GaySubcultureFilter: Why do bears say "woof?"

June 1, 2006 12:52 PM

GaySubcultureFilter: Why do bears say "woof?"

As opposed to, say, growling? Because growling is unfriendly?

I'm guessing if I have to explain what bears are, you're not going to know the answer to my question anyway. But bears are the linebackers who never dated girls in high school, or the gay IT guys who listen to death metal, or Andrew Sullivan and Babydaddy of the Scissor Sisters. Or basically gay guys who aren't twinks. Previously.

posted by fugitivefromchaingang to Human Relations (19 answers total)

This is going to sound snarky, but it isn't.

They say woof because they actually are not really bears, they are guys. And in general some guys say 'woof' to indicate sexual interest They are not furries who are pretending to be bears, and are thus acting out of character.
posted by voidcontext at 1:50 PM on June 1, 2006

And in general some guys say 'woof' to indicate sexual interest

Really? Aside from bears, who the hell are these guys? I've never heard any non-bear say this to indicate this.
posted by fugitivefromchaingang at 2:09 PM on June 1, 2006

I'm not familiar with gay subculture, but my guess is most bears don't say it either. Makes you sound pretty stupid.
posted by InfidelZombie at 2:33 PM on June 1, 2006

I've never heard any non-bear say this to indicate this.

Steve Martin says it in Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid. Then he shaves his tongue.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:50 PM on June 1, 2006

"I'm not familiar with gay subculture, but my guess is most bears don't say it either."

Well, I am familiar, and most do say it.
posted by Futurehouse at 3:02 PM on June 1, 2006

My experience is akin to that of Futurehouse.
posted by ursus_comiter at 3:12 PM on June 1, 2006

"woof!" as in Lord Flashheart's woof?
posted by derbs at 3:24 PM on June 1, 2006

Really? Aside from bears, who the hell are these guys? I've never heard any non-bear say this to indicate this.

*raises hand*
posted by mykescipark at 3:27 PM on June 1, 2006

Because expressing their true desire ("Hunn-e-e-e!") sounds too fey?

I think it's a Web thang, mostly.
posted by rob511 at 3:38 PM on June 1, 2006

If it means anything I know a couple of girls who say it to indicate sexual interest/hotness.

Since I haven't asked their motivation outright I can't really make any useful guesses about why.

(They do either live in San Francisco or otherwise have close ties to gay communities.)
posted by birdie birdington at 4:08 PM on June 1, 2006

I'm not sure but the usage is at least 15 years old. Take a trip down memory lane on soc.motss and you'll find usage going back to 1990. The oldest usage from 1990 is by George Madison, then quite bear-identified. The next oldest usage also from 1990 is by Richard Johnson, who was (and is) quite non-bear identified. Go figure.

I tend to think of "woof" as being a bear thing, but reading old motss posts I'm not sure it was initially. May have been borrowed from straight guys, then recycled through the Internet and from there to bear culture.
posted by Nelson at 5:01 PM on June 1, 2006

My experience is akin to that of Futurehouse.

With a user name like that you should know!
posted by sourwookie at 5:11 PM on June 1, 2006

I say woof, and I'm anything but a bear. I think it's pretty common among gay men.

I've never heard a woman use it for a guy, though.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 6:00 PM on June 1, 2006

I've never heard a woman use it for a guy, though.

Watch Young Frankenstein, and you will.
posted by redfoxtail at 6:07 PM on June 1, 2006

George Clinton (from P. Funk, I mean) says woof to indicate his attraction to a woman. Nothing but the dog in him, baby.
posted by muddgirl at 6:50 PM on June 1, 2006

I think Nelson has it right-- I use it and am not a bear (not even close). I did spend a lot of time in '90-'92 on soc.motss and in #glbf on IRC where it was used quite a bit, regardless of hirsuteness.
posted by yellowcandy at 10:44 PM on June 1, 2006

I've certainly heard it used in a straight context. Mostly by guys, but I'm pretty sure I've heard girls use it too.
posted by hattifattener at 12:07 AM on June 2, 2006

I've never heard any non-bear say this to indicate this.

Do you hang out with anyone who isn't a bear? ;-)

As others have said, 'woof' is used by people of all genders and sexualities, it's just another way of saying 'Phwoar!'. (And as derbs hints above, it's usage in the UK is associated with a preposterously heterosexual comic character.)
posted by jack_mo at 6:29 AM on June 2, 2006

Hey Waylon, who's the bear? Woof!

(Obligatory Simpsons reference)
posted by geoff. at 7:26 AM on June 2, 2006