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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[–] OtakuAltair@vlemmy.net 43 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

[–] Domille@sh.itjust.works 19 points 1 year ago

plus they are cute af

[–] TwilightVulpine@kbin.social 12 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.

[–] Rhaedas@kbin.social 7 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.

[–] pwolter0@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

That's Disney Evil!

[–] XiELEd@lemmy.fmhy.ml 4 points 1 year ago

Lemming loaf!!

[–] Tsunominohataraki@sub.wetshaving.social 2 points 1 year ago

As a resident of Scandinavia I knew it was a myth, but I had to look up a source:

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=56