Online Voters Name British Vessel 'Boaty McBoatface' (telegraph.co.uk)

Britain's Natural Environment Research Council conducted an online poll to select the name for their new advanced polar research vessel. Though it cost more than 200 million pounds and represents their fleet's largest and most advanced research vessel, when the voting closed yesterday the clear winner, was the name 'Boaty McBoatface'. The name received over 124,000 votes, while the nearest runner-up -- Poppy-Mai -- received just 34,371, and the fourth-most popular suggestion, "RRS It's Bloody Cold Here," received just 10,679 votes. "I am grateful to everyone who has participated in the competition," Britain's science minister told The Daily Telegraph, though he added "You won't be surprised to know that we want something that fits the mission and captures the spirit of scientific endeavor." The Telegraph takes this as a signal that the ministers "were unlikely to endorse the result."

Comments

I love Boaty!

[Anonymous Coward]

I think Boaty McBoatface is the best name they could have received. Do they understand how many kids will be attracted to that name? I could see this being a great way to get kids interested in polar science. It will always be Boaty McBoatface to me!

What's wrong with "It's Bloody Cold Here"?

[AJWM]

Hey, if "Of Course I Still Love You" and "Just Read the Instructions" can be valid boat names (they're the names of SpaceX's landing/recovery ships), then the "It's Bloody Cold Here" is perfectly cromulent.

Bureaucrats, no f*cking imagination or sense of humour.

Just name it that, damn it.

[Anonymous Coward]

Why can't scientists have any damn fun these days?

Giving it such a silly name would actually likely attract attention to what it does, purely because it is such a silly name.
Even the "It's bloody cold here" would go a treat.

Silly names attract attention. Some of it will be interested attention.
They'd read up on it, and maybe a small number of those people would have some interest in it.
It might even inspire some of those people to get interested in the industry(-ies) on some level.
So just go for it.
Give it a silly name! FOR SCIENCE!

I hate this prudish boring country.
Everything is PC, everything is tame, everything is boring, everything is non-excitable and PROFESHUNHUL, sterile and emotionless.
FUCK professional. I'd rather off myself than be such a boring twat.

Re:Sheesh...

[DNS-and-BIND]

That's because in a few years, nobody is going to remember a couple of TV characters from an obscure show. But we'll still be stuck with the stupid names. Just imagine if they had done this in earlier generations...there would be moons called Stu Bailey and Lucas McCain. No idea who those are? Exactly my point. And these shows were FAR more popular and widely watched than the entire output of UPN and WB put together. When we name things, we name them for future generations, not so some internet morons can chuckle for 30 seconds and then move on.