Learn From It: Bears Are So 2005; Pogs Are It for 2006

Remember all that bitching I did about 2005? And then it decided to bite me on the ass on its way out by kicking my Vespa out from underneath me at 17th & Sanchez?

Well, in inaugurating 2006, I've decided that the flip on the old time odometer from 2005 to 2006 isn't enough. No, more work needs to be done. And thanks to Glenn, I've learned a new word! That word: pogonophile. A pogonophile is “one who loves beards”.

In this town, and in gay culture bubbles everywhere, a bear is defined generally as someone who is hairy (including facial hair, preferably full facial hair), perhaps overweight, wears flannel and likes selfsame (oh, and male, just in case you were thinking 'lesbian').

I never liked that definition, primarily because I fall into that category. And while I may look like a bear, I don't buy into the whole bear-community thing thing.

The thing I like about “pogonophile” is that it's about one's internal world. Oh, and it collapses the pantheon of animals used to pigeonhole gay men (even though there are no pigeons in the pantheon!), such as otters, cubs, wolves (oh my!) into a single designation.

So. Pogs. I wonder if the meme will travel anywhere. Maybe I should post to that great bear echochamber, LiveJournal; there, it might have legs.

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Comments

Jeff --

I'm with you on this one with respect to placing those bear-types under one true sphere. But, hmmm!, I'm just not sure pogonophile is going to cut it. Pogs, maybe!!!

Tony

Posted by: Tony | January 21, 2006 10:48 AM

I'm up for it if it doesn't include another animal farm parade, or having to use vocal stylings of canines:)

Posted by: Steve O'Brien | January 22, 2006 03:25 AM

Does this mean we can start calling most of them chubby and chubby chasers again? That's what always got me... Bear's were supposed to be your regular redneck working class guys with maybe a beer gut. At least that is what I remember it was supposed to be..

Posted by: Teddy Pig | January 22, 2006 05:54 AM

I think the term is catching on here on the East Coast.

Posted by: Walt | January 22, 2006 11:01 AM

Finally, something I can call myself relevant to my facial-hair-requirement that doesn't mean meeting someone else's definition. I was never comfortable calling myself a bear, and now, at last, I don't have to justify it any more...

Whew. You have no idea my sense of relief.

Posted by: Josh | January 22, 2006 12:45 PM

Wow..the world's first true pog is so incredibly hot. That should help sell the meme!

Posted by: GodOfBiscuits | January 22, 2006 12:53 PM

Yes, I suppose it does.

But on another note, what would an iPog be?

Posted by: GodOfBiscuits | January 23, 2006 01:00 AM

Well, an iPog would be a bearded one who is plugged into the latest tech, of course.

If we must (and someone will), here are some more Pogisms:

Pogger: Someone who tops bearded guys.
Poggee: Someone who bottoms to bearded guys.
Autopogonification: getting off on your own beard.
Pseudophogonophile: He who only grew a beard when/because it was hip.
Pogasm: Shooting a load on someone's beard.

Posted by: jimbo | January 23, 2006 01:59 AM

I'm all about "pog" rather than "bear". The really weird thing is.. one of my best friends Mandy (a small fashionable Asian girl from Canada) has been calling me pog since I met her in college. Not because of the pogonophile you mention, but just because she makes up words all the time (as many fasionable girls, including myself, do) and that was one of them. So having been a pog myself for the past 6+ years to only one person, I'm ready to be come out of my pog closet. Long live the pog!

Posted by: Vinny | January 23, 2006 02:04 AM

Spread the word, Jimbo and Vinny and Joshie, oh my!

Posted by: GodOfBiscuits | January 23, 2006 02:13 AM

I have now blogged about pogs. I even mentioned you.

Posted by: jimbo | January 23, 2006 08:22 AM

Does that mean that twinks are pogonophobic?

Posted by: James | January 23, 2006 12:53 PM

And there's Pogo - A comic strip possum that's into beards

Posted by: Lee | January 24, 2006 01:50 AM

Can't we all just be guys with beards again?

Posted by: Mark | January 24, 2006 07:48 AM

Feh! I'm an SO post-pog.