Filed under: Attitude & Aptitude, Brand Suicide, Corporate Evil, Culture, Cunning, Devious Strategy, Food For Thought, Insight, Marketing, Marketing Fail, Perspective
So over the last few months, there was a lot of commentary about a new, multi-million pound, British research boat that asked the public for help in choosing its name.
Actually that’s not what the commentary was about, it was the fact that one of the names was the utterly brilliant, Boaty McBoatface.
And guess what … it won!!!
Yes.
However, despite polling four times as many votes as its nearest competitor, the owners of the boat – the British Government – ended up sinking the name, using this as their justification …
“The new royal research ship will be sailing into the world’s iciest waters to address global challenges that affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people, that’s why we want a name that lasts longer than a social media news cycle.”
To be fair, they have a point – especially as the vessel is actually a ship, rather than a boat and Shippy McShipface just doesn’t have the same ring to it – however I still think they’ve made a bad decision.
It is not, as you may think, because the Government have basically just pissed on democracy.
Which they have.
Neither is it that they’ve just failed to embrace the unique wit of the British public.
Which they also have.
It’s because Boaty McBoatface could have potentially helped solve the environmental issues she was built to investigate.
[For the record, boats are always female apparently]
My thinking is that with a name like that, she would have caught the attention of children – and adults – all over the World.
In fact, I could argue she already did.
And if they’d kept that name and harnessed all that attention, children would have wanted to follow Boaty’s journey … they would have taken an active interest in the issues she uncovered and discovered … they would have wanted to help Boaty out and they could have done that by doing the sort of things that slow – or even reverse – environmental decline.
Boaty McBoatface might have actually led to the sort of change in behaviour and attitudes that Earth Hour can only dream about.
I’m serious.
Then there’s the fact that with a name like that, Boaty McBoatface could be made into children’s toys or cartoons to raise even more awareness – not to mention funds – in the fight against environmental damage.
I get it might be a bit weird for the scientists who work aboard her, but I could argue that they would be far happier knowing the ship they’re on is not just getting important data, but actively contributing to awareness and change.
But no. It’s going to be something else.
I’m sure it will be respectful and dignified – they say ‘HMS David Attenborough’ is a leading candidate – and I get it, it definitely makes sense … but it won’t have the same impact or potential reach that Boaty McBoatface would have.
Like the ice bucket challenge showed us, if you have tried for years to change something to no avail, sometimes the most radical decisions are the most sensible.
It appears I am in the rare position to be able to offer the British Government some advice … advice I offer to anyone who challenges my response to one of their questions … and that advice is this.
If you don’t like the answer, don’t ask the question.
The good news is that while the Government may have stopped Boaty McBoatface from officially hitting the high seas, you can be pretty sure that’s how she will be known.
After all, the Ferrari Daytona never really existed – it was the 365 GTB/4 – but when it came 1st, 2nd and 3rd in a race, the media labeled the car the Daytona and the name entered the consciousness of the public and has remained there ever since.
So here’s to Boaty McBoatface and the British public – or at least the ones behind this – I salute your wonderful madness.
Filed under: Food For Thought
Nice to know that political scandals are not just limited to Western governments.
For those who want to know what the hell this is about, you can find out here.
* Unless you read the Sunday Sport ‘newspaper’.
Filed under: Food For Thought
I love facts, not because I am a smart arse but because I love to find out how the things we take for granted, began. Soooooo, for your viewing pleasure, here are some 'things' for you …
Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled 'Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden' … and thus the word GOLF entered the English language.
In the 1400s a law was set forth that a man was not allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have '… the rule of thumb'.
The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.
It is impossible to lick your elbow.
The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of their birthplace.
If you were to spell out numbers, you would have to go to 'one thousand' before you wrote the letter 'A'.
Bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers were all invented by women.
The only food that doesn't spoil is honey.
The day where there are more collect calls than any other day of the year is Father's Day.
In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase, "… goodnight, sleep tight."
AND FINALLY … at least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow!!!
Filed under: Food For Thought
How come companies call their products names like 'Beautiful' or 'Seduction'? Are the people who buy them so insecure they need to associate with brands that tell them what they'd liike to hear?
It's happening everywhere … even Mercedes Benz got in on the act calling their BOTTOM OF THE RANGE car, Elegance. Come on, it's not elegant, it's a boxy 1980's German taxi. Infact the only thing that looks elegant is the car dealer who flogged one to a couple who now think they're 'upper class' when in reality all it has done is highlight just how middle class they really are!!!
Where is it going to end? What are we going to see next?
– Get Laid Aftershave For Men?
– The New Porsche Fanny Magnet?
– I'm Not Fat, I'm Big Boned Eau de Toilette?
Look, I'm all for brands creating an image/identity (hell, that's what I'm paid to do!) but when someone is as blatant as this, I can't work out who is the more disturbed … the manufacturer for coming up with it or the customer for buying it?
If you ever want to make one of these people see the folly of their ways, just ask them what car they own or what perfume they are wearing and then sit back and watch them cringe as they say "Elegance" or "Beautiful" …
Mean? Well, I never said I was nice did I!!! Guess this all links in with my view that people are seemingly more and more unhappy with their 'lot in life' but it could be that I am just ranting, it has been known.
Filed under: Food For Thought
Thanks to social, political, economic and entertainment* trends … Western women now feel a greater level of independence than they've ever felt before.
For possibly the first time in civilisation, a mass number of women no longer believe they are reliant on men to enjoy a full and happy life.
Because men have an inherent need to maintain their gender position within society, they now place much greater importance on their physical, mental and aesthetic 'offering' as they feel this is what is needed to stand out from the crowd and attract a female and maintain [what they believe] is one of their gender fundamental 'roles'.
With the attitude and roles of men and women slowly but surely merging, could this be best described as 'Gender Blending'
* This could be everything from the Spice Girls, right through to Sex In The City etc etc