Penetrating the Thai Condom Market

 BANGKOK (Digital Dementia News Services) - Thai cultural watchdogs have banned a line of condoms whose name translates as "Good Penetration," saying the suggestive label could draw youngsters into having sex even earlier, newspapers reported Tuesday.  The average Thai usually does not begin having sex before age 7.

The condoms are actually named "Tom Dundee" after the stage name of a popular country singer, but Culture Ministry officials said this was inappropriate and offended good norms and culture, the Thai Rath tabloid said.

"Dundee" in Thai means "Good Penetration."

Dundee, whose real name is Puntiva Poomiprates, defended lending his stage name to the condom brand.  “They couldn’t have used my real name ‘Puntiva Poomiprates’.  I mean who is going to buy a condom named ‘Puntiva Poomiprates’?” 

‘Puntiva Poomiprates’ translates in certain Thai dialects as ‘death by poontang’. 

"Although the name ‘Dundee’ is not vulgar or rude, it is ambiguous, boastful and provocative," said Ladda Tangsupachai, manager of the Thai Cultural Watch Center. 

Ironically, the name of the director of the Thai Cultural Watch Center, “Ladda Tangsupachai” translates as “wanna sit on my fudge-packer?” 

The condom market in Thailand is much better developed than in many other countries.  This is because in many Thai communities it is quite normal for condoms to be worn in non-sexual contexts.  They are often worn tied around the wrist as a bracelet or stretched over one’s head as a cap.  Non-sexual condom use is officially sanctioned by the Health and Culture Ministry “provided the condoms are not publicly worn on your tangsupachai.” 

Condom producers have to seek approval from both the Health and Culture ministries before they can begin marketing their condoms in Thailand. 

Goodyear Tire & Rubber’s new condom, the steel belted radial “Impervion”, was approved for sale by the Health and Culture ministries provided that Goodyear Tire & Rubber changed the name of their condom from “Impervion” to “Pink Floyd Pajamas”. 

In some Thai dialects “Impervion” loosely translates as “Quarter Pounder with Cheese”.