In response to the Internet’s tenacious efforts to name a British research vessel Boaty McBoatface, scientists began to apply the naming convention to objects in space.
It started out innocently enough…
Comet McCometface #TheInternetNamesSpace pic.twitter.com/EHEB8HrtQp
— Alex Parker (@Alex_Parker) March 21, 2016
The Big Swirly Swirly #TheInternetNamesSpace pic.twitter.com/eAwk8DdpPB
— Alex Parker (@Alex_Parker) March 21, 2016
Soon other members of “Space Twitter” joined in.
Starface Gassy McSmashy #TheInternetNamesSpace pic.twitter.com/RB84qOWPlw
— Dr. Jillian Scudder (@Jillian_Scudder) March 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/mirikramer/status/712009349674221568
Pacmen McChompyfaces #theInternetNamesSpace pic.twitter.com/3TKTTxPCjH
— Dr./Prof. Sarah Hörst (@PlanetDr) March 21, 2016
But then Biology Twitter swooped in and took over. With GIFs.
Nopey McNoMyGod #TheInternetNamesAnimals pic.twitter.com/MGL8ZaPB4P
— Rob O' Sullivan (@Rob0Sullivan) March 21, 2016
Pinchy McDangerButt #TheInternetNamesAnimals pic.twitter.com/pzIEwTU6bM
— Rob O' Sullivan (@Rob0Sullivan) March 21, 2016
Biology Twitter, I think we need to mount a challenge to the space nerd's #InternetNamesSpace with #TheInternetNamesAnimals. @AnneWHilborn ?
— Rob O' Sullivan (@Rob0Sullivan) March 21, 2016
But Space Twitter wasn’t about to back down.
https://twitter.com/LonelyProbe/status/712084753231392769
Meanwhile, both groups were having fun with the memes.
#theinternetnamesanimals Bangy McFaceplant pic.twitter.com/m9E7PSgeBW
— Foolish Reptile Slut (@ConnorBlades) March 22, 2016
Tubby McSquishySnout #TheInternetNamesAnimals pic.twitter.com/nogkFM3tJZ
— Ryan Zani (@ryan_zany) March 22, 2016
Spongy McCraterface #TheInternetNamesSpace pic.twitter.com/Px2zVXyDQS
— Alice Sheppard (@PenguinGalaxy) March 21, 2016
Crashy McWhoopsy! #theInternetNamesSpace pic.twitter.com/8GYMKREBSJ
— Jordan Steckloff (@steckloff) March 21, 2016
Crashy McWhoopsy Jr. #theInternetNamesSpace pic.twitter.com/cQH2QRBNUi
— Jordan Steckloff (@steckloff) March 21, 2016
#TheInternetNamesAnimals Deady McLongtime pic.twitter.com/7bUm27YFYs
— Foolish Reptile Slut (@ConnorBlades) March 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/LonelyProbe/status/712089262154489856
But the war raged on.
Hear that Space Twitter? The people have spoken.
— Rob O' Sullivan (@Rob0Sullivan) March 22, 2016
*Drops mic*
https://t.co/wMFyw3jkGd
Space Twitter didn’t have a response that we could find. But it seems scientist Rob O’ Sullivan, who started the #TheInternetNamesAnimals meme was a good sport about it.
I started #TheInternetNamesAnimals to screw SpaceTwitter, but you all turned it into something fun. Twitter fistbump pic.twitter.com/v7DMu0155k
— Rob O' Sullivan (@Rob0Sullivan) March 22, 2016
People are still tweeting on both hashtags, but we think the blue-footed booby had the last laugh.
This guy doesn't really need a name change for #TheInternetNamesAnimals …
— Dr. Katherine Glover (@gloverkatherine) March 22, 2016
(Photo courtesy @NatGeo) pic.twitter.com/QN6U0M1Cq1
Illustration by Max Fleishman