Curious to know, I’d heard “lemming” used in a semi derogatory way, since “a person who unthinkingly joins a mass movement, especially a headlong rush to destruction” is the dictionary definition. It seems to be the first thing to come to mind as to what you’d call a Lemmy user.

This platform certainly is embodying a mass movement to get off of reddit, and I’m definitely all for it! But I can’t help but feel this could be one of those baby names that sounded cute and catchy but could be bullied later into life. What are your thoughts?

  • clay830ee@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    The lemming Wikipedia entry states lemmings seek out new habitats whenever population density gets too large. Kinda fitting to the reddit migration. Also loosely related to federations in terms of multiple habitats.

    I like it because it’s like communal but with a limit, so not herd mentally.

  • Candelestine@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I appreciate it as a self-aware jab at the nature of online communities in general, and it amuses me. Every human is a lemming in some way, shape or form, there’s just nothing new under the sun so-to-speak. But by being aware of this tendency we can control our own behavior more consciously and effectively.

    Gotta be able to laugh at yourself though, which is a capability that not everybody possesses.

      • Candelestine@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I like self sorting systems. Let the easily offended become offended and go somewhere else. They do have the right to be offended, after all.

        • netvor@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Which group of easily offended people is going to be the largest?

          • Those who get offended and therefore leave,
          • or those who get offended but stay, because their curiosity won’t let them go,
          • or those who get offended and stay to troll and throw 💩 around and watch the world burn.
    • Hank@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Just thinking about how at some point in the future the lemmyverse will be replaced over some dumb shit and the tremendous amount of absolutely trash memes about lemmings jumping off a cliff that follow fills me with joy.

      The internet is a cycle and it’s fun to witness a new cycle now.

  • Altair@vlemmy.net
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    1 year ago

    That definition comes from a false myth; a documentary made a bunch of lemmings fall to their deaths and purposefully misrepresented it iirc, fucked up.

    It’s time we reclaim our name and honour!

    Loaf-shaped black-orange lemming sitting on shallow water surface

  • Twentytwodividedby7@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    There is also something called irony, which could be embraced and that would quell the bullying. Own it. It’s funny, stop taking things so seriously. Also, who cares?

    • Andy@slrpnk.net
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      1 year ago

      Expanding on this, this is how language builds. Terms are often ironic or late take on different meanings than intended. I for one like lemmings, and I think it’s unlikely another term would stick even if we wanted it to.

  • Selgauth@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Also people will think we’re stupid if we let a group of scientists throw us off a cliff. Which is fair.

  • Stinkywinks@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    When I used reddit, I hardly ever felt the need to call anyone redditers? Do people that use Twitter call themselves twats? Cause they should. Damn the Faceboomers too.

    • DopamineDaydreams@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Ah, I see. You never truly savored the Redditor experience - the Fedora, the bliss of basement living, the Cheetos-inspired physique. Without such rites of passage, how can you claim the title?

      As for Twitter users being “Twats” or Facebook users “Faceboomers”, that’s an interesting proposition. But remember, le Redditors bear our stereotype with pride. The basement always has room for one more. ;)

      /s <- do we still do this?

  • SapienSRC@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I like it for two reasons. 1) I love that game and it gives me nostalgic memories. 2) It’s ironically funny since a Lemming is the exact opposite of what we are just by being here.

  • While I know that the origin of the stereotypes is false, the stereotype still remains. So I’m not fond of the term for that, but it’s not a super big deal. I might joke about it because it’s pretty fucking funny (c’mon… Redditors coming to Lemmy on a leap of faith? Like lemmings off a cliff is analogous as hell), but I mean… People who would use it to talk shit, would end up turning anything used to describe a group as a slur so there’s not really a point in caring too much.