this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2023
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[Outdated, please look at pinned post] Casual Conversation

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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?

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[–] [email protected] 39 points 1 year ago (3 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

It does kind of lack the same embarrassment that comes from self identifying as a Redditor

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 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.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

🤷‍♂️

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago

lemurs > lemmings

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (4 children)

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?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

instead of fediverse perhaps it should be fedoraverse

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

It's the only sensible option.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (4 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

plus they are cute af

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I feel like there is some analogy to be made over how other social media platform leadership are all too willing to ruin our communities and run us out of them for their short-sighted goals.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Totally. They are Disney creating a scenario where the logical response ought to be to stop at the cliff (aka play by their rules). Lemmings "choose" to confront the unknown future and go over the cliff, as that's better than obedience to the overbearing corporate entity.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Lemming loaf!!

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 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.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

I dig it!

We can all start building ladders, digging holes, blocking others to reverse directions or simply self destruct!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

I’ll just follow the rest of you and not think about it.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

Call me whatever you want, when I hear "Lemmy" I think Motorhead, so maybe we're "Kilmisters"

[–] [email protected] 8 points 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.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Lemmings are cute and I don't mind at all.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

I saw someone say we should go by lemmons

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Lemmy is only one component of the Fediverse. We are Citizens of the Federated Universe!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's better than anal explorers ala Lemmiwinks.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

IDK, I'll probably wait until the majority makes a decision and go with it..... oh, wait

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

As far as I know it was a disney "documentary " that perpetuated the falsehood of lemmings committing mass suicide so it seems only fitting that we rehabilitate the name that was so besmirched by that filthy corporate behemoth.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Federators!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I bet that somewhere, at any given time, I'm being called something. It's a simple byproduct of anyone falling into the universalization trap.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Personally, I think it’s on how you own it. You see a lot of people on right wearing deplorables as a sort of badge of honor. Same concept. People who would make fun of us for calling ourselves lemmings would make fun of us even if we called ourselves lions.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I don't know, what are your thoughts? Should we care? How does everyone else feel about this?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

That's one of the things that this platform's name is appearently based on. Just FYI; so you and the main developer have something in common :)

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If we actually wanna support the essence of what we're engaging on, we shouldn't factionalize by user interface and should avoid names attached to Lemmy, Mastadon, or KBin. We should instead be Federates of the Fediverse.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But then it'll be shortened to Feds and that seems wrong

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

That’s definitely the first nickname that I thought of when I started using lemmy so I’m all in for it my fellow lemming

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I'm new but I've always mentally gone straight to lemming from lemmy. also, I love all iterations of the game.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I don't think it matters, if people have a problem with it they need to learn how to laugh at themselves. Redditors certainly behave like lemmings sometimes, and some self-deprecating humor over here calling ourselves lemmings is pretty funny

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

My vote is for Kilmisters

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