Greenpeace is running a vote for the name of their adopted whale, and thanks to some Reddit (they even changed their logo) and Boing Boing postings about a “super clicker“, the name “Mister Splashy Pants” is out in front with 69% of the vote. The next most popular name has 3%.
Looking at the list of names and their meanings, it’s not much of a surprise that “Mister Splashy Pants” is the clear cut favourite. There is no distinction between the other names.
Virtually ever other name has a very earnest sound and meaning. It may be my bias towards the English language, but I don’t make a huge distinction between “Aiko” (Japanese for “little love”), “Malaya” (”free” in Tagalog (Philippines)) and “Shanti” (”peace” in Hindi). While there may be a certain lilt to the word, nothing jumps off the page until, halfway down, “Mister Splashy Pants” shows up. This name jumps out of a sea of otherwise pretty but neutral names and smacks you between the eyes.
Now, I know that a lot of earnest, sandal-and-hemp wearing people will be offended by this (”it’s a name a grade 3 class would give a hamster”), but nothing will bring attention to Greenpeace like a whale named “Mister Splashy Pants”. On December 1 (the day after the contest ends), the newspapers will be full of “Mister Splashy Pants”. Not so much if the whale was named “Talei”. Why? It appeals to us on so many levels. It’s goofy, it’s unusual, it’s fun to say and write (Mister Splashy Pants, Mister Splashy Pants), and it is incongruous.
What are you doing to stand out and bring attention to your product/service/cause?
November 27th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
Sounds like you’re primed for a follow-up post on the Olympic mascots.