Schrödinger's Douchebag" is a term used to describe a person who makes offensive or inflammatory statements and then claims they were "just joking" if the statement is met with disapproval or negative reactions.
This term is a play on the quantum mechanics thought experiment known as "Schrödinger's Cat," in which a hypothetical cat in a box is considered to be both dead and alive simultaneously until the box is opened and the cat is observed.
Similarly, the "Schrödinger's Douchebag" makes an ambiguous statement that could be interpreted as either a sincere expression of a potentially offensive viewpoint or as a poorly executed joke. The person's true intent remains unclear (much like the cat's state of being) until the audience's reaction is observed.
If the statement is met with approval or laughter, the person stands by the statement as a genuine expression of their views.
If the statement is met with disapproval or outrage, the person immediately claims they were only joking and may even criticize others for being "too sensitive".
This behavior allows the individual to test the waters for their opinions or to make potentially hurtful remarks while maintaining a sense of plausible deniability. According to www.perceptivepsych.io, it highlights issues in modern communication such as accountability, gaslighting, and the fostering of echo chambers.
The term gained traction on social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit in the mid-2010s
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