If we can change Pluto from a planet to a dwarf planet, why can't we rename the electric eel to electric fish. Or peanut to pealegume. Or Brazil nut to Brazil seed. Why can't we rename things once we learn about them better?
I'd like to rename you to Miss Smudgiepoops; no particular reason, the name just poopped into my head.
Pluto was not renamed it was reclassified. It would be as reclassifying an electrical eel from a "fish" category into a "mortar weapon" category.
It's name is still Pluto. It's just not classified as a planet anymore. ...is what he was saying, I'm thinking.
No but it's still called Pluto. It's like someone called Joe who has a sex change; and people still call him/her Joe.
so the electric eel is classified as a fish, yet its called an eel. And the Brazil nut is classified as a seed even though its called a nut??? WTF! How does this not drive everyone crazy!?
An eel is a fish, same as a shark is a fish, a cod is a fish...what do you want to call them? All nuts are seeds. Are you feeling ok?
Well, we'll leave it up to you to change textbooks every other year, when our classifications all get reclassified, and change people's vocabulary to include the newest definitions as to not create confusion. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
A lot of animal and plant names are not scientifically correct, but the names are kept most of the times because people are used to them. Sometimes even two completely different and unrelated species carry the exact same name. I think it would be futile anyway to rename a species every time something new is discovered about them. That said, scientific names do change if they are found to be incorrect.
It's not incorrect really, because it's just a name. You can teach them that and then teach them what kind of animal it is. For example, the Dutch word for 'Whale' is 'Walvis'. 'Vis' means 'Fish' (not sure how to translate 'Wal', but it could perhaps mean 'Shore'). This does not mean that children here think that Whales are fish. They are taught that whales are actually mammals.
So they should keep on calling it an electric eel even though its not an eel as long as I explain that its a fish and not and eel. How is that any less confusing than correcting its name? It will only be confusing to one generation!
Heh, reminds me of a local TV news programme many years ago when the UK was switching over to decimal currency*. They interviewed a few people, most of whom weren't tremendously enamoured of the idea: and then the gem of a comment from one little old lady - "It's confusing. Why don't they wait until all the old people are dead before they introduce it?" * Bring back the thrup'ny bit!
I don't think you realize the impracticality of that. How do you propose names are given? Do you want an 'Eagle' to be called an 'Eagle Diurnal Bird of Prey' from now on? Otherwise you still have to teach your kids that Eagles are diurnal birds of prey :shrug:
Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Red Panda. Not a panda. Not a bear. Not a cat. Not a raccoon. Nor otter, weasel or badger. Call it "Red Thingy"?
I think it's similar because it seems you want accurate descriptive names. Not a lot of common names are accurate. Scientific names are unique. You can always teach your kids that it's an Temblador. The Electric Eel (or Temblador) is a member of the family Gymnotidae, common name Naked-back Knifefishes. So if you want to be accurate you should call it: Electric Naked-back Knifefish Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
