"Boaty McBoatface" is overwhelming fav in contest to name $300million ship. Will they honor results?

[Liberal_in_LA]

Things have a way of backfiring when you trust the Internet to behave responsibly.

Just ask Britain's Natural Environment Research Council, which had an online contest to name its new $287 million polar research ship.

Poll takers ignored suggested august names like Shackleton, Attenborough and Endeavor, instead gleefully voting for "R.R.S. Boaty McBoatface," which is both ridiculous and totally awesome. Assuming Boaty wins the contest (it has a big lead), the Research Council will have to decide whether to honor its own contest or scuttle Boaty in favor of something more dignified.

[TreasonousBastard]

1. So, the ship is named by a crew of internet assholes who...

have no real idea what it even does.

I don't know whether to laugh of cry that it isn't just here.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. Who are the assholes?

It was Britain's Natural Environment Research Council that decided "the internets" should name this tub. Boaty McBoatface is probably what's left after weeding out the truly offensive offerings.

[AgerolanAmerican]

8. they dodged a bullet if this was the worst they got

just check out what happened to MS' AI chatbot - I'd be surprised if they didn't have entries like R.S.S. Hitlerwasright

[Donald Ian Rankin]

4. No, it's named by a committee. The contest has no official status, it's just advisory. N.T.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

10. If they don't name it "Boaty McBoatface", I'm sitting out the General Election.

No, wait, wrong forum. I thought I was still in GD-P.

[B Calm]

2. SS Trump Casino

[Victor_c3]

5. I think it's an awesome name

It's silly and fun - something that science is to me. The name will be instantly memorable. I don't see what the problem is.

Science isn't and doesn't have to be investigated by stuffy guys in lab coats with no sense of humor. Plutonium was named after Pluto to be a joke. It was a "futuristic" sounding name at the time of its discovery and the scientists thought they were being funny.

As a chemist who used to work in a lab doing dreadfully serious work for our government, I can assure you that we were amongst some of the goofiest odd-balls working for the department of treasury.

The name "Boaty McBoatface" is perfect.

[LadyHawkAZ]

6. I'm kinda with you here

There's no universal rule that says science must be solemn.

[jberryhill]

7. I'm with you there

I don't see anything wrong with the name.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

11. I think it would get old fast.

The first time you hear the joke, it's funny. The second, probably as well. But if you're working on it every day for years, I think it might start to pale.

[Phentex]

12. I love it!

I hope they stick with it.

[spiderpig]

14. This whole thing has made me laugh in a good way

Consequently, I would always be interested and cheered by the further adventures of Boaty McBoatface.

[GliderGuider]

9. I'm reminded of the 2006 "Make Your Own Commercial" campaign for the Chevy Tahoe

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/04/business/media/04adco.html

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. Lol

At first glance, the video looks like a typical 30-second car commercial: a shiny sport utility vehicle careers down a country road lined with sunflower fields, jaunty music playing in the background.

Then, white lettering appears on the screen: "$70 to fill up the tank, which will last less than 400 miles. Chevy Tahoe."

The commercial is the product of one of the advertising industry's latest trends: user-generated advertising. On March 13, Chevrolet introduced a Web site allowing visitors to take existing video clips and music, insert their own words and create a customized 30-second commercial for the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe.