# Why can't we say "Band Name"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2007, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407 "2007-01-10T14:40:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/1 "2007-01-10T14:40:03Z")
I mean, c’mon, sometimes on the SDMB you see a combination of words that’s just so funny, bizarre or incongruous that, like Dave Barry, you just _have_ to joyfully observe, “Band name!” Why, when or by whose order did doing so become a Dope taboo? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/2 "2007-01-10T14:41:58Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Dope taboo [/QUOTE] Band Name surely. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/3 "2007-01-10T14:51:26Z")
Dope taboo? I didn’t get the memo. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/4 "2007-01-10T14:53:04Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] Band Name surely. [/QUOTE] What a coincidence! That really was my band’s name, once, for twenty minutes! ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/5 "2007-01-10T14:55:48Z")
What taboo? I see this used all the time on SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/6 "2007-01-10T14:56:02Z")
Like many other jokes that were funny initially, because it’s now trite and over-used. I understand that even Barry no longer uses it. I would suggest that you try to come up with a fresh catchphrase for such combinations (e.g. “Doper Username,” “Bush malapropism;”), which if it catches on will in its turn also become trite and over-used. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/7 "2007-01-10T14:59:36Z")
Since when is an over done and long ago played lame joke taboo on the Dope? There are people here who live for that shit. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/8 "2007-01-10T15:01:59Z")
I burning you band name What **hajario** said - part of the appeal is the fact that it’s tired and overdone. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/9 "2007-01-10T15:10:27Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] Like many other jokes that were funny initially, because it’s now trite and over-used. I understand that even Barry no longer uses it. I would suggest that you try to come up with a fresh catchphrase for such combinations (e.g. “Doper Username,” “Bush malapropism;”), which if it catches on will in its turn also become trite and over-used. [/QUOTE] I disagree. I’d agree on all the other SDMB catchphrases we’ve had ove the years, but not this one. This is the only “active” one. It is constantly fed by new material, and it’s the new material that’s funny, not the catchphrase itself. The catchphrase merely points out the humour. I think it’s still got legs. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/10 "2007-01-10T15:20:20Z")
Band name: Opal and the 1920’s Style Death Rays. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/11 "2007-01-10T15:23:01Z")
[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog] I disagree. I’d agree on all the other SDMB catchphrases we’ve had ove[r] the years, but not this one. This is the only “active” one. It is constantly fed by new material, and it’s the new material that’s funny, not the catchphrase itself. The catchphrase merely points out the humour. I think it’s still got legs. [/QUOTE] Well, that’s what I’ve always thought, too, but whenever the dreaded phrase is used it invariably leads to a knuckle-rapping by self-appointed junior mods. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/12 "2007-01-10T15:24:20Z")
[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog] I disagree. I’d agree on all the other SDMB catchphrases we’ve had ove the years, but not this one. This is the only “active” one. It is constantly fed by new material, and it’s the new material that’s funny, not the catchphrase itself. The catchphrase merely points out the humour. I think it’s still got legs. [/QUOTE] I wasn’t giving my personal opinion, just explaining why some people criticize it. And of course it’s only “taboo” according to some people. I’m sometimes tempted to use it myself, but would just say it should be used with restraint. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/13 "2007-01-10T15:27:13Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Well, that’s what I’ve always thought, too, but whenever the dreaded phrase is used it invariably leads to a knuckle-rapping by self-appointed junior mods. [/QUOTE] Although (strangely) I am not a moderator, I must ask you **not** to use the phrase ‘self-appointed junior mods’. We don’t approve of that sort of thing. ☹ And surely you can do better than ‘knuckle-rapping’? As for ‘invariably’, please provide a cite. P.S. Wouldn’t ‘The Knuckle Rappers’ be a great name for a popular music combo? ---
**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/14 "2007-01-10T16:42:27Z")
[QUOTE=hajario] Since when is an over done and long ago played lame joke taboo on the Dope? There are people here who live for that shit. [/QUOTE] Live onstage Wednesday… Living For The Shit. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/15 "2007-01-10T17:01:00Z")
[QUOTE=daffyduck] Live onstage Wednesday… Living For The Shit. [/QUOTE] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/16 "2007-01-10T17:12:48Z")
[QUOTE=mr. jp] Band name: Opal and the 1920’s Style Death Rays. [/QUOTE] Appearing Tonight at the Marianas Trench Club The 1920’s Style Death Rays Band Name Hi Opal & The Burning Dogs All bands play one set for 20 minutes. * * * In Soviet Russia, band names _you_. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/17 "2007-01-10T17:13:52Z")
[QUOTE=Elendil’s Heir] Well, that’s what I’ve always thought, too, but whenever the dreaded phrase is used it invariably leads to a knuckle-rapping by self-appointed junior mods. [/QUOTE] Really? I don’t think I have ever seen this. Do you have examples? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/18 "2007-01-10T17:15:05Z")
I’m surprised nobody’s graped the treadmill yet. I spoke too soon… ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/19 "2007-01-10T17:18:30Z")
The Junior Mods will be joining in the fray with some knuckle rap-rap-rap rappping… ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407/20 "2007-01-10T17:24:39Z")
I, for one, welcome our band name: Overlords. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-say-band-name/387407.md?page=2)