In this episode of Cubs Out Loud, the guys return to a familiar topic to give it a deeper look. After recently discussing the future of bear runs (see COL818), new developments and losses to the bear community at large give the cubs reason to readdress this uncertainty. Taking time to deliberate the history and potential decline of bear culture, listen in as the guys discuss what the future holds for the community. Is it truly dying out or is it shifting and molding into something new.
Show Topics
In episode 818, we talked about the future of bear runs here in the US. In the past couple of weeks, we found out that another bear run is coming to an end. A tech founder from the earliest days for the bear online culture foundation left this mortal coil.
Recently some were informed of the passing of one of the founders of the Bear Mailing List, aka the infamous BML in 1986. For those that don’t know,
The Bears’ Mailing List (aka BML) is an Internet mailing list in digest format for gay and bisexual men who are bears themselves and for those who enjoy the company of bears. It is hosted by Roger Klorese and Henry Mensch. The BML is designed to be a forum to bring together folks with similar interests for conversation, friendship and sharing of experiences. Steve Dyer and Brian Gollum started the mailing list in August 1988, and since then it has grown to a community of more than 1400 men (and a few women) world-wide. On average, a new digest 20-30K bytes long arrives via email every other day or so. Source: http://www.qrd.org/qrd/electronic/email/bears
As founders and developers leave our lives, are we seeing the decline of Bear Culture at large? As we are facing an aging population, the question begs what of the Bear Culture at large? Or is this only happening here in the United States? Perhaps we’re entering a new chapter where things will be different than before
Does the Bear pride flag have meaning anymore? Does the return of the Bear History Project foretell that we need to document and archive our community before it’s gone?
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