Blackout ( @Blackout@kbin.social ) 39•8 months agoYou can pet bears at least one time
rockerface ( @rockerface@lemm.ee ) 36•8 months agoIf not friend, why friend shaped?
Knusper ( @Knusper@feddit.de ) 8•8 months agoI have the same question, but reverse: Why are we making teddy bears bear-shaped?
RandomVideos ( @RandomVideos@programming.dev ) 4•8 months agoBecause they are called teddy bears. It wouldnt make sense if a teddy bear would have the shape of the sun or a cat
Knusper ( @Knusper@feddit.de ) 3•8 months agoThanks, that perfectly explains why we decided to use an apex predator for our cuddly toys.
curiosityLynx ( @curiosityLynx@beehaw.org ) 5•8 months agoTeddy 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 ( @Knusper@feddit.de ) 1•8 months agoHuh, 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…
magikmw ( @magikmw@lemm.ee ) 8•8 months agoEverything is petable if you’re brave enough. If just once.
Kusimulkku ( @Kusimulkku@lemm.ee ) 8•8 months agoYou absolutely can, I’ve done it
bingbong ( @bingbong@lemmy.dbzer0.com ) 9•8 months ago-sent from the afterlife
Kusimulkku ( @Kusimulkku@lemm.ee ) 7•8 months agoFrom me experience bears weren’t hostile (this one was a pet), more like mega lazy fur balls
Malfeasant ( @Malfeasant@lemm.ee ) 3•8 months agoLike a big dog, in my experience…
Malfeasant ( @Malfeasant@lemm.ee ) 4•8 months ago