Michel Boucher wrote:

> "Bob (this one)" > wrote in
> :
>
>>As for why "rapeseed" had its name changed, how dense are you? Do
>>they not use the word "rape" on your planet...? Do you think that
>>would be a good name to try to sell stuff under?
>
> That really is a case of stupidity over common sense.

Perhaps a case of denotation over connotation. Imagine a candy called
shitseed. Probably the consuming public would form opinions on other
than the flavor of the product.

I bet that's why "pets de nonne" is on all the boxes of little
pastries in Quebec. Yummy, huh...?

C'mon, Michel. The word "rape" sounds just like the word "rape." A
good way not to sell stuff is to call it something offensive.

Pet brand Evaporated Milk in cans didn't sell well in French Canada.
Neither did Cue toothpaste. Same thing works for everybody.

Pastorio

> One source
> states that "rape" is the English form but that "the name is derived
> through Old English from a term for turnip, rapum."
>
> Back in the day (1971), former Prime Minister John George Diefenbaker
> defended the use of the expression "Land of rape and honey" by the
> town of Tisdale, Saskatchewan.
>
> http://library.usask.ca/sni/stories/con18d.html
>
> Let's not get carried away here. We're not talking about violation,
> we're talking about a plant here that is *actually* called Brassica
> napus. Apples...oranges...it's a no-brainer.