It's a metaphor since tankies don't seem to exist or make a difference in real life

It literally does though. I stopped telling people that I use Lemmy as a result. When some instance defederates from ML and establishes itself as being solid, I'd love to tell people irl that I use that.

If you are trying to say not to paint people with too broad of a brush, I get it, but also, we don't get to choose how others think of us, only what we will do in response.

average lemming experience really.