5 ms·

I would hope stories about Sir David Attenborough would stir a more adventurous spirit in kids than a funnily named boat.

by nness 10y ago

nekopa 10y ago
I think the funny name would spark the interest. But then again, why not have both? I think a drone called Boaty McBoatface could get into all kinds of crazy trouble, only to be bailed out by the wise old mothership, Sir David Attenborough. Could actually work out really well. I may just have to start working on my new kids book series "Curious Boaty, the cheeky little ROS (Remotely Operated Submarine)" - with related merchandise, a toy ROS with HD video and sampling claw that can be operated from your Android or iOS phone/tablet
- threeseed 10y ago
  This is what I can't understand. There are so many research vessels. Can't one at least be fun, playful and a little bit ridiculous. People are desperately trying to tell institutions (not just in this situation but also in politics) that being honest and more connected with the ordinary person on the street is a virtue.
  - nekopa 10y ago
    True, but, if we are being honest, only 150,000 odd people voted for it, so it might not represent the ordinary person on the street. But, for the UK at least, I think it would connect with a lot of people, and for a longer time. Unfortunately, sometimes we take our selves too seriously. Especially when millions of monetary units are involved...
  - theoh 10y ago
    The problem, I think, is that the suffix "face" makes it sound like an insult. It would be a derogatory name, which is just unacceptable.
    - jackvalentine 10y ago
      No it doesn't.
      - theoh 10y ago
        It does for some people: http://www.hrwiki.org/wiki/Names_ending_in_-face http://www.hrwiki.org/wiki/Names_ending_in_-face
        qbrass 10y ago
        When calling someone insult-face, it's not the face part that makes it sound insulting
        theoh 10y ago
        Well, I think they're an example of an exocentric compound. Neither the "boat" nor the "face" is insulting, but there's an implication of ugliness. ("boatface" implies "boat-faced scoundrel" or equivalent).
    - shepardrtc 10y ago
      Personally I'm fine with "Boatface" being derogatory toward boats. They're inanimate objects; I think they'll be okay.
      - theoh 10y ago
        Grown ups don't tolerate name calling. It's unpleasant.
nathancahill 10y ago
¿por que no los dos?
johnward 10y ago
Who?
duaneb 10y ago
You can have your cake and eat it too. A funny name can only help.
criddell 10y ago
Do you know any kids? Imagine this A/B test - two classrooms of 6 year old kids. Ask one if they want to hear about the amazing research being done onboard the ship named after Attenborough. In the other ask if they want to hear about the adventures of Boaty McBoatface. Boaty would win every time.

I would hope stories about Sir David Attenborough would stir a more adventurous spirit in kids than a funnily named boat.

by nness 10y ago

I would hope stories about Sir David Attenborough would stir a more adventurous spirit in kids than a funnily named boat.

nekopa 10y ago

I think the funny name would spark the interest. But then again, why not have both? I think a drone called Boaty McBoatface could get into all kinds of crazy trouble, only to be bailed out by the wise old mothership, Sir David Attenborough. Could actually work out really well. I may just have to start working on my new kids book series "Curious Boaty, the cheeky little ROS (Remotely Operated Submarine)" - with related merchandise, a toy ROS with HD video and sampling claw that can be operated from your Android or iOS phone/tablet

threeseed 10y ago
This is what I can't understand. There are so many research vessels. Can't one at least be fun, playful and a little bit ridiculous. People are desperately trying to tell institutions (not just in this situation but also in politics) that being honest and more connected with the ordinary person on the street is a virtue.
- nekopa 10y ago
  True, but, if we are being honest, only 150,000 odd people voted for it, so it might not represent the ordinary person on the street. But, for the UK at least, I think it would connect with a lot of people, and for a longer time. Unfortunately, sometimes we take our selves too seriously. Especially when millions of monetary units are involved...
- theoh 10y ago
  The problem, I think, is that the suffix "face" makes it sound like an insult. It would be a derogatory name, which is just unacceptable.
  - jackvalentine 10y ago
    No it doesn't.
    - theoh 10y ago
      It does for some people: http://www.hrwiki.org/wiki/Names_ending_in_-face http://www.hrwiki.org/wiki/Names_ending_in_-face
      - qbrass 10y ago
        When calling someone insult-face, it's not the face part that makes it sound insulting
        theoh 10y ago
        Well, I think they're an example of an exocentric compound. Neither the "boat" nor the "face" is insulting, but there's an implication of ugliness. ("boatface" implies "boat-faced scoundrel" or equivalent).
  - shepardrtc 10y ago
    Personally I'm fine with "Boatface" being derogatory toward boats. They're inanimate objects; I think they'll be okay.
    - theoh 10y ago
      Grown ups don't tolerate name calling. It's unpleasant.

nathancahill 10y ago

¿por que no los dos?

johnward 10y ago

Who?

duaneb 10y ago

You can have your cake and eat it too. A funny name can only help.

criddell 10y ago

Do you know any kids? Imagine this A/B test - two classrooms of 6 year old kids. Ask one if they want to hear about the amazing research being done onboard the ship named after Attenborough. In the other ask if they want to hear about the adventures of Boaty McBoatface. Boaty would win every time.