We are pretty close to launching a public social network, and therefore we need a name for this whole business--not just for our class, but for the Boston-area map and the tools that will allow students to interact with it in web 2.0. It won't be called "Youth Map," but what should it be?
Boston Area Civic Network
Boston Area Social Network
Boston Volunteer Net
Civic Net Boston
Boston Organizing Online Network (BOON)
Research, Activism, Change, and Community Organizing Online Network (RACCOON)
There have to be better ideas ....
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I don't see there a problem in calling it the "Boston Area Social Network." Although it's not that creative, it explains exactly what the map is in 4 concise words.
ReplyDeleteOf the options listed, my favorite is Civic Net Boston -- I like that the "net" implies both Internet and a web-like net with connections.
ReplyDeleteI'll brainstorm other creative ones as well.
I agree with Jenn that the incorporation of the word "net" has a nice double meaning, but I do think it would be nice to have a name that has a comfortable acronym, perhaps even one that applies to the topic (rather than RACOON which doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the project). I can't come up with any off the top of my head, but I will definitely come back here and post once I do.
ReplyDeleteAnother idea is the Boston Area Community Engagement Network, or BACEN. Doesn't have a particularly meaningful acronym (or even a properly spelt one) but it would be easily searchable in search engines because it doesn't have an additional meaning.
Regardless of the utility of the "youth map" (which we are continuing to improve each week) I think that there is a lot of weight in a name or title of a product. I agree that the name youth map needs to be changed to something else, but to what requires much thought. The title of our project services as the first impression to the community, and can in fact effect total participation. If it sounds cheesy or overly esoteric then this can influence how our audience initially views the sight and whether or no they choose to participate. In addition, a catchy name, or a theme that people can connect with is much more marketable. SomervilleConnect, or SomervilleLinked may feel more inviting than Boston Area Social Network.
ReplyDeleteBut there is also the issue of clarity. We want to make sure that the most possible people can understand our mission in a short amount of time through a simple title.
In short, I am personally for a catchy title that might add some fun into the tedious or tiresome nature of volunteer work. The right title could provide the right environment for a vibrant and active community to develop. By no means is this the be-all end-all for our project, but I think we should give it some real thought.