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?

Aren’t there two ways of pronouncing poof? I would say p-oo-f for, “and just like that, poof, it was gone.” A long oo sound like food (southern)

For the gay man I would pronounce it like the oo in foot. I believe it’s called a schwar. An uh sound.

Good grief! What a non story!

My nephew is gay and he uses the term. Sometimes I think things can be blown up out of proportion.

Poof, foot and food all have the same op sound in my accent.

Maybe the OP should just have been "If you wanted to offend/befriend/bemuse/delight a gay man by calling him a poof, how would YOU pronounce it?" !!

Unless making up a word or maybe using the founder's name it would likely be impossible to name a company something that might not be offensive to someone, somewhere. I thought that would be common knowledge?

I'm from the US when I hear Brits say they're "Going for a fag break." I'm all . Even though I know they just mean cigarette, "fag" is an extremely offensive word in the US.

My issue with foam squishie type toys is that they give off loads of toxic fumes that kids can breathe in.

Really? Is that true or just hype?

StealthPolarBear, scarily yes!

Link [https://www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2018/09/01/warning-to-parents-that-squishies-toys-may-contain-dangerous-chemicals-7903454/amp/]

From what i know the sifter and more malleable a plastic is the more likely it can give off toxic fumes - like PVC/vinyl.

I self identify as a large toy spring and I find your use of the word s**y very offensive.

Sorry on mobile site and can't remember how to do clicky links 🤦‍♀️

Unless making up a word or maybe using the founder's name it would likely be impossible to name a company something that might not be offensive to someone, somewhere. I thought that would be common knowledge?

I get that, but would you not think to research foreign markets and maybe use an alternative name for countries where your actual name might cause offence/unintended hilarity?

As PP have said with the word 'fag', I could imagine a quirky British cigarette wholesaler calling themselves 'Fag City' or similar (probably more so 15-20 years ago, before the tide of public acceptance of smoking really started to turn).

If they then decided to open a branch in the US, would you expect them to just keep the name and tell any dissenters "We're British and the word doesn't offend us, so you have no grounds to be offended either" ? Certainly not if they actually wanted to quietly get on and make a success of their business.

Fucking hell, what a non-issue.

You could have saved yourself three pages of confusion by typing the word poof

*As PP have said with the word 'fag'

Sorry, as did you yourself, in fact.

But that's something you accept when you're abroad. if those same Brits came to live and work in the US and said "I'm just going out for a fag" would you ignore it as they're British and intend no offence or would you, as most people would do, have a quiet word with them and suggest they use a different word there?

I came on to say it’s a bit of a non-issue, as stated above “fag” in the UK is used very differently to the US and I believe the derogatory “poof” is a British invention.

The main offence was the PP’s trying to rhyme it with “tough”

Completely off topic but initially I thought the word was Pink. Making the product Pink Slinky which gave me some interesting 'male' mental imagery

Just Google the company history. POOF Products started in the 1980s manufacturing foam bath toys.!! Then merged with Slinky later. Can't we find something REALLY offensive to get our panties in a twist? Or as you would say our knickers in a twist!

You could have saved yourself three pages of confusion by typing the word poof

Well, considering the word was typed in full in the 5th post, you'd have to be very confused indeed to still not get what it was after three pages.

I do love the PA way some people see a thread title/OP that doesn't interest them and, instead of just ignoring or closing it and scrolling on to find something they do like the look of, like most people would do, take the trouble and make the effort to add a post of their own, just to make their lack of interest crystal clear in case the OP is under the illusion that the entire world is fascinated by one particular topic

Sorry but it’s hard to take an adult who won’t type a word seriously. And as I said, it’s a non-issue.

The main offence was the PP’s trying to rhyme it with “tough” angrygrinconfusedgrin

Where I'm originally from (East Midlands), many people would (and indeed did, back in the day) pronounce poof to rhyme with tough (with a Midlands/Northern 'u' sound).

I'm offended that you take offence at different accents from yours

Brilliant virtue signalling OP

sounds similar to a horses foot

I can kind of get why you didn’t want to type “poof”, but surely “hoof” is fine?

This made me laugh

Why didn't you just write poof ffs instead of being confusing.
Maybe it was a merger, maybe they meant magic, maybe it was a founders surname... who cares?

Sorry but it’s hard to take an adult who won’t type a word seriously. And as I said, it’s a non-issue.

I genuinely did think that it was considered an offensive word. Are you saying that you would type the N-word in full, should you find yourself discussing it, as you're an adult? if not, why not?

Fair enough if you consider it a non-issue - definitely not worth a third post to a pointless thread, then?

Oh when I was a child a "poof" (to rhyme with "hoof") was the little padded thing that you could rest your feet on, or sit on if there was nowhere else available.

I would call it a foot stool now.