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Bear Culture
Topic Started: Aug 8 2013, 04:51 PM (120 Views)
Deleted User
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When and how did it go from being a sort of counterculture movement for the butch/hairy gay man to a club for manatees?

Discuss.
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I was involved in the activist community for awhile, where we educated the public about gay issues and every single guy who identified as a bear would tell people that during their coming out (to themselves) process that they didn't think they were gay because they weren't like the flamboyant queers. They would go on to stress their individuality (and many of them WERE effeminate in speech and mannerisms, even as they denied it.) and they all dressed alike. Brown shorts below the knee, tshirts or flannel. ball cap. hiking boots or tennis shoes. As much as they hated being lumped in with other gay men, because they 'weren't like that' they became their own cloned group where you couldn't tell one from the other.
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I'm just curious when that was, #2. I definitely agree that there is a sameness about them, and many are very much "looks like Tarzan, sounds like Jane" types.

But even when I came out in the early 90s, it seemed more about being hairy (which I like). Maybe they were stocky and didn't fit the perfect body mould in mainstream gay culture, but it wasn't like today.

Today 90% of them are just obese. And they look down on anyone who isn't.

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Pollyanna Prisspot, School Marm
Aug 9 2013, 03:44 AM
I'm just curious when that was, #2. I definitely agree that there is a sameness about them, and many are very much "looks like Tarzan, sounds like Jane" types.

But even when I came out in the early 90s, it seemed more about being hairy (which I like). Maybe they were stocky and didn't fit the perfect body mould in mainstream gay culture, but it wasn't like today.

Today 90% of them are just obese. And they look down on anyone who isn't.

It was up until earlier this year.

I've noticed the trend online (facebook/tumblr, etc.) of celebrating fatness, however I haven't seen them look down on anyone. It is frustrating because I'm okay with some effeminancy in bears. I think I equate it with gentleness. The old definition of bear is my preferred type.

Now, whenever I try to find bear porn it's just obese porn. Bears by nature though, are supposed to be beefy.
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Aug 9 2013, 07:34 AM
Now, whenever I try to find bear porn it's just obese porn. Bears by nature though, are supposed to be beefy.
Exactly. I like 'em hairy and beefy. But by "beefy" I mean nice arms, chest, butt, and legs. Maybe with a bit of a belly but not fat (six pack abs are just too much fucking work, and not attractive enough to warrant it).

There is a huge difference between "beefy" and "big floppy obese mess with no muscle tone whatsoever."

Gay culture is, IMHO, far too obsessed with looking perfect. But pretending that obesity can be sexy is a lie. It's unhealthy, and it's gross.
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