Why are Porpoise’s constantly referred to as Dolphins, even on the Discovery & National Geographic Channel's?

Question

Here's what a real Dolphin looks like. http://www.doghousesportfishing.com/fish/dolphin.jpg

Nothing at all like the bottle nosed porpoise or any of the other species of porpoise's that the term "Dolphin" is regularly applied to,
am I the only one who notices this?

Answer 1

In general, dolphins are larger, have more pointed snouts, and swim faster than porpoises.

Both are still classified into the general category of dolphins, along with pilot whales and orcas (killer whales).

Furthermore, there is a fish that is also called a dolphin, but it is usually called the dolphin fish to avoid confusion. This is the dolphin the link is referring to.

Answer 2

Partly because common names like dolphin and porpoise do not often have any generally accepted
definition. The distinction between dolphins and
porpoises on the basis of whether there is a
distinct projecting snout or not is not known to
most people. Common names are also often
used differently in different places. Names like
gopher and scorpion, for example, are applied to
quite different animals in different regions.

Answer 3

porpoises and dolphins are different animals..dont ask me how but i know they are..so maybe when they say porpoise they know what they are talking about..maybe it is a sublte variation in the species and they say dolphin and it is...id trust the experts before yourself i mean are you a marine biologist?

Answer 4

The term is generalized, to make life simplier for simpler minded people. Like those that watch national geographic because the animals are cute.