No you can't have 'Boaty McBoatface'

[liberal N proud]

Minister Pours Cold Water on 'Boaty McBoatface' Plan



The British government has been accused of “riding roughshod over democracy” after it suggested it would not endorse naming a £200 million ($283 million) polar research vessel Boaty McBoatface. The unseemly title was the winner of an online poll launched by the National Environment Research Council (NERC) to name its new polar research ship. The choice has to be endorsed by ministers.

Appearing to pour cold water on the plans, Science Minister Jo Johnson told BBC Radio Five Live on Monday: “There is a process now for us to review all of the public’s choices. Many of them were imaginative, some were more suitable than others.”

Asked what was unsuitable about the name Boaty McBoatface, Johnson said: “I think we were clear when launching the competition that we were looking for a name that would be in keeping with the mission.

http://www.newsweek.com/british-minister-cold-water-boaty-mcboatface-448897

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. To bad, they could have gotten Thomas the Train engine to launch the ship with the queen.

[One_Life_To_Give]

17. And Theodore Tugboat Too. nt

[snooper2]

2. People would follow and support Boaty McBoatface, bad idea

Some other ship will get the name soon enough

[A HERETIC I AM]

3. Sooooo...it's a "Polar Research Vessel", eh?

"Icy McIceboaty"


Howzat?

[catnhatnh]

15. How about "The PeRV Boat"? N/T

[jberryhill]

4. "a name that would be in keeping with the mission"

WTF is not "in keeping with the mission" about Boaty McBoatface?

It's a great name.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. Right? And I think it would interest people/children in the "mission"

which I believe is science.

[Iggo]

5. THAT'S FUCKING BULLSHIT!!!!

[Solly Mack]

7. McBummer

They could have painted a face on Boaty, and people would have cheered and smiled to see Boaty coming.

Kids and adults alike would have followed the missions of Boaty McBoatface. Book sales about Boaty's job could have benefited the mission.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

12. As a web designer, an entire Boaty McBoatface educational website, apps, games...

Last edited Mon Apr 18, 2016, 06:36 PM - Edit history (1)

...mission tracking and webcams and...ohmygod my brain hurts with the loss of such a great opportunity to create an science and education ambassador.

[Solly Mack]

22. Exactly! So much potential to engage the public even more.

To get them interested and, more importantly, to keep them interested.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

24. Toys too. nt

[Marrah_G]

39. ^this

[Calista241]

8. Boaty McBoatface would have been a ships name for the ages. Too bad.

[rusty fender]

9. Maybe if they add HMS

it'll be acceptable? HMS Boaty Mcboatface

[A HERETIC I AM]

14. RMS

The Royal Mail Steamer Boaty McBoatface

[Happyhippychick]

10. That Bully McBullshit!

I think the British people should not take this lying down, we want Boaty!

[OriginalGeek]

11. THIS IS NOT WHAT MONTY PYTHON FOUGHT FOR!

The Ministry of Silly Boat Names will soon be receiving a strongly worded letter from me I can tell you that, sir!

[lapislzi]

13. Bet these are the same dull, humorless bureaucrats

That wouldn't let Greenpeace name the humpback whale "Mr. Splashypants."

Let Boaty be free!

[Initech]

16. Lame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Arkana]

18. Somewhere Russell Crowe is pissed and he doesn't know why.

MAKIN MOVIES SINGIN SONGS AND FIGHTIN ROUND THE WORLD!

[fizzgig]

49. ....

[TeamPooka]

19. Scientists take their jobs seriously and they probably feel the name demeaned their work/mission.

[Brother Buzz]

20. Boaty McBoatface is growing on me - I like it

Hell, I bet even the scientists who will work on her will affectionately and unofficially call the ship Boaty McBoatface. Bank on it.

[Phentex]

21. That's disappointing!

I liked the name

[Odin2005]

23. "Online Poll" I just know 4chan was involved in this!

Any serious voting for something that is done on line is going to be ruined by the edgy assholes on 4chan.

[Lizzie Poppet]

55. My first thought, too!

This reeks of 4chins...

[Donald Ian Rankin]

25. Probably a good thing.

Jokes like that are funny at first, but get old quick.

Plus, if it founders with all hands, do you really want to be the person tasked with telling a widow who doesn't yet know it that her husband was drowned when Boaty McBoatface sank?

[bjo59]

28. That's a good point -- I laughed out loud as soon as I read it.

[RexDart]

29. That would be the most awesome shipwreck song ever.

The northern storms blow cold
And the sea is a lonesome place
Full fifty fathoms down
Sits Boaty McBoatface

-Chorus from "The Wreck of Boaty McBoatface"

[marle35]

36. Yes it would!

[Warren DeMontague]

41. Does anyone know where the love of god goes

When his face turns from boaty mcboatface

[tabasco]

26. "Riding roughshod over democracy." LOL!

This whole deal has been pretty funny.

I don't see how Boaty McBoatface is not "in keeping with the mission."

It's a freakin' boat.

[muriel_volestrangler]

30. It's also the centre of people's careers

At some point, the scientists and crew would not like being the constant butt of a joke. People like to take pride in their work.

Remember when they decided that calling a law school the Antonin Scalia School of Law - ASSoL - wasn't such a good idea? These people aren't even getting paid extra for taking on a silly name.

[tabasco]

31. Lighten up, Francis.

[muriel_volestrangler]

32. The point is that it makes a good joke now, but not for people who have to endure it

for their serious careers. The guy who thought of "Boaty McBoatface" actually voted for "RRS David Attenborough".

[tabasco]

33. Former merchant marine here.

I'd be proud to serve on Boaty!

[MowCowWhoHow III]

27. You will be avenged, Boaty!

[GoCubsGo]

34. Good!

I hope they name it after Sir David Attenborough.

[MowCowWhoHow III]

35. BTW If they ignore the public vote...

...they should be made to reimburse the public the total tax cost of this public vote bullshit.

If you want to name the vessels in house - fine.

If you want to be safe but 'democratic', poll a selection of pre-approved academics - fine.

But if your mission is public science engagement, and the end result is essentially "fuck you public, you're idiots", then you're spectacularly bad at your job.

[Skittles]

37. final say has always gone to them

and the creator of the "imaginative" name is fine with that

[oldandhappy]

38. shhhhhh super delegates are everywhere!!!

[Warren DeMontague]

40. They should just call it "Name of Vessel", then.

I mean, it's already on there.

[Rex]

43. Isn't that already it's name? So what else did they photoshop in that picture?

I feel betrayed by her majesty.

[Rex]

42. IT has a helipad on it people! This is series!!

Can't let the oppressed class name every stupid bar, clock and dock in London! Just name it the HRM USS ASS ABDESGS Serious Shit Red Alert Vessel or SSRAV because that looks cooler and get it over with. There problem solved.

[bhikkhu]

44. Knowing the British, maybe they'd rather name it after this guy

The famous Rear Admiral Cockburn

[dilby]

45. They missed out on an awesome opportunity to get children interested in

Research vessels, they could have had children's books, tv shows, toys all sorts of stuff little kids would have loved plus they would have learned what these boats do.

[Recursion]

46. It's a ship not a boat!!!!!

The center of mass is within the freeboard so it is a ship!!!

[Warren DeMontague]

47. Yeah, but "Shippy McShipface" sounds dirty.

[liberal N proud]

51. LOL

My version was.

[Orrex]

53. FREEBOARD! SKYNYRD!

[yuiyoshida]

48. I guess the name on the image of the ship is obviously wrong in both photos

[Bad Dog]

52. Just because a minister says something on Radio 5 doesn't mean it's government policy.

It will be a while before a decision is made, (ministers are more interested in the referendum right now.) And when it is made they'll try to judge the public's mood.

I think it should stay for one reason. How many other Arctic research vessels can you name?

[dembotoz]

54. the ship is now instantly famous and should be a pr bonanza if they can pul their head out of their

ass.

you work at a tv station and get a release saying some research vessel is in port....if really a slow news day......

You work at a tv station and get a release saying boaty mcboatface is in town you send a crew and its on the 6 oclock.
giving the captain to generate a smile or two and to talk about the ships mission and the importance of science for this and that.

should be a total no brainer ... get a lemon make lemonaid and they just got handed a lemonaide factory