# Britain lets public name a new Polar Research Vessel **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 19, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577 "2016-03-19T21:31:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/41 "2016-03-23T16:15:05Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > Great idea, Mr Killjoy McKilljoyson. “McKilljoyson” is redundant. - Pedant O’Hairsplitter ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/42 "2016-03-23T17:28:12Z")
> [@K364](#): > > Nice that the Brits still have that marvelous sense of humour. [Yes they do.](http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/commuters-salute-guard-after-trainy-mctrainface-pulls-into-waterloo-a3209291.html) > [@](#): > > A South West Trains service from Portsmouth to Waterloo was given the humourous name ‘Trainy McTrainface’. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/43 "2016-03-23T17:53:39Z")
[Bob, the bridge](http://www.eegraphics.com/blog/2009/10/its-all-about-bridge-named-bob.html). Avon Colorado. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/44 "2016-03-23T18:14:10Z")
Go With the Floe Crunch Time So How YOU Doin’ (icebreaker pun) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/45 "2016-03-23T18:33:06Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > RRS Boat Marley & the Whalers That this isn’t in the lead is a travesty. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/46 "2016-03-23T21:34:27Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > It’s named for Sir Nigel “Boaty” McBoatface, leader of the ill-fated Pestilence Island expedition of 1868. Its purpose was to search for any traces it could find of the 1867 expedition. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/47 "2016-04-18T04:19:45Z")
[“Boaty McBoatface” cruises to victory.](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-18/boaty-mcboatface-wins-naming-poll/7333734) ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/48 "2016-04-18T04:31:00Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > This reminds me of the time Mountain Dew asked the internet to name its new flavor. > > [And the winner was “Hitler Did Nothing Wrong”.](http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/08/14/mountain-dews-dub-the-dew-online-poll-goes-horribly-wrong/) I suppose over time cultural awareness of what happens when you set up one of these polls will sink in, and they will occur no longer. It amazes me even now that PR people haven’t learned the lessons of the last few years. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/49 "2016-04-18T04:55:09Z")
Now, let’s wait and see if The Good Ship Boaty McBoatface will have a goofy cartoonish mascot face painted on the prow. [What Boaty McBoatface would look like.](http://metro.co.uk/2016/03/28/storm-katie-this-is-what-boaty-mcboatface-would-look-like-today-5779699/) [Or maybe this.](http://carsales.li.csnstatic.com/boatsales/general/editorial/ge5366240422566077933.jpg) (Notice the eyes.) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/50 "2016-04-18T07:48:38Z")
It is wonderful isn’t it? What I’d love to see is for it to be named RRS David Attenborough and choose a couple of the silly names for the tenders, dinghies or lifeboats (I’m assuming it’ll have a couple) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/51 "2016-04-18T07:53:23Z")
A group of motorcycle drivers from Spain started a proposal to name it [Blas de Lezo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blas_de_Lezo). By the time the entry was removed from the list for trolling (awww, they noticed!) it was already at number two. You guys think we could start a troll-export industry? We seem to be [good at it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9835629&postcount=55)… ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/52 "2016-04-18T08:48:26Z")
Someone noted that if Boaty McBoatface goes down with all hands at some point, newsreaders are going to have a helluva time reading the story out with a straight face. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/53 "2016-04-18T14:55:42Z")
The trend is catching on. I heard an item on NPR this morning about a racehorse named Horsey McHorseface. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/54 "2016-04-18T21:25:52Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > What I’d love to see is for it to be named RRS David Attenborough and choose a couple of the silly names for the tenders, dinghies or lifeboats (I’m assuming it’ll have a couple) This is the perfect solution 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/55 "2016-05-06T08:40:54Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > What I’d love to see is for it to be named RRS David Attenborough and choose a couple of the silly names for the tenders, dinghies or lifeboats (I’m assuming it’ll have a couple) You got your wish! It’s going to be RRS Sir David Attenborough, and the Boaty name will be given to one of the vessel’s submersibles. > **[UK’s £200 million polar research ship named in honour of Sir David Attenborough](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uks-200-million-polar-research-ship-named-in-honour-of-sir-david-attenborough)** > > A £200 million state-of-the-art polar research ship is to be named after world renowned naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/56 "2016-05-06T09:41:07Z")
I think they’ve very wisely chosen a name that no one would dare argue against! ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/57 "2016-05-06T10:58:17Z")
There’s now a petition urging Sir David to change his name to…oh go on, take a wild guess. > **[Sign the Petition](https://www.change.org/p/jo-johnson-sir-david-attenborough-to-change-his-name-to-boaty-mcboatface)** > > Sir David Attenborough to change his name to Boaty McBoatface ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/58 "2016-05-06T12:43:24Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > You got your wish! It’s going to be RRS Sir David Attenborough, and the Boaty name will be given to one of the vessel’s submersibles. > > [UK’s £200 million polar research ship named in honour of Sir David Attenborough - GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uks-200-million-polar-research-ship-named-in-honour-of-sir-david-attenborough) wway-hey! perfect. We get a boat named after a national treasure and also a fitting reminder to the general silliness of the British nation. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/59 "2016-05-06T13:25:01Z")
Sir David Attenborough? Who’s he? What’s wrong with Sir Richard Attenborough? Most of the cinema viewing world know who John Hammond is and applauded his work restoring dinosaurs to their rightful place at the top of the food chain. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577/60 "2016-05-06T13:44:41Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Sir David Attenborough? Who’s he? What’s wrong with Sir Richard Attenborough? Most of the cinema viewing world know who John Hammond is and applauded his work restoring dinosaurs to their rightful place at the top of the food chain. :eek: I can’t tell whether you’re joking here. This is the world we live in now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britain-lets-public-name-a-new-polar-research-vessel/749577.md?page=4)