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Phew, we are almost there, we've reached the last phase of voting. The final list of names is:
- apt-get-news
- crosslog
- dailybacon
- forkdot
- grepnews OR newsgrep
- salientnews OR salientnoise
- soylentnews
- sudonews
- techmatter
All of the above names we have confirmed in at least *.net and *.org, and we even have a few *.com (where possible). There are some new names because the staff held a round to submit and vote also. The above list was created by using the top 5 from both staff and the community, and two extras due to possible copyright issues with two of the names (soylent and apt-get-news).
There were a few names that were nearly identical, the two pairs are listed as one entry (with the variation that got the most points listed first). Should one of these win there will be a runoff to determine which variation gets used. (This is done to keep from splitting the vote for very close names).
The final round of voting will go out within 24 hours after this post and last for one week. We would like to provide an opportunity to discuss the finalists, so here is your chance, discuss below. If you change your mind after seeing an insightful comment, remember you can always change your vote by sending it in again (only most recent will count). We collected a quick writeup from as many submissions as possible to allow for discussion. Some names have more than one advocate due to multiple submitters; conversely, some submitters didn't reply.
Site Name: crosslog
islisis writes:
The idea behind this was to highlight the cross-fertilisation and communication of expert community voices I have cherished over the years. I hoped that our site name could represent that value to outsiders. To me, the site is also a record of our experiences through tech events, and a valuable log and testament to the lives which dared to ride the wave.
cosurgi writes:
Our site is cross-logging events from around the world. The "cross" means that various different disciplines are inter weaved together.
Site Name: sudonews
gishzida writes:
"Sudo" is a pun on both a *nix shell command to "execute a command as if you are the system superuser" and on the word "Pseudo" i.e. not genuine... both of these things represent the kind of environment our site operates in--- we find news stories, we edit them then we expand upon them factually or contra-factually... laughing, flaming, learning, teaching, and hopefully building friendships and consensus.
Site Name: apt-get-news
gishzida writes:
The name is based on the shell command in some linux distributions [Debian, Ubuntu, etc]. Apt-get is used to reach out to a software repository to obtain and install software. "apt-get-news" reflects the idea that we reach out to get and install news in our community to discuss.
I have been surprised by this community and whatever the name ends up being I know it will be the starting point of something great.
cosurgi writes:
Our site has "natural tendency" to "get" the "news" from around the world. (second meaning of apt on http://www.thefreedictionary.com/apt is "natural tendency")
Site Name: grepnews, newsgrep
AudioGuy writes:
This name was interesting to me because it instantly provides knowledge of what the site does, and who it is targeted to, from the very name itself. Grep is a command line program that searches a mass of data for information matching a certain pattern. Our site searches a mass of data ('news') for information ('stories') that match a certain pattern ('would be of interest to our community of users')
Our users are mostly of a somewhat technical bent, and tend to use computers in a fairly sophisticated way, so would likely know what 'grep' means. So just from the name one might assume this was some sort of news aggregation site aimed at more technical users. In this respect, it has some similarity with another, similar sites name.
Site Name: salientnews or salientnoise
AudioGuy writes:
Another description of exactly what our site does - it looks for news that is salient to our community of users. It does not indicate a preference for purely technical news.
Site Name: techmatter
middlemen writes:
The name "techmatter" is derived from Breaking Bad's "Grey Matter" corporation of which Walter White used to be a part of. Since Soylent News is predominantly a technological oriented website, the name "techmatter" makes sense. It also is safe for work and is easy to market to other folks who are already into technology or who will be part of the community in the future.
Marketing is everything.
AudioGuy writes:
This is a very general name indicating a site that concerns itself with technical matters, that can easily expand its meaning to different uses. I was surprised it was still available.
Site name: forkdot
geottie writes:
Well, pretty simple: our site (& community) is a fork of and has a similar ring to the site we came from and will serve us as a reminder of our effort as a community. The name represents the core values and principles of Free Software & Open Source, which, when followed truly, are always guided by the community. Our community is part of this larger culture/movement and this name will remind us and following generations to continue standing for Freedom and uphold our belief and ability to work towards and defend a genuine, Free Internet for the benefit and advancement of earth, humanity and our society. Huzzah^H^H^H^H^H^H Woot!
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Ethanol-fueled on Friday May 16 2014, @04:19PM
No. Please, SN administrators, do not use any name with "Bacon" in it. Bacon is pretty rad as a community meme, but please do not use it in the site name. Please.
Also, don't use anything with "slash" or "dot" in the title. I know we're mostly Slashdot refugees, but we are better than they are. The sooner we stop clinging to them in any way, shape, or form; the better.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by islisis on Friday May 16 2014, @05:22PM
i have to admit if the sitename moves from something reminding me of a hipster-drink to a high carb snack i will cry a little.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by bob_super on Friday May 16 2014, @07:20PM
We need to let people vote. But I'm going to throw in my $0.02:
- bacon is a very US/UK-centric concept, indeed acknowledged by many others, but repulsive to quite a few. For a website with a worldwide audience, not a good name.
- Crossdot could have a similar problem.
- Sudonews feels like I'm gonna get the latest sudoku championship information. I like it as a name, but it's confusing to the non-geeks (bonus?).
- Forkdot only rolls off the tongue if you say it in the almost-NSFW way, though that's a US problem only.
- apt-get-news is almost good enough. I want to like it, but those darn two dashes...
- Soylentnews and salientnews are ok, but the newbies may wonder that quip should be perpetuated in the site name. Got a bit of a chemist feel to it.
- grepnews sounds better than newsgrep, but only if you're talking more often about wine than WINE.
- Techmatter is boring and undifferentiated. On the other end, if you're going to send someone a link, it's got the highest "this looks legit" factor, by far.
(Score: 1, Flamebait) by frojack on Friday May 16 2014, @07:38PM
Bacon is not repulsive to anyone.
It is forbidden by some "religions". That doesn't make it repulsive.
Most of my muslim friends sneak bacon as a guilty pleasure once in a while. They love it. Its not repulsive, simply forbidden.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 5, Informative) by bob_super on Friday May 16 2014, @07:51PM
> Bacon is not repulsive to anyone.
This may be your opinion, but an overbroad generalization does not do justice to your point.
Which country do you live in?
I used repulsive because "forbidden" implies an authority (likely religious), while repulsive also include personal choices. I was trying to dodge the need to list, on top of the Semitic religions, the vegetarians/vegans, dieters, medical conditions, pig-lovers...
(Score: 1, Funny) by ramloss on Friday May 16 2014, @08:41PM
So are you saying that by choosing dailybacon all those groups would leave? And what is the downside of that? I mean sure, we would miss the pig-lovers, but the trade-off seems fair.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Friday May 16 2014, @09:13PM
'tis a standard literary device: the useful idiot.
If you have a uniform community of people who think they know every explanation, you don't get to spell things out for the reader and correct misconceptions.
Plus, too much agreement kills a discussion.
oblig. [mindspring.com]
(Score: 3) by tathra on Friday May 16 2014, @08:35PM
bacon is absolutely repulsive. well, turkey bacon is alright, but pork anything is repulsive and disgusting.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by buswolley on Friday May 16 2014, @10:50PM
if you want tech in your name, go to technocrat.org
subicular junctures
(Score: 2) by buswolley on Friday May 16 2014, @11:08PM
Meant technocrat.net .
oops
subicular junctures
(Score: 3, Interesting) by drussell on Saturday May 17 2014, @03:36AM
Yes... If Bruce`were up for it, it is a good name also.