What makes you a bear?

[tonysparks]

This is in response to the twink vs. jock thread.

I have heard many descriptions of a bear--and even been referred to as one!

At first I was offended, as I didn't think I fit the body type. But, maybe I just don't understand what is intended by the term.

Can somebody enlighten me?

[Lee]

You have to be related to Theodore Roosevelt dontcha?

Regards,

Lee

[tombarr]

This is in response to the twink vs. jock thread.

I have heard many descriptions of a bear--and even been referred to as one!

At first I was offended, as I didn't think I fit the body type. But, maybe I just don't understand what is intended by the term.

Can somebody enlighten me?

Diet, metabolism, and age?

[LavenderLounge]

Mick,

You're a perfect example of a muscle bear - accept it an exploit it to your advantage!

I wrote an article published in Eurobear Magazine that describes how the "bear look" evolved as a gay cultural icon, and I think that will explain everything. Read it here:

http://www.lavenderlounge.com/blog/2...lores_mus.html

[Dzinerbear]

I think the biggest misconception about bears is that they have to be overweight to qualify. And I don't think this is true. But I sure see a lot of people get it wrong on their sites.

The thing is that there's really no hard and fast definition because "bear" is more a state of mind than anything. So if you say that a bear must be xyz, I'll show you ten bears who don't fit your criteria, but who are, nonetheless, bears.

Bears can certainly have bellies, but they need not have them. Bears are usually hairy, but I've certainly seen many bear men on Bear Films who are pretty smooth. Bears are often masculine, but again, I've seen some big girl bears, too.

The typical qualities of a bear are: hairy, facial hair, masculine looking, and beefy to big bodied. If a man fits most of those criteria but is muscular, you could call him a muscle bear. If he's hyper masculine and dominant, you could call him a daddy bear. If he's younger and on the cute side, you could call him a bear cub.

The bear community rose out of the ashes of the first wave of AIDS, after we lost so many. People who more concerned with looking healthy and bears certainly seemed to fit. Also, about the same time, the Circuit Party culture was taking over as the be-all and end-all of what gay men should look like. Gay men were shunning the plaid, moustached, Al Parker clones of the 70s and early 80s, but bigger men felt out of sync and out of place. So, the bear community was born as a way to legitimize that bears are gay men, too, and that bigger guys are just as sexy.

I suppose when speaking about the bear niche in gay porn in the strictest of terms, if you wanted to be safe: If he doesn't look like Tool Time's Al Borland, he ain't a bear. If a man is hairy and weighs 160 pounds, he ain't a bear. If a man has 10 chest hairs, he ain't a bear. If you've got a slender hairy man, call him a hairy man, not a bear.

But you need not be offended if someone calls you a bear, it could be a compliment. They think you're masculine, hairy, and hot!

Michael

[jonjayw]

There are a number of easy tests you can apply to check your 'bear-ness':

If you've been told you're too straight to be gay -- you might be a bear.

If you pre-fur some facial hair (yours and/or his) when you suck face --- you might be a bear.

If you dig Dolly 'cause she sings pretty and don't notice her shape --- you might be a bear.

If shaving is more likely to involve pubic vs. facial hair -- you might be a bear.

If you'd rather go to the auto show instead of the ballet -- you might be a bear.

If when you and your buddy go camping you pack only one sleeping bag -- you might be a bear.

If you're a meat and potatoes guy and hate quiche -- you might be a bear.

If you'd rather line dance than 'shake your booty' -- you might be a bear.

If you know what your mechanic is talking about -- you might be a bear.

If when someone says "Mary" you look around for the woman in the crowd -- you might be a bear.

If getting ready for a date on Saturday night means a shower and a fresh pair of jeans -- you might be a bear.

If you find yourself more interested in the faculty than the students of your local community college -- you might be a bear.

If a guy smelling of honest sweat makes you light headed -- you might be a bear.

If you've fixed something around the house in the last month -- you might be a bear.

If you prefer lounging in your underwear and don't own a smoking jacket -- you might be a bear.

If you think pilsner glasses are for sissies and drink right from the can -- you might be a bear.

[chodadog]

Refer to this enlightening documentary on the subject:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=twQlpFrm5iM

[Dzinerbear]

Oh dear. What can you say about that?

Well, like I said, as soon as you establish a bunch of criteria for what a bear is, along come four men to throw a kink into the works.

Michael

[SPACE GLIDER]

some heavy-handed metamorphic sorcery

[SPACE GLIDER]

There was this 80's movie called "True Stories" where John Goodman played a character called Lewis-the-bear. I couldn't see any reason why he was called that. I wonder was the writer saying something that I just didn't catch on to back then ....

[Baghdad Bob]

i think you has to be older and hairy but still have some muscle