What does the word 'den' mean to you?

Something positive, negative, neutral?

[Trisha]

I have a domain with the word 'den' in it, kind of like 'the widget den'. When I thought of it, I thought of the word 'den' referring to a place that is quiet, relaxing where you could learn about widgets. But after a while what popped in my mind with the word was something more like 'the lions den' or 'being thrown in the lions den' - in other words, something really negative which might make people not see widgets as something positive that they would want to learn about.

So, I'm curious, what does the word 'den' mean to you? Does it remind you of something positive or something negative? I'd be curious to know if it means something different to people in different parts of the US or different parts of the world too.

I would really hate to change the domain, with the sandbox and everything, but if it seems to mean something negative to people I will anyway.

[ken_b]

My first reaction to your question was "den of thieves", my second was a "lions den".

Both kind of dangerous places.

[bunltd]

den [google.com] - what came to mind for me was the den of an animal.

a thought later: "honey, I'm in the den" (like a living room, only no one uses that term now)

I don't think it's negative, but I guess that depends on what the widget is. :) It could even have a "cool" kind of connotation, depending on the demographic.

LisaB

[MatthewHSE]

Darkness, shadows, skulking people or animals darting furtively about. Under-cover, intrigue, danger. Possibly good for a domain name, though, depending on the subject matter.

[Sweezely]

I think of a den as a nice, cosy hideaway.

So that's good. Unless the "widget" is something horrible, like AIDS. "The AIDS Den" doesn't really sound like the place where the young hip surfers of today want to be. However, if you're selling "cuddly rabbit mega fun" then that sounds good.

In summary:

"The AIDS Den" - bad
"The Cuddly Rabbit Mega Fun Den" - good

[sem4u]

My first thought was a hideaway too, e.g. 'the children built a den to hide in and play'.

[antman]

The word den always makes me think of the Brady Bunch episode where Greg moves into his Dad's den and puts up all that groovy 70ies stuff.

ant

[limbo]

I used to build dens out of the cushions from the sofa, the dogs blanket and the clothes drier.

[Webwork]

When I was in the Cub Scouts my mom was a Den Leader.

Den ~ warm and fuzzy, just like the cubs nestled together in the den with mom looking over them.

[Trisha]

So it looks like 2 out of 8 people so far definitely associate the word with something negative.

In this case widgets is not something horrible like AIDS, but it is a subject matter that some consider to be difficult to understand, maybe even intimidating in a way to some people, but at the same time fascinating. And I want to get people interested in widgets and in learning about widgets.

So I still don't know if I should keep the name or not. The other issue is that the domain has already been changed once too. But that was because it turns out that someone had part of the name trademarked (not a big well-known company, never would have thought the phrase could have been trademarked.), so I changed it in kind of a hurry in case they came after me. And I had the hardest time coming up with a new name - and now I don't like it! Only site I've ever changed a domain with too.

[travelin cat]

The "den" for me was the place where we went to watch TV.... really has no other meaning to me other then being a couch potatoe....

[tbear]

'Den' for me was my mate Denis around the corner!
Not much of a mate really, he was a little older and mostly ripped me off without me knowing at the time..... LOL

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

What about dirty Den in Eastenders?

[hutchmeister]

I thought of "den of iniquity"... so thats a negative.

I then thought about the dens I used to make in the summertime out of rhubarb leaves and sticks and twine.. so that.. uh.. positive?

[vincevincevince]

I think it depends on context. Theive's Den is rather negative, but New Design Den is rather uplifting.

[SlimKim]

all depends on your perspective

in my corner of the world, most of the middle to upper class have a seldom used formal living room and all the family activity takes place in the den --- it's usually larger than the living room and will have plenty of couches, chairs, tv , coffee table and will sometimes (often nowadays) be a family dining area as well

1st - family living area
2cd - place a wild animal raises it's young --- shelter