The best election all year

March 20, 2016 3:35 AM

‘Boaty McBoatface’ Is Currently Leading An Open Vote To Name The New £200 Million Royal Research Ship An open vote allowing the public to name a new £200 million Royal Research Ship belonging to the Natural Environment Research Council has produced one particularly marvellous favourite — the RRS Boaty McBoatface. It even has a twitter handle Mcboatfacepride

also just mentioned by sebastien.

posted by taff (126 comments total)

This is wonderful.
posted by DyRE at 3:38 AM on March 20, 2016 [5 favorites]

Also shout outs to RRS Pingu, RRS Usain Boat and RRS Boat Marley and the Whalers.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:43 AM on March 20, 2016 [30 favorites]

This will stand as a reminder to the researchers to never engage with the general public again.

Or to always do so, because that is an awesome name.
posted by lollusc at 3:52 AM on March 20, 2016 [44 favorites]

No. This vessel's name is RRS Ziggy Stardust.
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 3:56 AM on March 20, 2016 [3 favorites]

Their site for naming it is down, presumably due to volume, but some that I liked when I looked last night that haven't been already mentioned by fearfulsymmetry (I may be slightly off in particulars as I'm writing from memory):

RRS I Like Big Boats & I Cannot Lie
RRS It's Bloody Cold Here
RRS Success Badger
RRS Ice Ice Baby
RRS It Ain't Half Cold Mum

and one which took me far too long to get, and which should have been much higher in the rankings than it was when I looked:

RRS Pee-Eee Cee Tee
posted by Vortisaur at 3:59 AM on March 20, 2016 [87 favorites]

Oh god. I don't get the Pee Eee Cee Tee one. Have I missed yet another zeitgeist??
Edited hurredly to say.... I *just*got it. No need to explain and ruin it for others.
posted by taff at 4:10 AM on March 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

As it appears to be the inspiration for the name, I hope they will be obliged to take a ship's owl with them.
posted by howfar at 4:11 AM on March 20, 2016

I don't get the Pee Eee Cee Tee one.

I'm sure you can find out what it means to me if you focus.
posted by howfar at 4:13 AM on March 20, 2016 [43 favorites]

Just a little bit, howfar.
posted by taff at 4:15 AM on March 20, 2016 [25 favorites]

It's very troubling g that I don't get the Pee Eee one. I appear to be Ms Dense MCDenseface. I do not like starting my morning feeling so dumb!
posted by Jalliah at 4:22 AM on March 20, 2016

Pee Eee Cee Tee is making me laugh my ass off.

I have found out what it means to me.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 4:24 AM on March 20, 2016 [25 favorites]

Jalliah, this early in the morning you should take care & tcb.

Sock it to me.
posted by transitional procedures at 4:26 AM on March 20, 2016 [12 favorites]

RRS Very Little Gravitas Indeed …
posted by Pinback at 4:30 AM on March 20, 2016 [10 favorites]

Don't call it RSS Ziggy Stardust. Call it the RSS Belafonte. Make everyone wear blue jumpsuits with red hats and hire a guy to sing Ziggy Stardust in Portugese.

Please make my dream and Wes Anderson's dream come true.
posted by Nanukthedog at 4:36 AM on March 20, 2016 [18 favorites]

I got it! Finally. lol My brain got fixated on it being some sort of bathroom type joke.
posted by Jalliah at 4:37 AM on March 20, 2016 [7 favorites]

Uretha Franklin?
posted by jenkinsEar at 4:41 AM on March 20, 2016 [33 favorites]

As an arctic researcher (sort of), this has restored my faith in humanity. I hope they christen it with a bottle of Irn Bru...
posted by aeshnid at 4:47 AM on March 20, 2016 [3 favorites]

Pee Eee Cee Tee.... OMG
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 4:50 AM on March 20, 2016 [3 favorites]

As an arctic researcher (sort of), this has restored my faith in humanity.

This makes me want to be an arctic researcher and work for these folks just so I could tell people I work on Boaty McBoatface.
posted by Jalliah at 4:56 AM on March 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

It would certainly earn you massive Pee Eee Cee Tee with your friends.
posted by taff at 5:00 AM on March 20, 2016

I got a BOAT to pick
I don't want you Attenborough landlubbers muckin' up my poll again
I'm mad, but I ain't stressin'
True friends, one question:

Beach, where you when I was dockin'?
Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', McBoatface
Everybody wanna cut the legs off him, Boatface
Research vessel taking no losses, oh yeah

Beach, where you when I was dockin'?
Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin', McBoatface
Everybody wanna name him after some naturalist
When you got the NERC... (What's the NERC?)

The NERC is the Natural Environment Research Council
You can smell it when I'm docking down the street
(Oh yes we can, oh yes we can)

I can dig raftin'
But a raft named after Attenborough? What the fuck happened?
posted by oulipian at 5:05 AM on March 20, 2016 [25 favorites]

This is the best thing that has ever happened.
posted by billiebee at 5:19 AM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

I'd vote for Attenborough but he's still alive. Seems wrong.
posted by Leon at 5:27 AM on March 20, 2016

Somehow the UK always winds up mocking the Irish. Sigha
posted by nevercalm at 5:28 AM on March 20, 2016

Och. Ye dinnae mean the Scots, do ye lassie?
posted by taff at 5:32 AM on March 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

Boaty is now at almost 17500 votes. Nearest is Worsley at 2500ish.


I'm am looking forward to having some British official make the official name announcement in a stereotypical , this is serious (but funny) Brit humor deadpan way.
posted by Jalliah at 5:36 AM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

If they name it Boaty McBoatface, I think it is a moral imperative that they paint eyes on the bow.

If only googly eyes came sufficiently large.
posted by rmd1023 at 5:38 AM on March 20, 2016 [31 favorites]

For Fuchs Sake...
posted by quarsan at 5:50 AM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

"If only googly eyes came sufficiently large."

I agree, 2' is probably a bit too small…
posted by Pinback at 5:57 AM on March 20, 2016

It's very much in the style the Culture ships named themselves - with a big helping of irony / self-reference / self-parody, or whatever you want to call it. It is excellent, and the public needs to name most, no all, gov't things going forward.
posted by Meatbomb at 5:57 AM on March 20, 2016 [13 favorites]

Somehow the UK always winds up mocking the Irish. Sigha
…
This is the best thing that has ever happened.

One of the two quotes above was posted from Ireland. I get really, really bored of this outrage appropriation.
posted by ambrosen at 6:00 AM on March 20, 2016 [4 favorites]

Actually, RRS Anticipation of a New Lover's Arrival, The would be pretty awesome, too.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 6:00 AM on March 20, 2016 [10 favorites]

Oh bah. I just read that an 'expert panel' will review the voting and decide the final name.

At least I can have fun imagining the discussion they'll have to have.
posted by Jalliah at 6:01 AM on March 20, 2016

Actually, if they're going to be in international waters, I'm thinking either the RRS Gone Fission or the RRS Furious George would be excellent names.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 6:05 AM on March 20, 2016 [5 favorites]

You know that whatever awesome name the internet ends up fraudlently voting in, they're just going to do an executive veto and call it something boring like, "Lightning II," right?
posted by indubitable at 6:05 AM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

Link to the actual voting page since it's been continually overloaded for a day, we couldn't do worse now.
posted by ardgedee at 6:08 AM on March 20, 2016

You know that whatever awesome name the internet ends up fraudlently voting in, they're just going to do an executive veto and call it something boring like, "Lightning II," right?

Yes but there will always be the knowledge of what it's REAL name is.
posted by Jalliah at 6:08 AM on March 20, 2016 [3 favorites]

I'm am looking forward to having some British official make the official name announcement in a stereotypical , this is serious (but funny) Brit humor deadpan way

I can totally hear Fiona Bruce announcing it on the news in her "Gosh isn't this fun, children?" voice.
posted by billiebee at 6:15 AM on March 20, 2016

This will stand as a reminder to the researchers to never engage with the general public again.

As a researcher who has sailed on research ships I totally want Boaty McBoatface to win.

I mean, think of the spice this would add to all the papers written from cruises on it! That would be just the BEST.

"Plankton collection occurred on three consecutive nights from the bow of the RRS Boaty McBoatface. . . ."

Also whenever I submitted papers for publication I would totally change it to RRS Booty McBootface just to test my peer reviewers.
posted by barchan at 6:30 AM on March 20, 2016 [21 favorites]

Let's name it RRS Henry Joseph Nasiff Jr.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 6:37 AM on March 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

On the assumption that someone will overrule Boaty McBoatface in the name of whatever and give it a more 'proper' sounding name... I certainly hope that "Boaty McBoatface" gets heavily used on the ship as a nickname for it - complete with t-shirts, temporary tattoos, and all the other named insignia people get for their boats. (I had a temporary tattoo for a USCG vessel a while back.) There's certainly a tradition of nicknames for ships, and I can think of no better nickname for this vessel than "Boaty McBoatface" (edited because I keep typing it as McBoatypants instead of "McBoatface. Clearly, time for morning tea to wake my brain up.)
posted by rmd1023 at 6:40 AM on March 20, 2016 [4 favorites]

The entry I don't get is 'Pillar of Autumn'. Google says it's a Halo reference, can anyone confirm?
posted by orrnyereg at 6:44 AM on March 20, 2016

Some of the downlist entries:
RRS FEED
RRS BOATY MCBOATFACE THE RETURN
RRS BOATY O'BOATFACE
RRS BIG METAL FLOATY THINGY-THING
RRS ICEY SMASHY-SMASH
RRS THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH
RRS DEEPWATER HORIZON
RRS MOTÖRBOAT
RRS THUNDERBIRD 6
RRS CAPTAIN HADDOCK
RRS BUST A POLAR ICECAP (IN YO ASS)
posted by ardgedee at 6:52 AM on March 20, 2016 [15 favorites]

> Let's name it RRS Henry Joseph Nasiff Jr.

RRS HANK THE ANGRY DRUNKEN DWARF is already on the ballot with 10 votes.
posted by ardgedee at 6:58 AM on March 20, 2016

RRS FECK DRINK GIRLS
posted by grahamparks at 7:00 AM on March 20, 2016 [11 favorites]

Can Americans get in on this?

Because I was already going to vote for Trump to keep Ted Cruz out of the White House. But trust me, I'd love to have a better candidate than Trump to vote for, and I think this huge, inanimate, British icebreaker may be just what myself and a lot of other worried Americans have been looking for. From the picture, the icebreaker just looks more... Presidential.
posted by Naberius at 7:01 AM on March 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

The entry I don't get is 'Pillar of Autumn'. Google says it's a Halo reference, can anyone confirm?

Yes, it's the main ship from the first Halo game. Pretty plot important.
posted by dismas at 7:08 AM on March 20, 2016

Oh, also in the U.S. there's apparently a plan to close the Guantanamo "Naval Base" and turn it into an ocean research center. Perhaps we can call ours Jaily McJailface in solidarity.
posted by Naberius at 7:13 AM on March 20, 2016 [8 favorites]

Part of what I think is helping Boaty McBoatface stay at the top of the charts is that the ballot system isn't merging duplicates and near-misses. And there are some themes that would do better if their advocates would agree on a single name
So, for example:
RRS DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: 1563 points
RRS SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: 33 points
RRS DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: 5 points
or:
RRS ERNEST SHACKLETON: 98 points
RRS SHACKLETON: 69 points
RRS SHACKLETON 2: 18 points
RRS ENDURANCE: 122 points

Neither of these are going to come close to Boaty McBoatface's 18k votes, but merging their votes would've pushed them higher up the charts, making them more accessible to other voters.
posted by ardgedee at 7:14 AM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

There are a bunch of great names there! They should build a fleet of research vessels so they can use all of them! ( The world would be a better place if every nation's research fleet were larger than its navy.)
posted by TedW at 7:19 AM on March 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

Is there not a suggestion for RRS Biscuits?

Or RRS Driving Me Nuts?
posted by motty at 7:25 AM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

When I finally got why Pee Eee Cee Tee was funny I was overwhelmed. My family laughed for five minutes at me laughing so hard that I cried and wheezed for five minutes straight. The last time this happened was when Ron Swanson sat silently with an excruciating hernia.
posted by putzface_dickman at 7:29 AM on March 20, 2016 [12 favorites]

I suspect that 'Boaty McBoatface' will get vetoed as the ship's name, but in deference to its popularity it will be applied to something else aboard such as a launch or lifeboat.

NASA took a similar approach when the popular vote to name ISS Node 3 was won by Stephen Colbert's campaign to have it named for himself. NASA ended up naming the node 'Tranquility' but the new exercise machine for the ISS became the Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill.
posted by Major Clanger at 7:51 AM on March 20, 2016 [40 favorites]

Can't believe *I* didn't get the song reference.

Anyway, I'll be that person and say I don't really like the joke moniker. I love all things nautical, tho the only boat I've ever owned is my inflatable Katie the Kayak.

But I just think a proper ship should have a proper serious name.

So it should be Shippy McShipface.

NO! I mean, the Attenborough or something of that ilk. McBoatface would be perfect for the drunk party boats that annoy me with booming music and much lake-pissing on July weekends. But I wouldn't want a seagoing research vessel named by a bunch of landlubber smartasses.
posted by NorthernLite at 8:10 AM on March 20, 2016 [5 favorites]

Absolutely disgusted with this. Research ships deserve much more dignified and serious names, like Beagle.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 8:46 AM on March 20, 2016 [22 favorites]

This is why we can't have nice things . . . . .
posted by birdhaus at 9:09 AM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

Also whenever I submitted papers for publication I would totally change it to RRS Booty McBootface just to test my peer reviewers.

If you want a picture of the future of polar research...
posted by zamboni at 9:10 AM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

Iain M Banks approved.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 9:20 AM on March 20, 2016 [3 favorites]

If you want a picture of the future of polar research...

Ha! The sad? interesting? something fact, zamboni, is that ocean science cruises are notorious for people having affairs.
posted by barchan at 9:49 AM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

RRS MOTÖRBOAT

It certainly should be this, and its logo should be the Ace of Spades, the Ace of Spades.

\m/ \m/
posted by Celsius1414 at 9:51 AM on March 20, 2016 [13 favorites]

RRS QUIDNUNC McQUIDNUNCBUTT
posted by y2karl at 10:06 AM on March 20, 2016 [3 favorites]

So... 5-years after this vessel completes it's expected mission, I envision the following:

Interviewer: "Um, it says here you were captain of an arctic exploration ship?"
Candidate: "...sigh, yes - actually I was..."
Interviewer: "Boaty McBoatface? Really?... Interesting..."
(marks the "Flake" checkbox on his feedback form)
posted by jkaczor at 10:22 AM on March 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

RRS Pee-Eee Cee Tee

Oh.

I feel nothing. What's wrong with me?
posted by clockzero at 10:23 AM on March 20, 2016 [4 favorites]

I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'm also going to be That Guy.

This violate's Dreadnought's Rule for Boat Naming: No matter how cute and funny it sounds, never call your vessel after anything that would sound embarrassing in a distress call.

"MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY this is RRS Boaty McBoatface, RRS Boaty McBoatface, RRS Boaty McBoatface. We are twelve miles sierra echo of Devil's Point. We are on fire and sinking. Our boats are wrecked. Repeat we are SINKING and we have a FIRE! We need every immediate assistance. MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY this is RRS Boaty McBoatface, RRS Boaty McBoatface, RRS Boaty McBoatface. For the love of god come quickly!"
posted by Dreadnought at 10:32 AM on March 20, 2016 [23 favorites]

Yes, it's the main ship from the first Halo game. Pretty plot important.

But perhaps a little... ill-fated?
posted by running order squabble fest at 10:35 AM on March 20, 2016

It is excellent, and the public needs to name most, no all, gov't things going forward.

mmmmYeaaaah. No. I'm not sure I want US Government things named after what anonymous and your average Trump supporter types would come up with, even occasionally.
posted by ctmf at 10:39 AM on March 20, 2016

The maiden voyage of the RRS Boaty McBoatface should be an expedition to track and study Mister Splashy Pants.
posted by dephlogisticated at 11:02 AM on March 20, 2016 [8 favorites]

This is the Jean-Luc Picard Wunder Crossing all over again.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 11:18 AM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

... allowing the public ...

That was your first mistake.
posted by freakazoid at 11:18 AM on March 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

What, no love for "RRS David Boatie" ?

I voted for "RRS Boaty McBoatface" too...
posted by Sintram at 11:40 AM on March 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

RRS Pee-Eee Cee Tee

After about 2 hours it just clicked and I am still laughing, just like I am still laughing at Boaty McBoatface so once again, thank you Metafilter for lighting up an incredibly grey day, atmospherically speaking.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 12:36 PM on March 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

This has brought me so many smiles today. On and off I've been googling 'boaty mcboatface' and watching as it's spreading through the news media around the world. Pretty hilarious.
posted by Jalliah at 1:21 PM on March 20, 2016

Another vote from me for Boaty McBoatface.
posted by essexjan at 2:07 PM on March 20, 2016

Throughout the day RRS Pee Eee Cee Tee has intermittently popped into my noodle and it makes me laugh my ass off every single time. I do like Boaty McBoatface and I hope the panel okays it but RRS Pee Eee Cee Tee has my heart because it's just so funny.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 3:06 PM on March 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

On a totally serious note, the name Boaty McBoatface would be awesome for marketing cool science to kids. Can you imagine the marketing possibilities? Rubber toy replicas of the boat that kids call Boaty they could play with in tubs, and more serious versions (Lego Boaty! Scale model Boaty!) for older/more serious children. Plush Boaty! Scientist figurines! Boaty experiments you can do at home!

Also a lot of these cruises have patches/hats/t-shirts, and smaller versions of those for kids, or a smiling boat on a patch with RRS BOATY in an arc above it. . .I mean, that would be just awesome. The name is just so accessible and fun. Hey kids, come set sail and do science on the RRS Boaty McBoatface!
posted by barchan at 3:24 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

This will stand as a reminder to the researchers to never engage with the general public again.

Researchers probably proposed this. They are infamous for ridiculous boat names. I once heard about a boat at one of the west coast research reserves with a dodgy engine named the Mola Mola which is spectacularly nerdy funny name.
posted by fshgrl at 3:59 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

Riding roughshod over the consensus opinion to get the result that's wanted by a small panel of insiders doesn't at all sound like the NERC I know.

*dies*
posted by cromagnon at 4:14 PM on March 20, 2016

Musk should use it if NERC chicken out
posted by stuartmm at 4:31 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

*sigh*

This is going to be just like the time we named the Washington DC panda "Butterstick", isn't it.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 4:55 PM on March 20, 2016

Pee Eee Cee Tee

I feel dumb that I'm not figuring this out....
posted by zarq at 5:07 PM on March 20, 2016

Zarq, think Aretha Franklin...
posted by TwoStride at 5:28 PM on March 20, 2016 [6 favorites]

Needs the full vessel name to make sense. RSS Pee Eee Cee Tee.
posted by taff at 5:31 PM on March 20, 2016 [7 favorites]

fshgrl: I once heard about a boat at one of the west coast research reserves with a dodgy engine named the Mola Mola which is spectacularly nerdy funny name.

Hah, that's awesome.
posted by Mitrovarr at 6:07 PM on March 20, 2016

Taff, thank you for helping the slow folks like myself.
posted by samthemander at 6:26 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

RRS Pee Eee Cee Tee

I'm sure the ride would be ...rocksteady
posted by flippant at 7:18 PM on March 20, 2016

DOH! That's BRILLIANT. :D

Thanks for the explanation!!
posted by zarq at 7:54 PM on March 20, 2016

I once heard about a boat at one of the west coast research reserves with a dodgy engine named the Mola Mola

Can you explain this? Are ocean sunfish known for their dodgy engines?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:59 PM on March 20, 2016

This is just so great.

I just want to scream BOATY MCBOATFACE from the rooftops.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 9:14 PM on March 20, 2016 [3 favorites]

From the HuffPo article recently:: "Update: The Natural Research Council posted a clarification on Sunday saying the final decision will be made by a panel, not the votes. "

Bye Boaty :(
posted by AGameOfMoans at 9:19 PM on March 20, 2016 [1 favorite]

This is similar to the instant nickname maker I use at home. My pet's nickname: Barky McBarksalot. Wife: Naggy McNagsalot. Try it sometime.
posted by wmoskowi at 10:44 PM on March 20, 2016

Wife: Naggy McNagsalot.

Hmmm. Careful with that, or you might end up Single McSadface.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:57 PM on March 20, 2016 [11 favorites]

mmmmYeaaaah. No. I'm not sure I want US Government things named after what anonymous and your average Trump supporter types would come up with, even occasionally.


Ehhh, honestly I think the culture jammers would get the better of them. It'd probably actually be better because instead of having the jingoism spoon fed to them ala the USS Constitution or USS Independence, they'd actually have to work for it. And that's a lot harder.

For every USS FREEDOM we'd have at least three USS FREEEEEDOOOM! Delivered!


Which would probably actually make our imperialism worst. Cause irony.
posted by mayonnaises at 11:12 PM on March 20, 2016

For every USS FREEDOM we'd have at least three USS FREEEEEDOOOM! Delivered!

And almost certainly the USS AMERICA: FUCK YEAH!
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 11:30 PM on March 20, 2016 [2 favorites]

This is similar to the instant nickname maker I use at home. My pet's nickname: Barky McBarksalot.

Hee. Mine is Barky McBarkbark. I'd forgotten I call him this when he's really going at it. It does explain why I instantly loved Boaty McBoatface though.
posted by Jalliah at 3:25 AM on March 21, 2016

The trick now will be to forever link the eventually sanctioned name with Boaty McBoatface use every SEO trick in the book so that in all future articles about the research it will be referred to as RRS 'whatevertheychoose' known popularly as Boaty McBoatface.

The best of these is still Boston Garden also known as U.F.I.A.
posted by srboisvert at 6:01 AM on March 21, 2016

I always look like this. I have resting boat-face.
posted by JohnFromGR at 6:26 AM on March 21, 2016 [11 favorites]

I'm sure us Americans can find a way to make it feel dumb and tawdry. All we need to do now is get the supporters for various presidential candidates on board and we will see a surge in votes for the RRS Make America Great Again or RSS Feel the Bern, but then we will see it turn with stuff like the RSS Benghazi Emails.
posted by Badgermann at 7:03 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]

They tried this with re_naming our baseball team here in ABQ...overwhelming choice and the new name..The Isotopes (re-Simpsons)
posted by judson at 7:37 AM on March 21, 2016 [2 favorites]

Bye Boaty :(
Surely, you mean Bye Bye Boaty ...
posted by milnews.ca at 7:58 AM on March 21, 2016 [2 favorites]

They had a report on the BBC news... the (male) reporter was trying his best to go full Clarkson re the pronunciation of Boaty McBoatface.

They had a phone interview with guy who came up with the name - the official reason he put on the form: 'It's a great name'. He was surprised it took off when there were already a number of funny names posted.

The best bit was when the interviewed a retired admiral (and ex sea lord) in front of the Houses of Parliament and I thought at first he was going to be all pompous about it... but though he tried, he literally could not keep a straight face. His take was that even if it's not a forgone conclusion with a board picking the name, they are going to have a hard time not going for Boaty McBoatface if the vote is overwhelming.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 8:14 AM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]

where are the superdelegates
posted by zutalors! at 8:18 AM on March 21, 2016 [3 favorites]

Damn I just saw a picture of the Ship With No Name and I have never seen a boat that more epitomized Boaty McBoatface. Have you looked at the face on that thing? So Boaty!
posted by janey47 at 8:18 AM on March 21, 2016

When our son was a baby, he was Whiny J. Complainpants.
posted by Lucinda at 10:09 AM on March 21, 2016

They tried this with re_naming our baseball team here in ABQ...overwhelming choice and the new name..The Isotopes (re-Simpsons)

Well, with LANL and Sandia in town, yeah. At least that's in better taste than "the A-bombs" or something like that. The Albuquerque "Death, Destroyers of Worlds" might be a little heavy for baseball.
posted by ctmf at 11:44 AM on March 21, 2016 [4 favorites]

I'm just glad for once the internet went with "lighthearted and fun" and not "RRS BUSH DID 9/11 420 HITLER"
posted by Itaxpica at 12:28 PM on March 21, 2016 [2 favorites]

I'm surprised "RRS NAME OF VESSEL" isn't doing better, it's already in the mockup image and has a great ring to it.
posted by Pfardentrott at 4:02 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]

The US Air Force is getting in on the crowd-sourced naming action.

It's Bomby McBombFace's time to shine!
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:22 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]

It's very much in the style the Culture ships named themselves - with a big helping of irony / self-reference / self-parody, or whatever you want to call it. It is excellent, and the public needs to name most, no all, gov't things going forward.

All of those other Culture Minds are making their avatars turn pale greenish speckled with pink & dark greenish with envy over having the very bestest name taken.
posted by ovvl at 7:36 PM on March 21, 2016

15 Other Polls Hijacked by the Internet
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:49 PM on March 21, 2016

Actually, RRS Anticipation of a New Lover's Arrival, The would be pretty awesome, too.
We've had a few Culture ship names/references here haven't we? Off the top of my head;
Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, Bora Horza Gobuchul, Another Fine Product From The Nonsense Factory, Caconym, Meatbomb, sixcolors...

There must be more that I can't think of.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 11:25 PM on March 21, 2016

How does the list of hijacked polls not include Kemal Attaturk? He won in every category!
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 12:06 AM on March 22, 2016

ActingTheGoat: "There must be more that I can't think of."

You Call This Clean?, Outstanding Contribution to the Historical Process, A Fine Disregard for Awkward Facts, The Usual But Etymologically Unsatisfactory, You Naughty Monsters, Poke It With A Stick, …

(I'm not one to mourn a life well lived, but remembering those makes me a little sad…)
posted by Pinback at 12:31 AM on March 22, 2016

So today while my 11-year-old kid and I were watching a nature documentary with David Attenborough, I could not stop giggling thinking about poor Sir David Attenborough losing this naming contest to Boaty McBoatface, and so of course my kid asked me why I had the giggles, and I had to pause the video and explain this situation to him.

His response? "David Attenborough could solve this whole problem by changing his name to Boaty McBoatface."
posted by BlueJae at 12:27 PM on March 22, 2016 [9 favorites]

Gene Weingarten (Washington Post) has some thoughts on this:

"British Science Folks, heed the will of the people. The people are, in fact, sending you a message, and it is contemporary, and it is not without serious meaning. The meaning has global resonance; it is related to why a petulant adolescent bully is running away with the Republican nomination for president here in the States.
People everywhere are fed up with the status quo. People are tired of being fed phony equivalencies and false choices within a system they feel has been screwing them over forever. People really want to blow it all up and start afresh. This feeling manifests itself in different ways, some good and some bad.
The Donald Trump phenomenon is very bad, because "blow up the system" is piggybacking on the core support of ignorant, racist, xenophobic halfwits. But the Boaty McBoatface phenomenon is very good. It is exactly why Jon Stewart -- and now John Oliver -- have been the prime news deliverers to a generation of joyful cynics who also see the system and don't like what they see. They're responsible for The Bernie Sanders phenomenon, which is sweet and wholesome and adorable, though perilously unwise and impractical.
Hear me out, Brit scientists. I am not going to predict that there will be rioting in the streets if the voice of the people is not heard. Threats of violence are the province of that other phenomenon, the one the halfwits find appealing.
I am saying that it is in your best interests to remain open to harmless popular sedition here. And that it might just be smart to do so. There is value in government showing that it can be cool, and even join in playful subversion. The closest analogy I can think of is right here in the District of Columbia, the residents of which are denied a voting seat in Congress; they retaliated by putting on their license plates the logo "Taxation Without Representation." Every American schoolchild knows the next two words: "Is Tyranny." We were talking about you, Britain.
Government can react to the people's desire to blow things up in one of several ways. One would be to try to squash it, as you guys did in 1776. That didn't turn out so well, did it? To refresh your memory, here is the truly great Jonathan Groff as King George, from "Hamilton". Another way is to ignore it, which is what the Republicans here did for way too long. The third way is to gulp, swallow hard, put on a smile and play along.
A $290 million floating boondoggle named "Boaty McBoatface," a project no doubt oversold to the public, will be a milestone in government-citizen relationships. It will be sign of the power of the public in the digital age, an organic, crowd-sourced raised middle finger to the stodgy, the pettifoggers, the sourpusses, the stuffed shirts.
Do it.
No, really.
DO it."

posted by jenfullmoon at 1:00 PM on March 22, 2016 [2 favorites]

And the fabbo news is that the voting site is returned to its former glory...Votey McVoteface here.

That was quite the crash...
posted by taff at 4:06 PM on March 22, 2016 [1 favorite]

I'm so pleased I got to vote! I mean it's literally more useful than voting in my actual local elections. On finally getting to see the other contenders I also have love for RRS Pickupapenguin and RRS Dave.
posted by billiebee at 4:45 PM on March 22, 2016

Commuters salute guard after 'Trainy McTrainface' pulls into Waterloo
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:00 AM on March 23, 2016 [1 favorite]

A chotz setting from Maske:Thaery by Jack Vance:

Far Clouds In Stately Formation
posted by y2karl at 5:22 AM on March 23, 2016

'"On behalf of the whole clan, I'd just like to say how delighted I am that the people of Britain chose to commemorate dad. We all knew that he had a liking for port - but that was just his was of helping to break the ice". The late laird is survived by his heir, Shipey, as well as young Facey and Tug.'
posted by rongorongo at 12:25 PM on March 23, 2016

The scientific community has reacted with some humor. #TheInternetNamesAnimals #TheInternetNamesSpace
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:40 PM on March 24, 2016 [1 favorite]

*files away "Nopey McNoMyGod" for next spider FPP*
posted by billiebee at 1:44 PM on March 24, 2016 [1 favorite]

And the winner is... RSS Boaty McBoatface!
posted by metaquarry at 12:02 PM on April 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

Alas, it still remains to be seen if the committee will go with the popular vote.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 4:27 PM on April 17, 2016

Alas, it appears not.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 5:11 PM on April 19, 2016

Boaty McBoatface: tyrants have crushed the people’s will
posted by Shmuel510 at 8:31 PM on April 19, 2016 [2 favorites]

If Queen Elizabeth will not stand firm in defense of Boaty McBoatface, what exactly is the point of monarchs?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:19 PM on April 19, 2016 [8 favorites]