Pantsless Pooh Bear Losing Out to Miś Uszatek for Polish Playground Name

A proposition to name a playground after Winnie the Pooh in the town of Tuszyn in Poland was apparently squashed a few weeks ago after a private debate among officials. Opposition to A.A. Milne’s honey-loving bear was based upon Pooh Bear’s penchant for running around in just a shirt, while other bears, like Miś Uszatek, have a more appropriate sense of style.

The matter came to the attention of the media after voice recordings from the meeting were leaked. Complaints were heard on the recording that Pooh’s gender was ambiguous. One person called the bear a “hermaphrodite,” while another suggested that A.A. Milne castrated Pooh.

The next thing you know, reports came out that Winnie the Pooh had been banned from the playground. Well, really, it’s about the name of the playground. No Pooh Bears will be confiscated at the entrance.

One of the Pooh Bear opponents, Ryszard Cichy, told a newspaper that his remarks at the end of the discussion were made in jest because the matter had gone on too long. Kind of a non-story when you get a clearer picture of what went on, but it is a pretty good example of how something gets blown out of proportion just for a provocative headline.

If Paddington Bear shows up in his raincoat, however, that could pose a different problem altogether.