To think that this is probably not a wise name to call an internationally-exporting company?

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

A relative kindly bought my DS a plastic film tie-in Disney-Pixar cup from a major British supermarket chain, which he instantly loved. However, when washing it, I noticed the sticker on the underside containing the bar code, product details and the name of the company who made/imported it.

The company name is P-Slinky. According to its website, the 'Slinky' bit is a more recent addition (they make the famous stair-descending toys) and they were formerly just called P** Products.

The asterisked word is spelt out in full, in capitals, and is what I always understood to be a grossly offensive and pretty-much-anathema term for a gay man (sounds similar to a horses foot).

I assumed it was maybe an Asia-based company attempting onomatopoeia for a magic trick reveal or something without understanding the implications in colloquial English, but no, they're based in New Jersey, USA.

It's a huge, general company making all kinds of worldwide-market toys and similar products - it's not like it's a trendy company aimed at the gay community and trying to reclaim the term (as with Jonathan Ross's erstwhile house band). It looks like they chose the name both because of the rapid success of their company and the fact that they make a lot of foam-based toys(?!).

Does the word not have the same connotations in North America? Is it just me or is it not that different from calling your company N-word Products?

What is the word???

Maybe it's not really a word they use in the USA? Do they, I don't know?

I think it rhymes with tough...

Its poof. I don’t know if it has the same connotation in the US. It’s not a word you hear nowadays

Rhymes with 'tough' or possibly the French 'boeuf', depending on your accent.

Well sometimes the translation doesn’t work out brilliantly. I used to work in somewhere that stocked loads of ink and the Spanish word for black (negro) was plastered on loads of containers. One new girl was particularly scandalised.

All capitals suggests it’s an acronym that doesn’t travel well to English speaking countries. Have you looked it up?

I don’t think it’s anything to get knickers bunched up over though tbh.

Looks like it came about through a merger with the original makers of the slinky.

To be fair, I can't see an awful lot of gay men being particularly offended by the name of a toy brand. Particularly when it's clearly not meant in any way offensively.

They haven't turned out en-masse in supermarkets to campaign against Mr Brains pork products have they?

OP, don’t be so coy about it. It’s a word and you’re not using it in an offensive or aggressive context, you’re just making it difficult for people to understand.

The company is POOF-Slinky Inc. (the POOF part seeming to be an acronym)

Poof does mean that but is also used in other ways. Vanished in a poof of smoke etc. I didn't realise people didn't use it as all.
Even as a derogatory word for a gay man it's mild, surely? I wouldn't use it but I believed it could be used affectionately.

I didn't like to type it out in full as I understood it to be almost the equivalent of the N-word. I know it's old-fashioned, but is it not actually considered offensive as I understood it was?

Should they not have done their homework before exporting worldwide, or maybe used a different brand name for the British market? Especially considering American 'family-friendly' products and programmes will go out of their way to say 'dang' or 'heck' instead of words widely considered to be mild in the extreme.

I didn't believe it was hugely offensive, no. But I'm not a gay man, very happy to be told I'm wrong.

OP, don’t be so coy about it. It’s a word and you’re not using it in an offensive or aggressive context, you’re just making it difficult for people to understand.

Not meaning to be coy - just didn't want to offend anybody. I did make it clear that it started with P and all but said that it rhymed with 'hoof'. The word poof doesn't bother me personally, not being a gay man. Apologies if I inadvertently offended people in trying not to offend people?!

Do you never say poof of smoke. Or is that puff?confusing myself

Even as a derogatory word for a gay man it's mild, surely? I wouldn't use it but I believed it could be used affectionately.

Agreed. I think it's a bit like 'queen'. I know gay people who use both words affectionately towards each other (and sometimes as a humorous way to describe themselves). As a straight man I wouldn't use it as it could be offensive, unless it was established with a good friend as an affectionate nickname.

Doesn't room on the broom say poof they were gone

very happy to be told I'm wrong.

@StealthPolarBear - I should have added this too. If any gay men were to tell me this was seriously offensive then I would stand corrected. In my experience though it's often more of a 'jokey' term used by gay people themselves (it's all about context though).

To me it doesn't rhyme with hoof at all. But would to some people.

It's nowhere near as offensive as the N word.

Well a quick google suggests that POOF has been around since the 1980’s and has had thousands of products so it’s a bit late to start calling for a name change since you’ve only just noticed. I couldn’t see anything specifically to explain the acronym but they specialised in polyethylene and polyurethane foam so it’s probably originated from that but essentially meaningless.

(I really need to sort out my procrastination issues )

:o

FWIW, I've never heard it pronounced to rhyme with "tough" or "hoof"! The French "boeuf" is correct IMO...

@webuiltthisbuffett no need for apologies, I was just pointing out it distracts from the post when people play guessing games.

The N and P (pakastani slur) words are the only ones I’ve ever seen astrixed and they’re common enough for people to understand in context. P is just confusing!

All capitals suggests it’s an acronym that doesn’t travel well to English speaking countries. Have you looked it up?

I don’t think it’s anything to get knickers bunched up over though tbh.

Yes, as I said, I looked it up and it's a US company. According to their website, it doesn't appear to be an acronym, in spite of the capitals.

It doesn't bother me at all, but I vaguely recall seeing a clip of somebody being called a 'poof' (maybe 'poofter') from It Ain't Half Hot, Mum in one of these 'it was acceptable in the 70s/80s' programmes) and them cutting to a gay celebrity 'talking head' who reacted open-mouthed to it. Maybe the celebrity (can't remember who it was) was just easily shocked, then.

I didn't think it was that offensive tbh. Again, happy to be told I'm wrong. Also, unlike the n word, poof has multiple meanings. Google defines it as:

exclamation
1.
used to describe a sudden disappearance.
"once you've used it, poof—it's gone"
2.
used to express contemptuous dismissal.
"‘Oh, poof!’ said Will. ‘You say that every year.’"

Lots of normal words can be offensive if used with ill intent- black, fat etc.

Isn't poof used as "Poof! The car has dissapeared"?
Commonly used in comics for that exact purpose 🤷‍♀️

I get that it can be used as an insult, but this is bit ott imho