Have I Been Mistaken This Whole Time?

This was all in good fun and they were both genuinely some of the nicest people I have met…but I need answers. 😂

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[sjzara]

I’m a gay bear. Being a bear has nothing to do with being manicured. It’s about body and facial hair and build. (My slimmer husband is an otter). You are a good-looking well-groomed bear!

[Waldo-in-walls]

Honestly you give”teddy” bear vibes.
-lgbt person who has no clue what these terms mean

[Spookybluelights]

They were totally pulling your leg, you're definitely a bear. Many bears are very well groomed and take pride in doing that for themselves.

[soaringaegis]

😂 😂😂
Bear=big, buff, hairy, bearded
Otter=sleek bearded, usually more slender and well manicured

So... Yeah, I'd agree with the hybrid assessment 😂😂

[donaldwert]

The comments just go to show that, as in most things, there are no hard and fast rules. "It depends" (on who you are talking to) is often the correct answer. Bear, otter, hybrid, other, it doesn't really matter, just keep being you.

[CiniyVolk]

Sea otter. Still sleek and manicured, but bigger with much more whiskers. Ears are hard to see, whereas river otters ears are visible. Slightly more awkward movement, but still absolutely adorable.

[RukoHanaji]

Coming from a bisexual woman who has spent over 30 years in the LGBTQIA+ Community and I'm also Furry, I was under the impression that otters are both less hairy and slimmer. You definitely strike me more as a bear. Maybe they're thinking you have to be older or something? ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

[JenDeyan]

I love how different communities have their specific terminologies. It's fun to learn a communities' language. Please keep educating me, everyone.

[ukamikazu]

There is a middle of the road classification between bear and otter: A cub. Usually a younger, sometimes but not always athletically built, or perhaps just beefy man. Cubs are generally associated with an attitude and gentleness much like yourself. So yeah, cub works.

[lillithdv]

Whatever you land on, we like you and that’s what matters! I’d posit *care-bear* for the kindness, approachability and comfort you bring us 😊

[mikeinkc]

You're a big hearted bro with a kind, gentle spirit. That's all that matters.

[Hello_Spaceboy]

Super cute that bear lovers love you. I'm on the other end of the gay spectrum but as far as I'm aware a well groomed bear is still a bear. A tamed bear, even. Generally I've only heard a distinction being made if someone looks a little wilder (a scruffy bear, for example) but it's all out of love

[mk_r_inkwell]

Otterbear sounds like an animal you might find in Avatar: The Last Airbender

[strawberrysangria]

You're a teddybear. As a bisexual I am slowly learning my animal innuendos, but I know a nice, huggable guy when I see him!

[jfxl]

Another example of how the rainbow colors all blend into each other. There are no defined lines. This is what makes us all so awesome!

[WickedWeaseification]

Like with all things, it's a spectrum. It goes twink->otter->bear. Twink is the smoothest and lithest, and bear is the burliest and hairiest.

I would be a Twink-Otter hybrid, and you definitely fit(from what I've seen) the Otter-Bear hybrid.

Make no mistake, though, we are all gorgeous, and we are all in love with your innocence and wanting to be included.

P.S. I'm not actually gay, I'm Ace, so I don't mean sexually. I just mean like hugs and stuff. 🙂

[Ajehy]

These comments are like an early 19th century biology conference. “We must identify the species!”

[Idiot_TaylorsVersion]

Clarification from a website I found:

“Up next are the otters. They tend to be hairier overall, still with that thin to slimly athletic build. I’ve seen guys of various ages take the image label of an otter, though it tends to be men under 40.”

“Then we have the bears. Like otters, men of various ages identify as a bear. These are larger-bodied or muscular-bodied men that have body hair. Think about the large-bodied construction workers that you may see on Caltrans job sites or a furry bodybuilder.”

[cousinjake]

Me n my bestie sitting here are confirming, you are a bear

[waffles]

I can't decide what's funnier, your wholesome confusion or the comments 🤣