it part of Indian culture."

Betzmann, whose bio reads "Visiting every state in India 15/29", should know there is a reason for the phrase "Don't bite the hand that feeds you". You can't be making content about Incredible India, and then have an unnecessary opinion of all we do here. As Indians are clamouring for him to leave the country, I say, come back after you get some etiquette classes.