On Bears and Musclebears

[eggwards]

So I'm reading the posts made by several people on the new "Bear Magazine" kerfluffle (the whole "what is a bear?" thing with them siding that the fatter guys are ruining it for the musclebears) and thought I'd throw something out there

Comments

[eggwards]

I have no problem with people having their own groups. It is human nature, and it's also human nature that makes us jealous when we are left out of a group that we want to be a part of, even when it may not be the best thing for us emotionally - or even healthy

[metacub]

Very well put... It's too bad that we just missed you guys in San Diego. Have a good time!

[eggwards]

Yes, sorry we missed both of you as well. Well, we'll be in the bay area sometime soon!

[mrdreamjeans]

The truest part of this post is when you said that you make your choices man by man, look at the people, who you are attracted to, as individuals. I am never going to be attracted to anyone just because they fit a pre-determined label. When the "bear" thing first came together, I thought oh good, I have a community. As the movement has matured, the splinters began to show and now the wounds are festering. I have no interest in identifying with a limiting label. I have very specific sexual types and tastes and even then I don't know if there will be chemistry unless I am looking the person in the eye and hear him speak.

Have a great time in San Diego! If you have the time, go to the zoo, Hotel Del Coronado, Old Town for Mexican food and to La Jolla to see the new stage musical "Bonnie & Clyde"! Let me know if Dan Cooney is in the cast:)

HUGS!

[eggwards]

Well, we saw a few things and spent some time with friends and now I want to go back! San Diego was great!

The bear thing was a great place to start, but I became quickly tired of the bear clubs and there craziness of the drama sometimes. I won't say I'm post-bear, but I don't always find the label sets expectation it promised. My Bear definition is completely subjective, but it's a good starting marker.

[shake_it_up]

Those people who ignore you and are on drugs aren't really worth hanging around with, anyway. I am not sure if you mean the steroids or the party drugs, but they don't make for very good company.

I can't comment on Bear Mag, since I haven't seen the new incarnation (I know that fuzzbelly is doing stuff for them, though, and that's good news). But the Carl Hardwick look is a bit much for me.

I did love your story about TBRU and MSNMARK. The guy shouldn't have assumed that everyone would fall all over him. (Though you did say he was one of the nicer ones.)

As for Bigmusclebears, if I sort by most recent sign-ups and then weight or chest size, the current members seem pretty slight. I do like hefty, but healthy.

[eggwards]

I love Fuzzbelly's work, and I have no problem with his getting his work out. Maybe he'll draw some less fit guys for them!

Charlie is a decent guy,I just think many of the more muscular guys think that others like them are attracted to same. Luckily it's not always true!

Generally it's roids, but there's plenty of others. I guess if you'll do roids, you'll do anything for some of them.

There's definitely something called too slight in my book...but how to express where the line is drawn, well that's difficult.

[scotbear]

I have mixed feelings about this discussion. I'm old enough to have been in on the bear movement when it and Bear Magazine were getting started. The models (like the iconic Jack Radcliff) were originally hairy and a bit overweight. I like to think of it as a bit soft around the middle. It was more about the hair and the non-twinkness than anything else. There weren't any models who's waists were bigger than their chests in the early years. Over the years, it has grown into something that's all about weight and poundage. It has more in common with Mirth and Girth and many guys who call themselves bears are completely hairless. This isn't what it started out to be, and as a smaller guy I'm frequently frustrated at being on the outside because I'm "not big enough". I've been told so to my face many times. I do NOT like the term "chaser", which sounds somehow desperate and needy. I'm frustrated that some people think you have to be morbidly obese to be welcomed and to fit in

[eggwards]

Yeah, it's tough - I know what "Bear" means to me, but it's different for others, fine. They own the mag, so they can do what they want, but the attitude they have is certainly turning me off.

Yeah, the "Chaser" tag can be just as bad as anything else because a stereotype is made. I know another guy, one I'd never label a chaser always seems to feel bad about that label, probably like I dislike "chub".

Clint, I don't think reads this, but he's hot just as he is.