Re:GIMP and GEGL in 2018
by blattimwind on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @08:00PM
(#18811915)
Similarly MongoDB. Many commercial examples, too.
Re:GIMP and GEGL in 2018
by CamperBob2 on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @08:34PM
(#18812072)
What's wrong with that? Offensive to Mongols?
Mongoloid was the word that was used at one point for those with Downs Syndrome. It's pretty close to this.
Re:GIMP and GEGL in 2018
by throes_death on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @09:58PM
(#18812460)
So words that are just close to other words that are deemed offensive should not be used? I'll avoid mentioning the well publicized political cases over the last decade or so and just ask, should we use the word "pluck"? Should those with the surname "Kuntz" or "Cockburn" have to change their name? Is the offense created by similar spelling or similar pronunciation, or both?
I’m not offended, just explaining why some might be. It’s amazing I got voted down for just making a statement explaining something that isn’t even my view.
We're talking about marketing here, and if something leaves you with an odd feeling, it's no good marketing.
I must say as a non-native, I didn't knew gimp before and was not offended. Googling in incognito mode, I can absolutely see why people might want to avoid that.
Re:GIMP and GEGL in 2018
by throes_death on Wednesday January 02, 2019 @11:26PM
(#18812812)
I'm simply replying directly to the comment which is not about marketing.
We're taking about freely sharing things by name, if there's a chance my boss is going to fire me just for mentioning the name of your product then I'm going to just avoid recommending it.
I've actually, conversationally, shared "gimp" with a couple of people in the past but I don't any more because I don't want to make them feel uncomfortable or think I'm making a joke at their expense. In a workplace I'm not sharing something that could get me facing a sexual harassment suit (it's not likely, but why risk it), or fired for offensive language (ditto).
This thread _is_ about marketing.
In German, it's an insult roughly equivalent to "retard".
And in the past in en-gb too, quite similar in gravity to "gimp" and "retard"; interestingly I'd completely missed that connection though; I think "monger" was the normal version in my high-school.
I'd have no problem talking with someone about "mongo-dee-bee" though, because I doubt they'd ever assume it was referencing that (now unused) slur.
The software could never be widely used in UK schools IMO. The bracketing of "I know it's a weird name, but I've used this programme for years, ..." is just too cringey for me when sharing in polite [or perhaps timid] company.
I know it's hard to get cross-language, cross-cultural names, ... I still don't know why they didn't go with Imp [nor what creature Wilbur (Wilber?) is supposed to be!].
Sorry, not wanting to start a flamewar but it should be mentioned IMO. Here's 2 threads where it's raised so we don't need to cover any of that ground again (both/all sides are represented I think; selective quotes):
1) https://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22973 'Here's a sign of immaturity: Naming a product "GIMP".'
2) https://www.reddit.com/r/opensource/comments/6cs6wk/small_gr... 'the GIMP's name has long been the classic example of how bad open source projects often are at branding and marketing'