It isn't just a bunch of cretins is it. It's people with a sense of humour
When scientific community wants to attract public support a boat with a name would only be good publicity
Unfortunately I knew it would never be officiated
Boaty McBoatface
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It isn't just a bunch of cretins is it. It's people with a sense of humour
When scientific community wants to attract public support a boat with a name would only be good publicity
Unfortunately I knew it would never be officiated
Soldato
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That is actually a genius idea.Completely agree with this! They should capitalise on the situation and use the awareness to promote their studies.
They could even do a cartoon spinoff for kids to teach them science. Adventures Of Boaty McBoatface.
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I really struggle to see how they were expecting to get a sensible name out of such a poll.
Their guidance on the poll said that boats are typically named after a female name. How one female name was supposed to come out ranking above the rest I've no idea. Nobody is going to see "RMS Alison" or whatever and get excited thinking it's the best name ever.
If they were set on having such a name then they should have just set the poll up having a list of all possible female names and you could only pick from that list....in which case they would have gotten zero publicity and probably about 20 votes tops.
Their guidance on the poll said that boats are typically named after a female name. How one female name was supposed to come out ranking above the rest I've no idea. Nobody is going to see "RMS Alison" or whatever and get excited thinking it's the best name ever.
If they were set on having such a name then they should have just set the poll up having a list of all possible female names and you could only pick from that list....in which case they would have gotten zero publicity and probably about 20 votes tops.
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No, they got a name which would leave their polar research vessel as one of the most well known ships in the entire world, doing research tasks and being reported back upon frequently and often, just because of the name - rather than blanked into obscurity, and forgotten.
If they wanted to raise money, people might give money to boaty research rather than RRS gormless's projects.
I think they are missing a quite unique opportunity of they do not decide upon the name Boaty.
Completely agree with this! They should capitalise on the situation and use the awareness to promote their studies.
They could even do a cartoon spin-off for kids to teach them science. Adventures Of Boaty McBoatface.
That is brilliant!
Kids are curious!
This could easily become the most popular and long running Kids TV of all time! Really!
Think of the export market too!
Definitely, they should go for it.
Soldato
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Yeah, someone linked that to me a while back, although this was the link: http://www.theatlantic.com/internat...ce-britain-democracy/479088/?single_page=true
Soldato
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Agreed and a completely scaleable idea, branding possibilities:-
Souvenirs
School textbooks
Educational videos
Comics
Cartoons (akin to Thomas the Tank engine but with some form of educational spin)
Not only would this increase public awareness but could actually generate revenue to channel back into their research.
If they chose the name Boaty McBoatface it'll show that they care about what we think and that they have a sense of humour.
They want public interest in science, they got public interest in science and now they want to ignore it.
In a year's time no one will give a **** about RRS Barbara. It'll be another boat in a (cold) sea of mediocrity. Who can name another RRS vessel?
However Boaty McBoatface? I named that ship. I want to know where it is, I want to know what it is doing. I'd like to know who the captain is, the crew. Write a blog, make a twitter, youtube videos, facebook updates, instagram selfies, all the stuff kids, teens and young adults love.
They want public interest in science, they got public interest in science and now they want to ignore it.
In a year's time no one will give a **** about RRS Barbara. It'll be another boat in a (cold) sea of mediocrity. Who can name another RRS vessel?
However Boaty McBoatface? I named that ship. I want to know where it is, I want to know what it is doing. I'd like to know who the captain is, the crew. Write a blog, make a twitter, youtube videos, facebook updates, instagram selfies, all the stuff kids, teens and young adults love.
Huh? The ship's not getting named by Civil Servants, it's getting named by NERC. NERC is a quango with an academic guiding council.
Soldato
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If youre not going to use the name chosen by the public poll then dont waste peoples time with having it in the first place. Its as simple as that.
Whst if the result had been "Allah the greatest"?
Soldato
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Well, they were pre-screening the names before they went on the site so they presumably would have removed any likely to be offensive to religious minorities.
Soldato
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What an advertisement that would be for Britain as it enters foreign ports. Unbelievably dumb.
Nope, the man with the final say is the Minster for Science, MP Jo Johnson as the Government have a "get out clause" it can use to over-rule the chief executive of the NERC, Duncan Wingham if he decides on a name the Government doesn't like.
http://www.theguardian.com/environm...-may-not-be-name-of-new-polar-research-vessel - and a whole bunch of other press reports.