For context, I’m a sound man, a rather silly one.

I use several microphones in those big fluffy things that most of you have probably seen on the tv occasionally.

I have small ones of those, and larger ones, and I lightheartedly refer to them as a “big fluff” or “small fluff” - to the occasional annoyance of some more serious co-workers.

The other day, I was gathering some kit and wondering in my internal dialogue what I needed. The voice in my head said:

“I’m going to need five little XLR cables, a head torch, oh, and three fuzzywuzzies” - meaning some big fluffs.

For the younglings who might not be aware, this was a term used by British soldiers to refer to the Beja warriors, and which later became used as a derogatory term for African people.

It’s not a term I use at all, but I caught myself thinking, shit, where did that come from?

I didn’t say it out loud thankfully, but I have been wondering since, would that be ok as a humorous descriptive term for something that really is fuzzy?

What do you all think?

Would the use of that word at an inanimate object be offensive? Could it be?

Or is it ok since it’s clearly not directed at any person or people?

How long does a term like that need to fall into disuse before it loses its toxicity?