NewName

Site Name

We have a temporary name! (note:most of this information is outdated/archival)

Thanks go out to everyone who made suggestions - some of them were absolutely brilliant! For example, it hadn't occurred to me to choose a name based on a non-English word, or a palindrome, or a puzzle. Many of the entries were quite clever. (Adies, it took me more than a day to figure yours out. Bravo!)

I won't post the runners up because squatters might take the names before we hold the real contest. We'll figure out a way to prevent this somehow - at worst case we can choose judges and do it privately.

Jerry had the winning entry.

The temp name is: SoylentNews with the tagline: SoylentNews is people!

Does this rock? It hits the trifecta of website goodness:

• Descriptive in a way that mundanes will understand (compare "Photoshop" with "GIMP", "Internet Explorer" with "Firefox", and "MediaPlayer" with "VLC")

• It's part of Nerd culture, a pun, and slightly twisted

• It's suggestive of being community driven

• Possible Trademark issues

• It is attached to some movie about eating corpses and implies "News fresh as processed corpses" (??)

This will be a hard act to beat. Start thinking up names for the contest, or throw your weight behind this one. The contest will be held soon after we open the doors.

(And it was poutine (from IRC) who suggested we use a temporary name. Others may also have suggested it, but it was his post that I noticed. Be sure to thank him if you see him on IRC.)

SoylentNews should be safe from legal issues, at least from Dice Inc.

Once the site is running we could potentially have a contest to pick a permanent name. This will be interesting as we want to get a community opinion, yet not have to deal with squatters on the names up for a vote. Any suggestions in this are are welcome. If you wish to submit a name contact john (at) soylentnews.org (Use the subject "Name Submission")

Once the new site is up and running, we could have the contest in two weeks or so

Name change discussion

I propose "NoBeta" as a name, ensuring that this new site never forgets its roots. It's a name with an [ongoing] story behind it, has all sorts of 31337 connotations, etc etc. It could make for a good story some day.

Someone below proposed "NotBeta" as a name, with the "!β" as its shorthand. I'm all in for that!

Second NotBeta.org -That url should be obtained as it is a winner!!! Plus unicode support is the one feature anyone actually wants implemented.

killbeta.org

diebetadie.org

If we turn a profit by the end of the year, I'll put a Natalie Portman link on the front page.

Can we somehow get Cowboyneal back? Can we plan some evil way to get him fired from his current job and desperate enough to come back reestablish the Slashdot community as its tribal leader? <== Not Likely

• I think we should veer away from establishing an identity based on Dice, the Beta or our strong negative feelings about those. This is about re-establishing the community and giving us a new home, one that belongs to the community and isn't beholden to some evil corporate overlords. Alluding to slashdot is okay -- I agree with SGT CAPSLOCK that we shouldn't forget our roots. --voidphoenix (710468) (talk)

New Name

• Consider a name change. If you're serious about this, then the name "AltSlashdot" will run you into legal trouble down the road, since Slashdot/Dice/etc. will sue for Trademark infringement (and will have a solid case). Slashdot user tpaudio suggested "Plusdot". Another idea (mine) is to call it "divergence" or "divergence operator"... the logo would be the mathematical form of divergence, i.e. nabla symbol followed by a dot (which looks like an augmented "slash dot"). --Slashdot user JustinOpinion.
  • I agree with JustinOpinion, any name with "slash" or "dot" in it will put us in the crosshairs of Dice's lawyers, and we do not want that. "Divergence" is nice. --User:Sir Garlon 16:36, 2014-02-06 (EST)
  • I like Divergence too. Also fitting that it's a unicode character, which Slashdot can't handle... --Anonymous Coward
  • Perhaps altslash.org? Sounds far enough from slashdot to avoid problems, but close enough to clue in any refugees. Max Hyre (talk) 08:34, 6 February 2014 (MST)
  • I'm gonna vote for divergence, I think the name along speaks to the community as to why we want something different/better than the aim of SlashFail Beta. (keick)
  • Vote for divergence also for the same reasons as mentioned above (Qwade)
  • I also vote for divergence anything that comes out of this will probably be eyed by Dice legal. (Nightbrood)

• I agree that AltSlashdot is hard to pronounce, but wasn't that the idea behind h-t-t-p-colon-slash-slash-slash-dot-dot-o-r-g (that is should be hard to pronounce)? Dotancohen (talk) 08:41, 6 February 2014 (MST)

• The name "AltSlashdot" does not "mouth" well. May I suggest "Slashfork"? --Koen (talk) 08:52, 6 February 2014 (MST)

• How about betterthanbeta.org or similar? After all, we all know what created this. Another option would be some meme-based thing, like frostyhotgrits.org. Actually, frostyhotgrits.org would be both unique, and make most Slashdotters feel right at home. Greets, Iskender (1040286) 86.50.93.164 09:39, 6 February 2014 (MST)

• backslashdot.org. Backslash. Back to basics. Back to the old school. Hell yea.
  • Alternatively - why not a more elegant backslash.org ? --kell
  • I agree with backslash.org, seems to be up for sale.

• can we get one of those new top-level domains, like .bank, except instead get .dot? Then name it SlashSlash.dot ;-)

• I second the person who suggested dot-dot-slash (../). Going up a directory is like going "back", which is the purpose of the new site - going back to how things used to be.
  • This does seem to be the clear winner. Though backslash.com (which appears to be a parked domain) would work well too, since it's not *immediately* obvious legally that we stole the name (back slash dot com) from slashdot. Too bad dashdot.com and slashdotdash.com are both real in-use sites. slashdotdashdot.com appears to be parked, though.
  • I second backslash.com if the domain can be obtained. ../ would be the subtler option, and I'm in favor of it.

• May I suggest HashBang (#!), I think it has a slightly better ring to it than hashbash
  • I think anything with "#!" is probably going to be too close to Crunchbang Linux. They use that exact shorthand symbol. - Cactus

• Some fantastic ideas: SlashStar (/*), SlashSlash (//), ShebangShebang (#!#!), HotGrits, SovietSlashdot, DotSlash (./), DotSlashDot (./.), GNU/Slashdot (GNU//.), GNS (GNS = "GNP's Not Slashdot", and GNP = "Grits on Natalie Portman"), CowboyNeal.net, RoblimosOrphans.org, BangBangBang (!!!), CarrotSlashSlashSlashDot (^\/\.), YoungPastyHonkies.net, NoDiceSlashdot, SlashReset (/Reset), Carrotdot (^.), SlashHash (/#), PurpleTaro, CowboyNealOption, DennisRitchieIsGod.com, Ctrl-H (^H), Ctrl-C (^C), HGNP (Hot Grits on Natalie Portman)
• *.onion

• altslashctrl -- sort of gets the point across

• nodice.org and no-dice.org are unfortunately not available. -- Stderr (talk) 12:00, 6 February 2014 (MST)

• dicetoss.org is available

How much would dice holdings sell the classic slashdot.org site for? They can keep SlashTV, SlashBI, etc.

• I think the name should be kept to two syllables or less. Some of my favorites: dotdot (..), notdot(!.), backslash (\). Although it may be better to define the site based on what it is (is there any vision here other than 'slashdot classic'?) rather than what it isn't (slashdot beta). If this gains traction, it will be on its own merits and not because it forked slashcode. Maybe something like hashtech (#tech)? Works for old school IRC nerds and twitter hashtags.
  • Not that I'm a particular fan of social media, but I do like #tech.
  • +1 for backslash. Sounds like backlash, refers to Slashdot, and still a keyboard character. Apparantly, the domain BACKSLASH DOT ORG is for sale: [1] (Moderator - 189749)
  • +1 for backslash here..

• How about BangDot or KillDot? It sounds similar, but it is different enough than nobody will be able to claim it leads to confusion.
• How about Tildedot? h-t-t-p-colon-slash-slash-dot-tidle-dot-dot-org? (keick)
  • Or maybe !|.org? BangPipe :) (keick)

• Can we stick these in a table please? With a column that indicates their status (taken - in use / taken - parked / available)? It also makes sense to group them into classes like: anti-dice, recognisably-similar-to-slashdot, novel. FatPhil (talk) 14:07, 6 February 2014 (MST) (FatPhil)

• I vote for hashbang.com unfortunately it seems that someone is parked on it. (Githaron)

• I think it has to be of the same spirit as slashdot. Taco wanted it to be confusing for people to type into a browser after hearing it h-t-t-p-colon-slash-slash-slash-dot-dot-org. I suggust something in that vein, tuned to the current mobile app store. I'd suggust something like the PlayAppStore. You'd sound like an idiot trying to explain it to someone else: go to playappstore

• Or we could go really go back to chips & dip, the previous name of slashdot,

it looks like the domain name has expired when i did a whois search. I liked the idea of using hashbang but like someone else pointed out it is used...

• I second both "chips and dip" and "dotdotslash" as clever alternatives. Divergence is second tier but I will also support it if no other alternatives gain traction.
  • thirded: Chips and dips . I registered chipsndips.org just in case and am willing to share. If nobody likes it I still have a good domain name ;-)

• Is something like slashplusplus or something similar available? I like it because it is an increment of the past variable. Only downside is the slash in the name might not sit well with Dice legal. Trying to stay true to Taco's original naming convention is going to be difficult. (Nightbrood)

• My suggestions/picks would be hashslash (#/ -- not slashhash, btw); backslash (this is probably easier to defend if Dice tries to argue trademark); hotgrits (it's a short, catchy, very uniquely slashdot meme that also alludes to news, as in "hot off the presses"); frostpist (another strongly slashdot-flavored meme). --voidphoenix (710468) (talk)

• I'll also throw this in: RTFC (read the fucking comments, because as several people have pointed out in the FuckBeta threads, slashdot has always been more about the community and the comments we post, and not really about the articles). --voidphoenix (710468) (talk)

I liked this idea, but the domain is taken by the Refinery Terminal Fire Company.

• Along the RTFC line, how about TCR - The Comment Router?

• Why do all the names have to reference slashdot in some way? Move on... think of something completely different and leave the past behind.

• NewsForNerds, NetNews, NerdsOnTheNet, NerdNews, NerdNewsDot,StuffAndThings -- ngarrang
  • ---I second NewsForNerds (would love News4Nerds, and have the shortened version as N4N with a backwards N (Nine Inch Nails fan))--Gaaark (talk) 09:44, 8 February 2014 (MST)
  • ---i actually can no longer see the tagline "News for nerds, stuff that matters" on slashdot... does this matter per copyright/trademark?

• How about Starslash? The logo would be */ which looks like /. rotated 180 degrees. Might still be a trademark issue, but I think it would be acceptable as fair use since it would be a protest site. -- danbert8
  • I change my vote. I also submitted "DupeNews" as this would be a site duplicating existing news stories (aggregated) and the old Slashdot functionality. Makes a homage to duplicated articles in Slashdot. -- danbert8

• I second HotGrits - it references SlashDot in a good way without aping it (it was a user-generated meme), and it evokes "hot" news & discussion. Unfortunately hotgrits.org is now taken. If you have a great idea for a name maybe consider buying the domain before posting it here...

• Something like http://url.com or http://hostname.com would be awesome. It'd preserve the original spirit of being a pun, while being immidately aknowleadgable by the general audience.

• hotgrits, frostpist, RTFC, are all good. RTFC is taken except for rtfc.us.com. These all reference slashdots culture with directly referencing slashdot explicitly. I don't like any of the dice or beta names as they won;t mean anything when slashdot goes the way of myspace...

• Personally, I recommend a name like ConfirmedDead, in reference to the "Netcraft confirms" meme. It's also fitting, considering it might very well soon be applicable to Slashdot itself. - UntypedLambdaCalculus (talk)

• I'll plug my own suggestion AtNot. It kind of rhymes. It's shorter. It's got a decent abbreviation @! Domain's available.

• No car references? I has a sad now.

• +1 for !β - the other names are not better^H^H^Ha - why invite trouble with trademark issues etc...

• First off, Sorry if this is in the wrong place. Although I like the idea of using somthing like altslash I think it would be a good idea to aviod anything with 'slash' or 'dot' in it due to obviose legal issues. The last thing you guys want as a new site is a lawsuit. I would also avoid the tagline 'News for nerds', you could use 'Gossip for Geeks" or "Not for Numpties".
  • You guys need to recreate what was lost from slashdot but without copying it, so try to distance yourselfes from the slashdot branding. when coosing a name you want somthing that is catchy, describes what the site is and memorable.
  • Think who is the site for? Nerds and geeks. Whats on the site? news and discussions for geeks. In other words gossip.
  • so my rubbish idea of the top of my head`for a name from the two above questions is 'geekgoss.org' bad I know. Or keeping on the theme of slashdot but not slashdot you could use something like commatild.org, tictild.org or at-hash.org. A name I do like but is likely to land you in legal trouble is backslash93.org or slashback93.org

Name Options

Please add ideas to these tables. Where possible, note if the URL is available. Consider adding your username to the 'votes' column.

References to Slashdot, Beta, Dice, etc.

Name	Rendering	URL	Comments/Votes
AltSlashot	Alt/.	altslashdot.org (registered by us)	Trademark issues!
AltSlash	Alt/		Trademark issues? Max Hyre vote.
AtSlash	@/		.org appears open. "I read it at atslashdotorg"
FBeta		fbeta.org
ForkBeta		forkbeta.org
ForkSlashdot
SlashBang	/!		The .org is available.
SlashFork			Koen vote.
SlashNot	/!
BackSlash	\	backslash.org URL for sale	Slashdot actually has a subsection called 'backslash'. kell vote.
KillDot
KillBeta
DieBetaDie
BetterThanBeta			Iskender (1040286) vote.
NoDice		URL not available.
DiceToss		URL available.
NoDiceAllowed			Domain Available
ColonSlash			Because it looks funny (suggested on reddit)
SlashDash	/-
CandyCrushSlashdotSaga
NoBeta
RTFC		rtfc.us.com (.org, .net, and .com are taken)	because TFC are what /. is about -- who needs TFA, or even TFS? :)
NotBeta	!β	notbeta.org	Would need Unicode support on Slashcode-Should be done anyways
EscapeDot	^[. or \.	escapedot.org	escape as a reference to the desertion.
Firehose		firehose.org (currently parking)
lsroot		lsroot.org (ask Alanr for it)
newslash		.org and .com are unavailable	Trademark issues?
NewsForNerds			Trademark issues (Slashdot tagline). Gaaark vote.
NerdNewsDot
SharpSlash	#/		A sharper slash
Slash Sharp	/#		The sharpest slash

Typographic/Computer Puns

Name	Rendering	URL	Comments/Votes
DotDotSlash	../		As in "cd ../" ... also implies going back or up a level
HashBash	#!(/bin/bash)
HashBang	#!	URL taken (parked domain)	Possible confusion with Crunchbang Linux? Githaron vote.
HashDot	#.
HashSlash	#/		about "slash"; or tagged "slash"
DotDot	..
NotDot	!.
BangDot	!.
BackDot	\.
BangSlashDot	!/.	Available to us (registered by Slashdot user somenickname (184564)).
TildeDot	~.
BangPipe
SlashStar	/*		Used in C to comment code, in recognition that the focus is on comments
StarSlash	*/	starslash.org (Domain is available.)	Looks like the /. logo rotated 180 degrees.
SlashSlash	//		Reference to source-code comments (in recognition that the focus is on comments).
ShebangShebang	#!#!
CaretSlashSlashSlashDot	^\/\.
CaretDot	^.
SlashHash	/#
PlusDot	+.
SlashPlusPlus	/++		"increment"/improvement on the original. Nightbrood vote.
BinBash	/bin/bash
SlashUsr	/usr
SlashHome	/home
SlashVarLog	/var/log
divergence	∇·	Domain Taken	The name represents how we're going in a new direction. Also, the symbol could be the mathematical divergence operator: a 'nabla' followed by a dot, which looks like an 'augmented' version of a slash followed by a dot. kebes vote. keick vote. Qwade vote. Nightbrood vote.
HashTech	#tech		Has dual IRC and hastag meanings.
AtNot	@!	Domain available.	Short
CtrlL			For "Clear Screen" in a terminal window.
CtrlZ	^Z	.com/.org/.net taken but .at isn't	Keyboard code for "Undo". rbroderi vote short easy to say and memorable
SlashDotDot	/..		to indicate we're backing up a level...
SlashHash	/#		Captures hash tags, anchor tags, and is sometimes used to represent forks.
ColonBang	:!		(iWantToKeepAnon) 1) it is a vi editor command, 2) say it out loud ... sounds like a step in soylent production to me (also ColonBangBang (:!!) jokes? A vi editor command that sounds even worse), 3) techie, short, simple, easy to spell and pass on word-o-mouth.
Control+X+C	ctlxc		(iWantToKeepAnon) I like colonbang, but not to exclude the emacs users, ctlxc : as in exiting or leaving something (like the beta).

Intentionally Confusing

"Slashdot" was originally intended to be confusing for neophytes (e.g. reading the web address on the radio sounds comical: h-t-t-p-colon-slash-slash-slash-dot-dot-org-slash). Many of the typographical/computer puns qualify as intentionally confusing. Some other options in that spirit:

Name	Rendering	URL	Comments/Votes
PlayAppStore
url		url.com
hostname		hostname.com	Comments for nerds, stuff that matters.

Memes

Name	Rendering	URL	Comments/Votes
Chips and Dip		chipsndips.org has been registered by one of us.	Trademark issues? (original name of Slashdot, perhaps owned by CmdrTaco?)
CowboyNeal			Trademark issues?
Cyborg Bill		.net, .org available	Was this the right term?
Natalie Portman			Trademark issues?
FrostPist		.com, .net, .org available	El Oscuro Nice /. theme!
FrostyHotGrits		.com, .net, ,org available :-)	Sir Garlon's vote. Iskender (1040286) vote.
HotGrits		.org available	El Oscuro Nice /. theme!
LaserSharks		.net, .org available	El Oscuro Nice /. theme!
ConfirmedDead		.com, .net (preferable for the joke), .org	UntypedLambdaCalculus's vote. A reference to the "Netcraft confirms" meme.

Other

Name	Rendering	URL	Comments/Votes
NetNews
NerdsOnTheNet
NerdNews
NerdNewsNet		.com, .net, .org avail, nerdnews.net taken but not active	Name is phonetically similar to 'usenet news', n^3 or NNN for shorthand
StuffAndThings
NoCountryForOldDevs
geekgoss.org
DupeNews		DupeNews.org	Name would be play on Slashdot meme since this is a duplicate site. danbert8 vote.
ExoDot		exodot.org is available	Exodus from Slashdot.
8008135.org