Religion and Ethics Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: SqueakyVoice on April 19, 2016, 01:58:26 PM

Title: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: SqueakyVoice on April 19, 2016, 01:58:26 PM
It turns out that despite getting many more votes than any other option, Jo Johnson MP has announced that Boaty McBoatface won't be called that after all.

Which makes JJ Votey McVolte-Face.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: ilex on April 19, 2016, 09:33:28 PM
In the first place, it will not be a boat but a ship.

By the time this vessel is in use, the UK may well have left the EU and what is left of the UK will be regarded as the Argentina of Europe. Operating in Antarctic waters and attempting to engage as a serious research vessel will not be made easier  by having a stupid name.

If this name represents the serious considerations of people in the United Kingdom, what does it say about the population being able to make a rational  choice in an important constitutional referendum?
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Nearly Sane on April 19, 2016, 09:36:38 PM
In the first place, it will not be a boat but a ship.

By the time this vessel is in use, the UK may well have left the EU and what is left of the UK will be regarded as the Argentina of Europe. Operating in Antarctic waters and attempting to engage as a serious research vessel will not be made easier  by having a stupid name.

If this name represents the serious considerations of people in the United Kingdom, what does it say about the population being able to make a rational  choice in an important constitutional referendum?
It says nothing about it at all.

BTW welcome ilex
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Walt Zingmatilder on April 19, 2016, 09:39:33 PM
It turns out that despite getting many more votes than any other option, Jo Johnson MP has announced that Boaty McBoatface won't be called that after all.

Which makes JJ Votey McVolte-Face.
You da man
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Maeght on April 19, 2016, 09:42:46 PM
It turns out that despite getting many more votes than any other option, Jo Johnson MP has announced that Boaty McBoatface won't be called that after all.

Good

Quote
Which makes JJ Votey McVolte-Face.

Was it ever said the name with the most votes would definitely be adopted?
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: ilex on April 19, 2016, 10:01:22 PM
It says nothing about it at all.

BTW welcome ilex

Thank you very much, NS. But it should really be welcome back.

Some might regard me as proof of reincarnation. I shall explain in due course.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: floo on April 20, 2016, 12:10:59 PM
Thank you very much, NS. But it should really be welcome back.

Some might regard me as proof of reincarnation. I shall explain in due course.

I am trying to work out who ilex was in a previous incarnation?
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Bubbles on April 20, 2016, 02:33:39 PM
Ok what happened to ilex?

Did someone block him?

Mods?

Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: wigginhall on April 20, 2016, 02:36:34 PM
I think it's a wonderful name.   However, no doubt the pompous and po-faced suits will rule it out.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Maeght on April 20, 2016, 03:18:19 PM
I think it's a wonderful name.   However, no doubt the pompous and po-faced suits will rule it out.

Just because someone doesn't consider that a joke name is suitable for a very expensive research vessel which will (hopefully) be operating for several decades representing this country doesn't make them pompous and po-faced. Maybe if they were naming the latest Blue Peter pet it would be fine.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Shaker on April 20, 2016, 03:19:16 PM
Just because someone doesn't consider that a joke name is suitable for a very expensive research vessel which will (hopefully) be operating for several decades representing this country doesn't make them pompous and po-faced.

Well ... yes it does, actually ;)
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Maeght on April 20, 2016, 03:31:58 PM
Well ... yes it does, actually ;)

No it doesn't actually.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Walt Zingmatilder on April 20, 2016, 06:30:37 PM
I think it's a wonderful name.   However, no doubt the pompous and po-faced suits will rule it out.
Yes when others see the prow of this ship it will alert them long before they sail into stormy waters ''Caution, Twats in sailor suits.....give a wide berth!''.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: wigginhall on April 20, 2016, 06:34:40 PM
Just because someone doesn't consider that a joke name is suitable for a very expensive research vessel which will (hopefully) be operating for several decades representing this country doesn't make them pompous and po-faced. Maybe if they were naming the latest Blue Peter pet it would be fine.

Well, obviously we disagree.  I see it as quite a charming name, and I don't think it detracts from scientific research at all.   
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Shaker on April 20, 2016, 06:41:30 PM
No it doesn't actually.
Sure it does. The building of the ship in itself indicates that we take scientific research and a committment to the scientific endeavour seriously. The name with the most votes however is a light-hearted bit of fun and you'd have to be a rather charmless humour-free zone to take exception to it.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Maeght on April 20, 2016, 07:28:34 PM
Sure it does. The building of the ship in itself indicates that we take scientific research and a committment to the scientific endeavour seriously. The name with the most votes however is a light-hearted bit of fun and you'd have to be a rather charmless humour-free zone to take exception to it.

Humour is a matter of taste - to suggest that someone who doesn't see the joke is charmless and humour-free comes across as somewhat arrogant I'm afraid.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Maeght on April 20, 2016, 07:30:26 PM
Well, obviously we disagree.  I see it as quite a charming name, and I don't think it detracts from scientific research at all.   

That's fine - we don't have to agree. So long as one doesn't accuse people who don't see the joke as being pompous and po-faced then I have no issue.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Rhiannon on April 20, 2016, 07:38:04 PM
Can't think why anyone would vote for anything so stupid.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Shaker on April 20, 2016, 07:40:13 PM
 ;D
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: wigginhall on April 20, 2016, 07:41:28 PM
That's fine - we don't have to agree. So long as one doesn't accuse people who don't see the joke as being pompous and po-faced then I have no issue.

I don't remember saying that.  I said that the pompous suits would rule it out, which seems to have happened.  It just seems odd to me to set up a popular vote, and then strike down the winner.   You can have anything you want, especially the ones we want.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Maeght on April 20, 2016, 07:47:18 PM
I don't remember saying that.  I said that the pompous suits would rule it out, which seems to have happened.

Indeed you didn't - sorry to misrepresent what you said.

Quote
... but It just seems odd to me to set up a popular vote, and then strike down the winner.   You can have anything you want, especially the ones we want.

I expect they just wanted to raise the profile and never expected the reaction they got. They should have known better - but perhaps it was their 'marketing department' or whatever rather than the men in suits.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: wigginhall on April 20, 2016, 07:50:25 PM
I do think they are missing a trick, as going with 'Boaty' would be a great PR coup.  Well, maybe they don't want that.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Maeght on April 20, 2016, 07:55:18 PM
I do think they are missing a trick, as going with 'Boaty' would be a great PR coup.  Well, maybe they don't want that.

I think they've got plenty of publicity as it is and can go ahead and give it a sensible name and maybe get even more publicity about that - more probably than if they just went with the vote as the novelty would soon wear off.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Shaker on April 20, 2016, 08:00:30 PM
She'll always be Boaty McBoatface to me ...
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Maeght on April 20, 2016, 08:12:22 PM
Good for you.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Gordon on April 20, 2016, 08:22:11 PM
Can't think why anyone would vote for anything so stupid.

Slippery slope worries I suppose, since before you know it people will start changing their well-known monikers in a similar vein.

Wouldn't happen here though! We're all far too sensible. 
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Rhiannon on April 20, 2016, 08:30:41 PM
That would just be silly.

I hear they've gone for What Iceberg?

Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Shaker on April 20, 2016, 08:32:01 PM
How ridiculous.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Gordon on April 20, 2016, 08:47:56 PM
How ridiculous.

Absolutely - I mean only really silly people would jump on the bandwagon.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: SqueakyVoice on April 20, 2016, 09:38:43 PM
Absolutely - I mean only really silly people would jump on the bandwagon.
What bandwagon?
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: jeremyp on April 22, 2016, 02:09:37 AM
That would just be silly.

I hear they've gone for What Iceberg?
The fourth placed name was It's Bloody Cold Here which I think would be a great name as it evokes the names of Culture ships which would be a tribute to Iain M Banks. What Iceberg? works too.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Sebastian Toe on April 22, 2016, 10:33:18 AM
What bandwagon?

The Bandy McWagonface one?
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Shaker on May 06, 2016, 12:04:51 PM
Bah! >:(

http://goo.gl/JlVIia
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Hope on May 06, 2016, 12:24:45 PM
It appears that the 'Boaty' name will be used for an unmanned submersible based on the RSS Sir David Attenborough.  At least that was announced during the news at the top of the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Shaker on May 06, 2016, 12:25:54 PM
They're trying to get the smaller vessel called Subby McSubface ;D
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Hope on May 06, 2016, 12:32:53 PM
They're trying to get the smaller vessel called Subby McSubface ;D
I think that was Paddy O'Connell's suggestion!!
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Gordon on May 06, 2016, 12:34:57 PM
Shame: much as I think Sir D is a top bloke and a great communicator, now and then a little daftness in this world is no bad thing.

One can only hope that some right-minded boaty types will now do the right thing, and that before long there will be an outbreak of Boaty McBoatfaces (or even Yachty McYachtfaces) in multiple marinas. 
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Maeght on May 06, 2016, 12:50:35 PM
Good decision.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: floo on May 06, 2016, 01:21:42 PM
It appears that the 'Boaty' name will be used for an unmanned submersible based on the RSS Sir David Attenborough.  At least that was announced during the news at the top of the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2.

I have just heard that too on the BBC One news, a good decision.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Walt Zingmatilder on May 06, 2016, 07:02:12 PM
Isn't renaming ships supposed to be unlucky?
After all look what happened to Titan Mctitanicface.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: jeremyp on May 06, 2016, 09:02:29 PM
They're trying to get the smaller vessel called Subby McSubface ;D
Any submariner will tell you that submarines are always called boats.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: BeRational on May 07, 2016, 01:00:13 AM
When I was doing a lot of diving on wrecks around the cost, we looked at a map with hundreds of wrecks on it. Looking at all the names, we decided that the best name for a ship would be "HMS Kevin", simply because all the wrecks were James, Charles, Henry, Charlotte .......... Any royal name you like was sunk somewhere. But nowhere did we see a Kevin.
Title: Re: Boaty McBoatface - the decision
Post by: Walt Zingmatilder on May 07, 2016, 05:32:59 AM
When I was doing a lot of diving on wrecks around the cost, we looked at a map with hundreds of wrecks on it. Looking at all the names, we decided that the best name for a ship would be "HMS Kevin", simply because all the wrecks were James, Charles, Henry, Charlotte .......... Any royal name you like was sunk somewhere. But nowhere did we see a Kevin.
No foe would dare take on an HMS Kevin.