Just for the sake of documenting the movement of the zeitgeist, when did the affectation “Something McSomethingface” succeed its predecessor “Something McSomething(er)son”.
Just want to know in the outside chance that “Boaty McBoaterson” was a satisfactory compromise for both sides. . . ?
I know, I know - ever the diplomat…
the will of the people
You misspelled “the capricious whims of jackasses with an internet connection and too much time on their hands”.
Time to include a tagging kit as essential kayak supplies?
People voted for Boaty McBoatface just to see what would happen just like people voting for Donald Trump just to see what happens. Democracy is in jeopardy when people take it for granted and vote irresponsibly. At some point, confidence in democracy is gone and then we are vulnerable to a coup. This is not funny. This is the stuff that brings tyranny down the road.
Is anything else named Boaty McBoatface? I have tried googling etc but do only find this story, over and over again.
Agreed. “Herr BootMeister BootGesicht” sure seemed like a harmless name for a German tugboat back in 1937, but two years later–Poland fell!
Wake up, people!
If Boaty McBoatface was such a great name wouldn’t computer a computer have thought of it?
Typed the person with an internet connection and enough extra time on their hands to post judgemental comments on forums.
Were the voters for the name Boaty McBoatface older than 5 years old?
It was just going for “plausible” this round. “Awesome” will be in the next group and I’m sure it will pop up then. (Along with Mike Litoris and Hugh Jass, no doubt).
Touché.
Oh. Those conniving, lackadaisical, workshy office workers always looking for an excuse to bunk off and deprive their wealth-creator bosses of the profits they so rightly deserve.
Shipy McShipface isn’t as cute a name.
I really dig the name “Boaty McBoatface” However I would rather see it named after some worthless overbearing rich dolt who gives a sh_t ton of money that buys stuff like this for research. We need to form a foundation called the “Boaty McBoatface Deep Sea Research Foundation” after we get some starter funds from Mr McBoatface of course.
To be fair, they did stick to the rules. It was made pretty clear from the beginning that they reserved the right to make the final decision on the name.
Well, ok. I’m sure they were technically in the right to do so. But this name was neither offensive, nor racist, nor glorifying an undeserving/undesirable person. They just changed it because they didn’t like it. Because it’s silly.
Oh I dunno, Shippy McShipface is cute enough, but it would within minutes become Shitty McShitface in common usage. Because how could it not?
"Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) " reserved the right to name it what they thought appropriate. Not “The UK Government”. Just thought someone ought to mention that. The whole thing was silly from the start, as if democracy ever comes up with anything other than compromise anyway…That’s kind of the point, rather than letting idiocy steam-roll over common sense. Oh, wait, there’s a big election coming…?
Someone needs to get on the BBC and explain to many many people why smiling when you think of a scientific research vessel is inappropriate.
Get David Attenborough to do it, Surely at 90 years on this planet he can explain why. Perhaps it was explained so well to him that he agreed being a wet blanket was an experience worth having.
