this post was submitted on 05 Nov 2023
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cute dogs, cats, and other animals

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[–] Blackout@kbin.social 51 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You can pet bears at least one time

[–] tomatoisaberry@lemmy.world 25 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You can try to pet bears at least one time.

[–] rockerface@lemm.ee 47 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If not friend, why friend shaped?

[–] Knusper@feddit.de 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have the same question, but reverse: Why are we making teddy bears bear-shaped?

[–] RandomVideos@programming.dev 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Because they are called teddy bears. It wouldnt make sense if a teddy bear would have the shape of the sun or a cat

[–] Knusper@feddit.de 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks, that perfectly explains why we decided to use an apex predator for our cuddly toys.

[–] curiosityLynx@beehaw.org 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Teddy Roosevelt opted not to shoot a bear that someone caught for him to shoot (because it would have been like shooting fish in a barrel; iirc the bear was immobilised). The press at the time got hold of this story, turned it into a story about pity/mercy (neither applied, the bear was killed anyway, just not by getting shot by Roosevelt) and an enterprising individual made a toy based on it, which became more popular than expected.

The popularity of the toy was also a boost to Roosevelt's popularity, which is why at least one presidential candidate at the time tried to get something similar going for himself, but possums just aren't cuddly and a copy of a popular thing rarely manages to reach the heights of popularity the thing it tries to copy got.

[–] Knusper@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago

Huh, thanks. I didn't think there to be an actual answer. I figured, it was just a shape that's easy to manufacture and good for cuddling...

[–] TheMightyCanuck@sh.itjust.works 14 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

They're not soft anyways. It's super disappointing.

It's like running your hand over a wire bristle cleaning brush. 2/10 would not recommend. (The baby cubs are no different.)

Edit for info: it was brown bears that I got to touch. Can't speak for black, Polar, or others.

[–] RIP_Cheems@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

Fuck my survival instinct, I want that hug.

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You absolutely can, I've done it

[–] bingbong@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

From me experience bears weren't hostile (this one was a pet), more like mega lazy fur balls

[–] Malfeasant@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

Like a big dog, in my experience...

[–] javasux@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] PipedLinkBot@feddit.rocks 1 points 1 year ago

Here is an alternative Piped link(s):

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[–] magikmw@lemm.ee 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Everything is petable if you're brave enough. If just once.

[–] 257m@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 year ago

Just like "All fungi are edible, some fungi are only edible once." - Terry Pratchett.

[–] Cysioland@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 1 year ago

Someday I will die trying to pet something that doesn't want to be pet

[–] NABDad@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

I think it may depend greatly on the bear, but in this case, if you're the apple connect, they'll let you pet them.

Just don't run out of apples.

[–] Outdoor_Catgirl@hexbear.net 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] TheCaconym@hexbear.net 10 points 1 year ago

It's the birthday of the one sitting down on the ground

They all surprised him, you can tell by his face

[–] FALGSConaut@hexbear.net 4 points 1 year ago

Bears love apples

[–] MonsiuerPatEBrown@reddthat.com 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

https://twitter.com/JohnFusco12

that is the person that made it

https://kilhambearcenter.org/

that is the place he did it

[–] Malfeasant@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago
[–] Decentralizr@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

You can pet them… maybe only once but you can