There are 22 definitions of pad, so why the fixation with just one?

I know we’re sick to death of the hype and non-stop chatter surrounding new Apple iPad, so I’ll try and be brief, but the furore over the name quite frankly has me puzzled.

It seems Apple has shown very poor judgement in including the word “pad” in the name of their new product, but I can’t figure out why.

Since when has the use of the word pad become unacceptable? For example I don’t know of any instances of stationery sellers being ostracised for selling writing and note pads, nor have I have heard of any retribution against the users of such products either.

Such controversy concerns me personally though, given the tag-line for this very website is “notepad two point zero”. Yet, aside from a couple of tongue-in-cheek emails regarding the “two point zero” part, nary a word has otherwise been said.

So what’s with the brouhaha being directed at Apple?

A look at Dictionary.com only adds to the mystery, where no fewer than 22 definitions of pad turn up. Let me throw a few at you:

• a soft, stuffed cushion used as a saddle; a padded leather saddle without a tree.
• any fleshy mass of tissue that cushions a weight-bearing part of the body, as on the underside of a paw.
• one’s living quarters, as an apartment or room.
• money paid as a bribe to and shared among police officers, as for ignoring law violations.
• a small deposit of weld metal, as for building up a worn surface.

But did you notice anything missing? For my part, I didn’t see a single mention of sanitary items, which is especially surprising considering Dictionary.com draws its references from a wide range of sources.

So what’s going on, and what are we supposed to do next? Purge the language of every ambiguously defined word least someone take offence? Is that what it takes?

In short the world is going to pieces over the use of the word pad. Is this for real? If this is a nightmare, someone please wake me right now.