Kim Johansson wrote:

Hello,

In another topic on this list, the discussion went about the name being offending and a problem when attracting new users and for the users, the name could mean that they have a hard time attracting clients. Here in Sweden, the name is just confusing for most people.

I've heard the same thing on my own end, but until somebody proposes a reasonable alternative (and since I have not done any development on GIMP, I don't consider it appropriate for me to suggest one), we're really stuck at an impasse. Maybe something like gIMP. The one thing I'd like to see answered one way or another in a concrete fashion is how much of a barrier to acceptance is the name? Are CIOs really rejecting it because of the connotation? Is there a mass rejection? I don't know, I have no facts one way or another but until somebody actually puts together some numbers we're going to continue to scratch our heads as to why the GIMP is not as well accepted as we think it should be.

On Sunday 24 June 2007, John Meyer wrote:

somebody actually puts together some numbers we're going to continue to scratch our heads as to why the GIMP is not as well accepted as we think it should be.

I won't be scratching my head and wondering. I know why. Just a chunk of the mailing list wants to pretend it's something else.

On Sun, 2007-06-24 at 21:41 +0200, Kim Johansson wrote:

Some people only know the definition they learned from "Pulp fiction". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimp_%28sadomasochism%29

2007/6/24, Jon Cosby : Kim Johansson wrote:
> Hello,
>
> In another topic on this list, the discussion went about the name being
> offending and a problem when attracting new users and for the users, the
> name could mean that they have a hard time attracting clients. Here in
> Sweden, the name is just confusing for most people. >

Somebody help me on this one. What is derogatory in GIMP? Dictionary.com
has several definitions, including "spirit, vigor, or ambition". Nothing
that might be construed as offensive. Am I missing something?

In a 'normal' social context the most common use of word gimp is as a derogatory term for someone who is crippled. Specifically, someone who can not walk or has trouble walking.

On Sun, 2007-06-24 at 16:06 +0200, Kim Johansson wrote:

Others are repelled by the user interface of the Gimp. And others are confusing it with being an equivalent to MsPaint.

I just don get this one. I find the user interface quite efficient and pleasant to use. Not that I doubt that some are turned off because "everything else" uses a monolithic single window approach.

~B

On 6/25/07, Brendan wrote:

On Sunday 24 June 2007, John Meyer wrote:

somebody actually puts together some numbers we're going to continue to scratch our heads as to why the GIMP is not as well accepted as we think it should be.

I won't be scratching my head and wondering. I know why. Just a chunk of the mailing list wants to pretend it's something else.

And another chunk wants to pretend that anything will happen without someone (not them!!!?!?!!) deciding to make it happen, rather than flailing their fingers on the keyboard in order to properly(?) enjoy beating a dead horse.
If you can't or won't make it happen, don't subject people to moaning about the unsatisfactoriness of the situation.

The basics of this subject (which has been visited OVER and OVER and OVER again) appear to be people disagreeing on what is normal (THEM, of course. Aren't they normal, huh?). Doesn't the fact that it happens repeatedly without any significant change suggest that no-one's got any particularly compelling arguments? It seems plain to me that John is correct: this discussion is futile until there is organized evidence to point to, either way.

It does seem to me also, that there is a clear case to be made that you should choose the good because it is good, rather than rejecting the bad because it is bad. Protesters have never struck me as effective in the slightest; certainly no-one respects them. People who actually do something, OTOH..

In my view, the main thing that could be improved about the GIMP's name is it's verbability -- 'gimping' is awkward to say. But I also think that most good candidates have been taken already -- 'ixing' is the only possibility I see in that area. (which is a bit of maths -- i(x) where i is an image and x is a modifier. With the advantage that it could also be pronounced 'nine'.)

On Mon, 2007-25-06 at 01:09 -0700, gimp-user-request@lists.XCF.Berkeley.EDU wrote:

Re: [Gimp-user] GIMP - appalling name?

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD NOT AGAIN!!! PLEASE SPARE US.

End this now. This subject comes up a few times every year, please end it now. For your enjoyment go search the GIMP archives if you want to read the exact same drivel you will read in this thread.

STOP IT!

George Farris wrote:

On Mon, 2007-25-06 at 01:09 -0700, gimp-user-request@lists.XCF.Berkeley.EDU wrote:

Re: [Gimp-user] GIMP - appalling name?

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD NOT AGAIN!!! PLEASE SPARE US.

End this now. This subject comes up a few times every year, please end it now. For your enjoyment go search the GIMP archives if you want to read the exact same drivel you will read in this thread.

STOP IT!

First off, what's all this "us" you're talking about? Being on this, and countless other lists of various software products, I have gotten accustomed to the fact that topics will come up again and again and again despite being discussed to death in the archives. it's happened with this, it will happen with other topics. Throwing an electronic version of a hissy fit isn't going to help. So you can kill file it or ignore it and move on.

On Mon, 2007-25-06 at 12:00 -0700, gimp-user-request@lists.XCF.Berkeley.EDU wrote:

End this now. This subject comes up a few times every year, please end it now. For your enjoyment go search the GIMP archives if you want to read the exact same drivel you will read in this thread.

STOP IT!

First off, what's all this "us" you're talking about? Being on this, and countless other lists of various software products, I have gotten accustomed to the fact that topics will come up again and again and again despite being discussed to death in the archives. it's happened with this, it will happen with other topics. Throwing an electronic version of a hissy fit isn't going to help. So you can kill file it or ignore it and move on.

Took me exactly 5 seconds to search "gimp name change" in Google and guess what I found? And I can't kill file it because I get the mail list in an archive, which would mean I have to kill the rest of the messages.