Am I being a snowflake about this - name of a nursery that is similar to something I find offensive ?

[Putoffalot]

AIBU to not want to send my child (of a mixed heritage) to a childminder with a name that is very similar to something offensive (GW). It’s come up when searching and is the closest to my work but I can’t even contemplate contacting them as it’s too close to the name of an offensive item ?

It’s not just the rhyming it’s the ending part being a term that’s offensive to me and the thought of even asking is there a space for my child somewhere with that word in the name made me feel quite cold and clammy ? Maybe I am a snowflake I just wondered would others feel this way. It just didn’t seem like a good name for a childcare or any setting tbh

I don’t suppose you can help how you feel but I think being offended by words that rhyme with racist terms might be quite niche.

"What if". I can't think of any scenario of a child mispronouncing the name where any sane person is going to be offended.

Ok. Sounds like GW?

I dunno. Is there anything else that bothers you about them?

If it makes you feel uncomfortable, don't go there. However the word 'pollywog' has absolutely nothing to do with the doll, as you said yourself, it's a synonym for tadpole, which is a completely normal name for a nursery. Trying to imply it has racist overtones is just silly ( and I say that as a mixed race woman who grew up in north London in the 1970s, so don't tell me i don't understand racism).

Yeah, it's a poorly conceived name. I don't think it's precious to just pick another provider.

IMO yes, you are being an absolute snowflake.

The word means “tadpoles”. Lots of words sound like other words. Would you also avoid a nursery called “Tigger’s Place”?

Oh well, up to you. As its on your way to work it seems that it would be really convenient but if you just can't get past that name then ....hey, go elsewhere!

I agree. Awful name, and easy to understand why someone might be uncomfortable with it.

I see your point, and I agree with you. I would go elsewhere.

Do the people that work there a favour and don't send your kid there - you sound like you'll be a massive problem for them and exhausting to deal with! Absolutely no - one needs it. Best you move on.

Do you also get offended by words like Woggle and Niger seeds?

I didn’t know that meant ‘tadpole’. How interesting.

OP, you feel how you feel, but it’s a bit mad. Lots of things rhyme or resemble racist terms, after all. I was a bit taken aback to see a nursery called Little Tinkers somewhere, but it’s not a pejorative term for a Traveller in the UK, as it was in Ireland when I was growing up.

I get it, too close for comfort, I can see that.

It IS an odd name for a nursery.

Depends what your other options are I suppose?

I don’t think OP was trying to imply that. I think they felt uncomfortable asked if they were being unreasonable to feel that way or not. Although I bet they wish they hadn’t bothered now.

I agree with you OP, they should have thought and named this better.

No but maybe Tuckingbitch or Muglywhore.

You are being a colossal snowflake.

You can't be offended by normal words just because they rhyme with something else. Or none of us would be allowed to say bigger or digger, tacky or lackey.

It’s hard to explain it’s just you sometimes get that feeling and that made me feel anxious ?

It’s not just the rhyme aspect it’s the second half of the word being the same . Different meaning yes . Why not just call it ‘tadpoles’ though

Well as I was recently accused of having an offensive username when it's literally the breed of a cat, anything is possible!!!

But if you don't like the name, don't use them. Even if you are cutting off your nose to spite your face in terms of proximity!

From wiktionary.org
Noun

pollywog (plural pollywogs)

1. (New Zealand, slang, ethnic slur, offensive) A person of Polynesian (usually Samoan) descent.

So it isn't necessarily quite as inoffensive as it might seem. They probably meant it in the tadpole sense but a little bit of research might have been sensible.

Well now you have named the place, I agree with you! Whilst it may not have racist entymology, it shows a lack of awareness from the nursery owners / manager.

Maybe I am a snowflake but I feel like it wasn’t a well thought out name