Lemmings are not fake, of course. But the story that they are committing mass suicide is.
For those who don’t know what I am talking about, Lemmings are said to be so stupid that they follow the rest of the group even if that means falling off a cliff to their sure death. The suicidal Lemmings were often used as a metaphor for people who go along unquestioningly with popular opinion, completely unaware of the consequences. So, with varying themes, basically 80% of this country’s population.
Anyway, I just learned (Science vs.) that one of my favorite metaphors is completely bunk. That’s embarrassing, I know. As it seems Lemmings are smarter than us. They enjoy life and have their own mind.