Boaty McBoatface and the False Promise of Democracy • Hacker News Board

Re: Boaty McBoatface and the False Promise of Democracy

#101

Post by vidarh » Fri, Apr 22, 2016, 11:57 AM UTC

baddox wrote: post #59

mrob wrote: post #2

The solution is simple. Continue calling the boat Boaty McBoatface. Ignore all references to the government's preferred name. They can choose what's painted on the side, but the name depends only on what people call it. If enough people call it Boaty McBoatface its name really is Boaty McBoatface. If your job depends on calling it the government's preferred name then subtly alter the timing of your speech to make it…

I don't see much fun in that. The funny thing about getting the ship named Boaty McBoatface is that it would be painted on the ship and would be named as such in official documentation. The ability to casually refer to the ship by that name does exist, obviously, but how often do people refer to specific government ships by name anyway?

One has to wonder if someone will decide to apply an unauthorised paint job at some point..

Re: Boaty McBoatface and the False Promise of Democracy

#102

Post by vidarh » Fri, Apr 22, 2016, 11:59 AM UTC

aninhumer wrote: post #98

hartpuff wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AFAIK there's nothing to stop someone creating a character called Boaty McBoatface that teaches 4 year olds why the ice caps are melting, without having its internet joke name attached to a real life $300 million scientific research vessel.

Well yeah, but that's not the same. And exactly what problem does attaching the name to a real boat cause? I think the objection to the name is far more childish than the name itself. "Oh no no no, we can't call it that . This is a serious boat, for serious grown ups."

If only Spitting Image was still around. This whole thing is like designed for a solid round of mockery.

Re: Boaty McBoatface and the False Promise of Democracy

#103

Post by aninhumer » Fri, Apr 22, 2016, 12:03 PM UTC

TillE wrote: post #82

aninhumer wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The parent wasn't simply talking about making it a "cash machine", they're talking about using it as a PR vehicle for science. And you don't have to be a child to appreciate the name, just not quite as allergic to whimsy as you seem to be.

> allergic to whimsy British public life is nothing but whimsy. Consider that "wheelie bin" is the actual normal name of a thing, not a cutesy nickname. A little non-whimsy is frankly refreshing.

As opposed to "panties", "burglarize" and "bangs"?

There are words in all dialects that sound whimsical to outsiders, but internally they're so normalised that no one considers them whimsical at all.

Re: Boaty McBoatface and the False Promise of Democracy

#104

Post by Angostura » Fri, Apr 22, 2016, 12:04 PM UTC

As the article makes clear, this wasn't a bait and switch, it was clearly said at the start what the parameters were. They were there to avoid this type of situation where people chose a crass name.

Re: Boaty McBoatface and the False Promise of Democracy

#105

Post by Overtonwindow » Fri, Apr 22, 2016, 12:08 PM UTC

Something else that may have not been considered is that the whole voting system was rigged. Much in a "marblecake the game" scenario. What should be done in a situation where the vote has been rigged by nefarious/trolling actors?

Re: Boaty McBoatface and the False Promise of Democracy

#106

Post by Doctor_Fegg » Fri, Apr 22, 2016, 12:13 PM UTC

DanBC wrote: post #32

jernfrost wrote: post #22

I don't agree with a lot of the conclusions of this article. E.g. they propose that voting "probably" works the same way in all other countries as the US. There are plenty of objections to be made against that. E.g. 1) the US being a two party state means that getting representatives which represents the great variety of voter opinions is exceedingly difficult. 2) US elections are so dominated by advertisement, expen…

> If a choice was demanded of the whole population then Boaty McBoatface would never have won. If you force British people to vote then Boaty McBoatface would probably win, because british people can be surprisingly bloody minded. And boaty mcboatface is the polite version, you'd have a number of people writing Cunty McCuntyCunt on the form.

Exactly. It's the same bloody-mindedness that got 'Killing in the Name' - essentially the phrase "---k you I won't do what you tell me" shouted repeatedly - to No 1 at Christmas as a reaction against the X Factor manufactured idol hype. (And almost got 'Ding dong, the witch is dead' to No 1 after Thatcher's death...)

Re: Boaty McBoatface and the False Promise of Democracy

#107

Post by tychuz » Fri, Apr 22, 2016, 12:18 PM UTC

Eh, I did not enjoy RSS Boaty McBoatface. However, like 15th entry really caught my attention in that voting poll - RSS Boat. Now that's something simple yet elegant.

Re: Boaty McBoatface and the False Promise of Democracy

#108

Post by 7952 » Fri, Apr 22, 2016, 12:24 PM UTC

wildmusings wrote: post #5

This seems like bad move on the British government's part. Name the thing Boaty McBoatface and reap great PR for years. Edit: Or maybe it's all part of the plan. Let us all down by hinting that they're not using the name, then announce a change of heart. The internet would explode.

Yes of course they should do that. And rename it the Attenborough when he (sadly) passes away.

Re: Boaty McBoatface and the False Promise of Democracy

#109

Post by brightball » Fri, Apr 22, 2016, 12:26 PM UTC

A professor from UVA once told me that Democracy was the art of convincing people that they actually made the decision.

Re: Boaty McBoatface and the False Promise of Democracy

#110

Post by gpvos » Fri, Apr 22, 2016, 12:27 PM UTC

narag wrote: post #89

gpvos wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

According to Wikipedia, several Spanish ships have been named after him.

Has been. Try it now and see what happens.

Please explain.