Monterey California is not a place where that is common parlance. Californians may not pronounce the T in Monterey, but they definitely pronounce the R in lord

That’s right, it’s just my subjective opinion. Which I’m choosing to push on others because in my subjective universe, the belief in objectivity has been used as a justification for various genocides such as the Crusades, the colonisation of the Americas, the stolen generations, and the bombing of Gaza.

Reason offers no path to objective truth. Syllogism requires premises. Premises require axioms. Reason and logic cannot create knowledge ex nihilo. They can only create knowledge within an already extant framework.

Empiricism is equally flawed, for the ghost in the machine problem is bidirectional. Many philosophers have asked how a construct of information, such as the human mind, can control a construct of matter such as the body. But I ask the reverse question, how can information perceive matter? How can matter act upon information? As we can see from the difficulty babies and children have with perceiving the world, perception is a learned process. How do we know we’ve learned it correctly? How do we know we’re not just reproducing social biases? The answer is that we certainly know that our perception is indeed a reproduction of social bias. For example, our perception of other people as men or women is quite immediate to us. We notice it before we can name any details that lead us to this perception. Yet some people are nonbinary, and transphobes perceive others as male or female when it is untrue and they are both or neither. The symbols that make up our perception, our schemas, are indeed founded upon social bias. They are not the source of truth.

And am I to point out the flaws with mysticism as well? I’m sure you are already familiar with those.

Thus the only answer is to consciously choose our axioms and our schemas, with the aim of imagining into being a better world, or at least the tools to create one. We cannot do this if we chain ourselves to belief in the objective.

The situation involving the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s social media post reflects a larger conversation about language, body image, and the changing dynamics of internet culture. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Context

Monterey Bay Aquarium posted a playful description of their otter, Abby, using internet slang such as “thicc,” “absolute unit,” “chonky,” and “OH LAWD SHE COMIN.” These terms are often used in meme culture to humorously describe animals or objects that are notably large or heavy. However, in this case, their attempt at humor backfired, leading to criticism from different sides.

Two Main Sources of Criticism:

1. Body Positivity Advocates and Anti-Fat-Shaming Groups

Some of the backlash came from people who are sensitive to the use of body-related language, especially when it reflects patterns of speech that have been used to demean or objectify individuals based on their size. While these terms were aimed at an otter in a lighthearted context, many people found the language problematic because it echoed the same phrases often used to mock or stereotype overweight individuals.

“Thicc”: Originally used in African American Vernacular English (AAVE) to describe women with curvier, fuller bodies in an empowering way, it has since been appropriated and sometimes trivialized in mainstream culture.

“Chonky”: A playful way to describe overweight animals, this word has also been associated with memes, but it could easily be read as part of a larger discourse around weight and body shaming.

For those focused on body positivity, the casual use of these terms to describe an animal risked reinforcing harmful stereotypes or contributing to fat-shaming attitudes, even if unintentionally.

2. Cringe Factor: Outdated Meme References

Another line of criticism came from people who found the use of these internet terms, especially “OH LAWD SHE COMIN” and “absolute unit,” to be outdated or cringe-worthy. Internet slang and memes evolve rapidly, and by the time a brand or institution like an aquarium adopts such language, it may feel forced or out of touch with current online trends.

Cringe: When brands or institutions attempt to tap into internet culture for humor or relevance, they often walk a fine line. If the language feels dated, the attempt at engagement can fall flat, seeming awkward or as if they’re trying too hard to be relatable. In this case, the aquarium’s use of memes that had already peaked in popularity a few years earlier came off as inauthentic and “cringe.”

The Apology

Given the backlash from both groups — those concerned about body shaming and those put off by the awkward use of outdated internet slang — the aquarium felt compelled to issue a general apology. They likely realized that even though the intent was harmless and playful, the execution didn’t sit well with a broad audience, touching on sensitive issues related to body image while also missing the mark in terms of cultural relevance.

Their apology suggests they understood that humor based on memes, especially those with underlying connotations related to body image, can be tricky to navigate — especially for an organization with a broad and diverse audience. They likely recognized the need to be more thoughtful in their social media language to avoid offending or alienating people unintentionally. In Summary:

The situation highlights how language, particularly in the realm of social media and memes, is a minefield of interpretations. What might seem funny or harmless to one group can easily offend or annoy another. In this case, the aquarium’s use of dated internet slang and body-related terms sparked critiques from body positivity advocates and those sensitive to outdated meme culture, leading to their public apology. This underscores the importance of understanding both the implications of the language used and the fast-moving nature of internet trends, especially for brands or institutions seeking to engage with the public online.