Why Spam needs to change its name
Earlier this summer I wrote about the original name of Spam, Hormel's Spiced Luncheon Meat, which I thought was a much better name.
This poor food. A whole category of things we hate, spam, has been named after it, so now the name of the canned meat has horrible connotations.
I don't even remember how I felt about the name, as opposed to the meat, before the Internet; but I guess I thought it was a clever combination of spiced and ham, and its only flaw was that it was the name of something unpalatable. ...
But now the name itself has been ruined.
Under that same earlier post, Retired in Elkridge pointed out that the name was the result of a contest, which I hadn't known. Before it was called Hormel's Spiced Luncheon Meat.
I propose we come up with a better name, one that doesn't remind you of why you hate to open your e-mail inbox. I may award a wonderful prize to the best name, or I may write to Hormel and link to this post, suggesting that the company come up with a wonderful prize. I haven't decided yet.
Comments
I don't think Hormel is just going to abandon an established brand because of the email connotation. (There are a lot of people in this world who love Spam, you know. Not me. But just go hang out in Hawai'i for a while, for example.)
Posted by: Bucky | June 30, 2009 10:40 AM
they should call it...
'Spam Spam Spam Spam'
and as a tag-line, add...
'Lovely spam! Lovely spam!'
seriously, what's wrong with spam?
Posted by: Matt | June 30, 2009 11:11 AM
Posed the question to my colleague's 18 year-old (interning) and he says 'Ghetto Ham' seemed to have a good ring to it.
Posted by: Maggi | June 30, 2009 11:29 AM
No question, some words take on a whole new connotation. Would anyone still assume that the movie, "The Gay Cabellero" was about a sword-fighting lothario? Or how about the diet supplement that had the misfortune to be marketed as AYDS before the tragic discovery of HIV? On the other hand, I don't think anyone confuses luncheon meet with unwanted E-mail -- and when people talk about Spam on thr web, it's almost a reminder to try it on the plate.
Posted by: Michael A. Gray | June 30, 2009 11:34 AM
Granted, "Spam" means something additional now. But that doesn't mean the consuming public can't differentiate. For example: mmmm...devil's food cookies.
Posted by: Bucky | June 30, 2009 11:40 AM
Actually, depending on how you use capitalization, we're talking about entirely different names, according to Hormel Foods:
SPAM (all caps): The luncheon meat made by Hormel Foods.
spam (all lowercase): Unwanted e-mail.
And one more...
Spam (capital "S" only): My longtime nickname.
All I know is that I am not changing MY name. (I've had it since the spring of 1985--well before the term for junk e-mail--so I claim dibs on it before the Internet does.)
Posted by: Spam | June 30, 2009 12:09 PM
Hormel's Spiced Luncheon Meat is a far worse name than SPAM, that is for sure.
Posted by: baltimoregal | June 30, 2009 12:15 PM
spam--I have a feeling this post made your day :-)
Posted by: TAR | June 30, 2009 12:49 PM
yeah...the internet has nothing to do w/it. i think people are just afraid of meat in a can.
Posted by: lore | June 30, 2009 1:06 PM
This topic got me to thinking about how much of the meat we eat has another meaning. Pork -- bloated legislation. Bacon -- did he write Shakespeare's plays? Ham -- a scenery-chewing actor. Roast -- where you rib the guest of honor. Chuck (it) -- throw it out. Duck -- unless you wanna' be whacked by that flying frisbee. Goose -- whoopsy daisy, mon ami. Goat -- Billy Buckner in the World Series. Lamb -- a worthy essayist. Meat Loaf -- gotta' catch his next concert. Chop -- take that you Ninja' warrior. Loin -- what you go to collitch for. And we haven't even double-entendre'd fish.
Posted by: Michael A. Gray | June 30, 2009 2:15 PM
Remember, "If you ain't eating Wham, you ain't eating Ham."
Posted by: Mr Blandings | June 30, 2009 2:36 PM
How's that Dream House coming along, Mr. B?
Posted by: Dahlink | June 30, 2009 3:02 PM
CHAM? e-Meat? iHam? Cram? Dam!
Sounds like another contest in the making.
Posted by: BmoreKarl | June 30, 2009 4:00 PM
SHAM
PORQ
PHORK
SPORK
HORK
Posted by: franco | June 30, 2009 4:07 PM
Upscale the name. Quintuple the price. Package it in 3 oz containers. Presto, instant gourmet delicacy.
Call it Epice Viande.
Posted by: jl | June 30, 2009 5:58 PM
I agree with Bucky. Hormel's loyal SPAM fans would be angry. There is no need for a name change.
SPAM rules!
Posted by: Walt | June 30, 2009 10:27 PM
"Hormel's Spiced Luncheon Meat"--it's not just for luncheon anymore!
I like franco's Porq suggestion.
Posted by: Dahlink | July 1, 2009 6:25 AM
Elizabeth, As a Baltimorean perhaps you know that one of Art Donovan's renowned tales is of 'appropriating' a huge case of SPAM while liberating the South Pacific in WW11 as a Marine.So..., ARTIE ?...,tastes great with combat & football
Posted by: Timothy Joseph Ward | July 3, 2009 1:17 PM