Bear, Otter, Cub etc?

[~quicksilver~]

OK, been out and about as a gay man for a while now and I still can't wrap my head around some of the classifications... I am usually attracted to bearish men (hairy chest and/or beards, muscled, older and masculine)

But I am still clueless as to what I am I have a very slim athletic body, and am quite young still (25), with a pretty-boy esque facce... but I have a hairy chest, legs and pits... So I know I am not a twink, but I am definately not a bear by any stretch lol.

So, what's the difference between a bear an otter and a cub? And where would a guy like me be classified?

 

[huw ginnit]

A Bear is , generally an older guy, big (tubby) and hairy with a beard,

a Cub is a younger version of same and

an Otter is a slim hairy guy.

So there you are, I am sure many others will ahvetheir own take on it but in a nut shell, there you have it!

I need to see more of your body to tell what you are!

 

[BigMeatNJ]

you know what you are...you are HOT!


i would call you an otter. I was an otter when younger, now I am getting more bear-ish as I age. I disagree with the above statement that a bear is older and tubby though. many bear can be any age and are not tubby at all. many of them are muscled! true a heavy older hairy man is a bear, but not all bears are heavy older men. I am not heavy (true I could use to loose 10 lbs lol) but likewise I am not the slim swimmers build anymore so I doubt that anyone would consider me an otter still.

 

[huw ginnit]

I spent last weekend serving at Pride where many Bear related activities were organised. The majority were tubby/large, I don't know whether it's a culture thing but many opted for bear-wear when they put on weight and didn't feel comfortable in nightclubs with gym-bunnies and twinks. I know this because I asked.... the "older" refernece applies as if it didn't the cub term would be redundant....again I asked. Hence my being able to answer quicksilver's initial question.

 

[Mattness]

See, here's why I reject most classifications, even "oh, you know how Men are, you know how Women are"...everyone's definitions are different.

I am a hairy man who is large in stature (I'm 6'2" tall). To me, the term "bear" has always been a hairy guy - any size, any shape.

But to others, a "bear" is a hairy guy who has a bit more weight on him (like huw ginnit says). So, when someone calls me a "bear", they could be calling me a big fat guy...NOT a compliment. Also, calling me a smelly, savage, animal that would kill you as fast as look at you is not a compliment either.

So, there's one person's perspective on this silly "put everyone in a box" concept. Just like expecting all Women, Men, Blacks, Whites, Gays, Straights, Asians, Muslims, Russians, etc. to act and look the same just because you put a label on them, is silly.

Labels are dangerous and can cause trouble and noses to be bent out of shape. Just be who you are, and don't worry about a label.

My two cents...

 

[huw ginnit]

...but when individuals CHOOSE to adopt those terms....???

and I don't use the term in any sense to disparage, it is purely what I learnt from talking to self indentified Bears, Cubs and Otters. I didn't understand the terminology myself-

You could be 300lbs and hairier than three badgers in a sack, and still not identify as a bear, I wouldn't call you one. It's a matter of chosen identity.

 

[Charles Finn]

yeah what big meat said
hairy hung bear that stands 6' and is 200#'s
not as hot as i was 10 years ago but still ok.
yes you are an otter till about 35 or so then cub

 

[musclebutt2]

As far as gay labels go they get quite intricate. This past lazy bear weekend I learned a few new ones, and since Hairison street fair is this weekend I might learn some more.

Bears: general catch all phrase for a mature beefy furry man
Cub: younger furry man
Musclebear: bear with muscles; a furry gymbunny
Polarbear: bear with white fur
Blackbear: African American bear
Pandabear: the hard to find, rare Asian bear
Daddybear: bear who is also a daddy
Leatherbear: bear into S&M
Pradabear: bear who is a label whore
Princessbear: the pretty bears that are too good to talk to anyone not as hot as themselves, also a high maintenance bear
Otter: furry man with a swimmer's build
Silverfox: an attractive older man with mostly silver hair

That's just off the top of my head, as you can see, this could go on and on. I don't know what they call Latino bears... and what the heck is a Wolf; is it the same as an Otter? As for myself I guess I'm just a Puppy :smile:

 

[Pye]

... and what the heck is a Wolf; is it the same as an Otter? As for myself I guess I'm just a Puppy :smile:

I was going to ask that myself

 

[Wrey]

As far as gay labels go they get quite intricate. This past lazy bear weekend I learned a few new ones, and since Hairison street fair is this weekend I might learn some more.

Bears: general catch all phrase for a mature beefy furry man
Cub: younger furry man
Musclebear: bear with muscles; a furry gymbunny
Polarbear: bear with white fur
Blackbear: African American bear
Pandabear: the hard to find, rare Asian bear
Daddybear: bear who is also a daddy
Leatherbear: bear into S&M
Pradabear: bear who is a label whore
Princessbear: the pretty bears that are too good to talk to anyone not as hot as themselves, also a high maintenance bear
Otter: furry man with a swimmer's build
Silverfox: an attractive older man with mostly silver hair

That's just off the top of my head, as you can see, this could go on and on. I don't know what they call Latino bears... and what the heck is a Wolf; is it the same as an Otter? As for myself I guess I'm just a Puppy :smile:

Here in Puerto Rico, bears are called Oso.

That's alot of terminology. Is there going to be a test on friday?:wink:

 

[huw ginnit]

If you have depression are you a Bi-Polar bear????

 

[B_Think_Kink]

If you have depression are you a Bi-Polar bear????

*snort* thats a good one.

 

[Wrey]

If you have depression are you a Bi-Polar bear????

That was AWEsome!

:biggrin1:

 

[wldhoney]

If you have depression are you a Bi-Polar bear????

LMAO.....that was cute. :tongue:

Just chiming in to say....Wow, I learned something new! I had never heard any of those terms ( except bear and cub, but I didn't really know what they meant) and I worked for the airlines in SFO for quite a while!

Can I ask what boi means, as in what kind of boy?

 

[Pye]

As far as gay labels go they get quite intricate. This past lazy bear weekend I learned a few new ones, and since Hairison street fair is this weekend I might learn some more.

Bears: general catch all phrase for a mature beefy furry man
Cub: younger furry man
Musclebear: bear with muscles; a furry gymbunny
Polarbear: bear with white fur
Blackbear: African American bear
Pandabear: the hard to find, rare Asian bear
Daddybear: bear who is also a daddy
Leatherbear: bear into S&M
Pradabear: bear who is a label whore
Princessbear: the pretty bears that are too good to talk to anyone not as hot as themselves, also a high maintenance bear
Otter: furry man with a swimmer's build
Silverfox: an attractive older man with mostly silver hair

That's just off the top of my head, as you can see, this could go on and on. I don't know what they call Latino bears... and what the heck is a Wolf; is it the same as an Otter? As for myself I guess I'm just a Puppy :smile:

Ah-- found this on Wikipedia :

Otter - a man who is hairy, but is not large or stocky - typically thinner, or with lean muscle. Slimmer version of a Bear with little pockets of fat like love handles or a tiny gut, but not as lean as a Wolf.

So I think I'd rather be called a Wolf...but I'm more of an Otter.. and if I don't start working out and watching what I eat I'll be on my way to Bear

 

[Wrey]

LMAO.....that was cute. :tongue:

Just chiming in to say....Wow, I learned something new! I had never heard any of those terms ( except bear and cub, but I didn't really know what they meant) and I worked for the airlines in SFO for quite a while!

Can I ask what boi means, as in what kind of boy?

A boi is a guy who is no longer in his earliest years but still dresses the part. Usually in good shape. I have often been called a boi. I'm 37.

 

[B_Think_Kink]

Now that we are on the topic of gay terms... does "Looking for your next trick" always mean that the guy is looking for another paying customer?

 

[musclebutt2]

A boi might also be a gay man with a bit of a Peter Pan syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

ThinkKink: "tricks" in gay lingo doesn't mean a paying john for a prostitute. It generally means any guy you are having casual sex with, usually a one night stand or more commonly, a one hour stand. No money is exchanged but promiscuity and general manslutiness is implied. If you don't know or can't remember the guy's name after coitus, then he's definitely a trick: let's go treat or treating... no thanks, tricks are for kids.

 

[Pye]

Now that we are on the topic of gay terms... does "Looking for your next trick" always mean that the guy is looking for another paying customer?

A "trick" is just a sex hookup. Although if one is a prostitute a "trick" can also be a "john".

For one to "turn tricks" one must have a "Trick" to turn

 

[musclebutt2]

Ah-- found this on Wikipedia :

Otter - a man who is hairy, but is not large or stocky - typically thinner, or with lean muscle. Slimmer version of a Bear with little pockets of fat like love handles or a tiny gut, but not as lean as a Wolf.

So I think I'd rather be called a Wolf...but I'm more of an Otter.. and if I don't start working out and watching what I eat I'll be on my way to Bear

Nice, that clears up some confusion for me Pye. You're a sexy man and definitely not a Gingerbear :wink: