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Earlier quoted context omitted.
The chaps from the Special Boat Service might disagree with you on that point! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Boat_Service
I don't think so - their name refers to the small boats and canoes they originally operated from.
[NB Apologies, I was being silly with that original comment, as far as I know you are correct.]
What is so wrong with it? Does it sound like every other seagoing vessel before it? No but who cares. It's unique and wonderful that human beings have a sense of humor. Maybe public works projects need more of this.
Well for one She is a Ship not a Boat - and Maritime types get quite upset if you refer to their ship as a boat. (think Pissed off Gibbs from NCIS) I did like that "Forward Unto Dawn" (the ship in halo) was 4th at one point
Shippy McShipface it is.
They should run with it, the positive PR now and in the future when the RSS Boaty McBoatface docks would be worth it. It would also show a sense of humour and make it something fun.
Possibly a bit late, but I'd love to suggest: "Experiencing A Significant Gravitas Shortfall"
They should run with it, the positive PR now and in the future when the RSS Boaty McBoatface docks would be worth it. It would also show a sense of humour and make it something fun.
There was a similar situation a few years back - some local Hungarian government were running an online poll to decide the name of a new local bridge and more importantly you were able to submit your own proposal. Some internet community got wind of this and mobilised to vote the name "Stephen Colbert Bridge" until it was at the top of the standings. Even though they never went with the name (they elected to use "Meg…
As an example, imagine that a vote comes up for raising tolls from $1 to $2 on little used street. It's one of 1000 votes a month in a direct democracy. There's little chance of getting attention if you get a bunch of people together to vote "no" but what if you get a bunch of people together to vote "no" on all odd numbered streets?
A large number of contests with low voter interest, plus the potential for publicity is fertile ground for trolling.
They should run with it, the positive PR now and in the future when the RSS Boaty McBoatface docks would be worth it. It would also show a sense of humour and make it something fun.
Well just give people a vote but secure veto rights so you can pick from a runner-up. Not that complicated. Crowdsourcing can be wonderful but it does have its pitfalls for the lowest common denominator.
Actually the Boaty... name was proposed by one of the NERC staff, so isn't actually a result of crowdsourcing.
Although these pranks are funny they highlight a something very serious - the failure case of direct democracy. When minor issues come up for vote not everyone cares. The people who do care enough to vote can easily be trolls. As an example, imagine that a vote comes up for raising tolls from $1 to $2 on little used street. It's one of 1000 votes a month in a direct democracy. There's little chance of getting attenti…
Similar thing happened in Iceland a few years ago. Before starting work to review the constitution, they ran a facebook poll to get input from the population. Top suggestions were "Free Ice Cream"and "More Volcanoes": http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/31/icelands-crowdsourced-con...