Social media reacts to the decision not to name polar research vessel Boaty McBoatface

Instead, our dear old Boaty will explore the polar seas as a yellow submarine while the research ship sails into the ocean as Sir David Attenborough.

https://twitter.com/NERCscience/status/728508385692418048

Which raises this important question:

..and what's the point in naming the sub #BoatyMcBoatface? Surely that should be Subby McSubface?

— Sally (@manicrose1984) May 6, 2016

And this one:

https://twitter.com/lawrencegritt/status/728539011770425344

The internet is now mourning ‘the death of democracy’…

#BoatyMcBoatface is the UK's Nice treaty! People: "We vote THIS!" Gov: "Great!.. It's just… well we don't like it, so vote again!"

— Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) May 6, 2016

Public voting: The power is in your hands.#Democracy #BoatyMcBoatface pic.twitter.com/Au83bDTzRY

— AM?DI (@KeloidKrown) May 6, 2016

What do you mean it's not going to be called a #BoatyMcBoatface ?? ?????

— Harry Leverment (@HJSLeverment) May 6, 2016

Democracy died the day they refused to name that boat #BoatyMcBoatface

— Charles F Purcell (@CharlesFPurcell) May 6, 2016

… while at the same time grieving over the death of their beloved Boaty McBoatface.

RIP #BoatyMcBoatface 2016-2016. Gone, but never forgotten.

— Sam Coleman (@colemansa) May 6, 2016

https://twitter.com/Rosstopher223/status/728534585412292608

But desperate times call for desperate measures… so someone has launched a petition on Change.org, asking Sir David Attenborough to change his name to Boaty McBoatface.