# Man, bear, woman,what's the meme I'm missing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 9, 2024, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284 "2024-05-09T03:33:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/121 "2024-05-10T00:46:11Z")
Any human with a penis has a weapon, imho, so a trans person who became a woman would be safe. I asked my friend/neighbor and said said bear, immediately. Because the bear can kill you but it won’t torture you. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/122 "2024-05-10T00:52:42Z")
If you were a woman and you couldn’t read minds or see through clothes, what would _you_ assume? How the hell would you find out in time to make a hasty exit if need be? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/123 "2024-05-10T01:07:25Z")
Came across this bear meme today: [![](https://scontent-bos5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/439880866_7600173336728757_6061594448734675185_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=FqZtSwUvmKMQ7kNvgG-Lyx6&_nc_ht=scontent-bos5-1.xx&oh=00_AYDhGdoDDPeT7C1vOGAD6rG5kJWcCKAeyeP4EMXjFzD-IQ&oe=66434455) ](https://scontent-bos5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/439880866_7600173336728757_6061594448734675185_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=FqZtSwUvmKMQ7kNvgG-Lyx6&_nc_ht=scontent-bos5-1.xx&oh=00_AYDhGdoDDPeT7C1vOGAD6rG5kJWcCKAeyeP4EMXjFzD-IQ&oe=66434455) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/124 "2024-05-10T01:08:45Z")
Even with my reservations, that is pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/125 "2024-05-10T01:12:09Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Any human with a penis has a weapon, Wait, what? ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/126 "2024-05-10T01:18:31Z")
I did not mean to channel Andrea Dworkin, but it certainly has been used as a weapon. I meant no offense to those who have penises. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/127 "2024-05-10T01:48:22Z")
I assure you, whatever attributes it may have, my penis would make a terrible weapon. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/128 "2024-05-10T01:53:52Z")
When I first saw the meme, I assumed, based in part on who posted it, that the “bear” was a reference to a husky hairy gay man, which are also referred to as bears. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/129 "2024-05-10T03:40:54Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > If only there were a way a person might go about researching the topic–you know, the one on the INTERNET that’s been reposted endlessly hither and yon for like a couple weeks now, especially in Reddit threads with literally thousands of replies and comments. I dont give a fucking crap what’s on Reddit. Because this is the SDMB, and our posts stand for themselves. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Here you go: The hypothetical, and some of the reasons a lot of women are picking the bear over the man. Nor CNN. That may be the hypothetical at _CNN,_ but it aint here. You’re not the OP are you? You can take that for _your_ hypothetical if you like. Were either one of them in the OP? No, So the hypothetical is what? > [@hajario](#): > > Are you at all interested in the actual discussion? Yes, I posted good answers. I even said that in many cases a bear could be safer than a man. > [@DrDeth](#): > > But I did say that in the middle of the woods with no one around a man is more scary- hell- any human ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/130 "2024-05-10T03:51:28Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I’ll note that, like all these viral things, there’s a bunch of versions with various differences. My wife asked me the question and it was phrased as “Would you rather encounter a bear or a strange man” which (to me) rings differently than “Be alone in the woods with…” > [@needscoffee](#): > > Just because somebody wrote something on reddit doesn’t mean it has any validity whatsoever, yet you repeat it as though it does. It’s an insulting accusation. > [@hajario](#): > > The question is, in my opinion, better posed as follows. > > Your daughter/wife/female loved one is alone in the woods far from anyone else. Would you rather have her encounter a bear or a man? > [@Odesio](#): > > I think in a lot of ways it might be better to ask, “Would you rather encounter a bear in the woods or a man you know?” So several other posters came up with slightly different versions, but you want to accuse me of fighting a hypothetical- that doesnt even exist here. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/131 "2024-05-10T04:32:41Z")
You starting off with it depends if it’s a grizzly says that you don’t understand the question on a very fundamental level. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/132 "2024-05-10T04:43:46Z")
Here is what I started off with-_Yes, and of course it is all in the circumstances._ _Being alone in a remote wilderness, and some dude comes into your camp out of nowhere? Pretty damn scary._ What thread are you reading? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/133 "2024-05-10T04:45:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > _Being alone in a remote wilderness, and some dude comes into your camp out of nowhere? Pretty damn scary._ > > What thread are you reading? When did it become a “remote wilderness”, and where did this camp come from? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/134 "2024-05-10T04:50:02Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > When did it become a “remote wilderness”, and where did this camp come from? When I posted it- in my example- did you just read that? I also mentioned a busy hiking trail, and a frat party, and an elevator. Are you trying to turn this thread into what you want it to be? Are you the Op? A Mod? Like I said- > [@DrDeth](#): > > _and of course it is all in the circumstances._ Since the OP has specified no circumstances, are you insisting we only use _your_ circumstances? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/135 "2024-05-10T04:56:45Z")
I’m just a dude that used a description of the hypothetical in question given by CNN, but has been posted pretty much the same way currently on a shit-ton of other sites. I went ahead and messaged the OP for clarification, and _if_ the OP says that the hypothetical is something else entirely I’ll follow along. Now, if you insist that the hypotheticals I and others have posted don’t count because they didn’t come directly from the OP does that mean we should disregard your version too? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/136 "2024-05-10T05:04:56Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Any human with a penis has a weapon, imho, so a trans person who became a woman would be safe. Umm, that’s not how becoming a trans woman works. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/137 "2024-05-10T05:08:22Z")
And it will never stop. I’ve had good experiences with the men in my life. No trauma. No fear. The ones I spoken to about always say “a strange man” The women always say “bear” I’ve never met a strange man in the woods But I have run into a black bear in my woods. A few occurrences. I know the fear I felt. Even with a small measure of safety, on board. I cannot even imagine the fear I’d feel if it were an unknown man. Stratospheric. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/138 "2024-05-10T08:48:36Z")
Upthread I cited Meredith Emerson, a woman from my small town who was abducted, imprisoned, murdered and decapitated by a drifter while hiking. Three to four times a week I’d start my 10K run on a trail at memorial to her. A lot of the “men vs bear” respondents would read that memorial to mean “men are killers.” Would they stand at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC and simply think “Vietnamese are killers?” Recovering from my wife’s descent into mental illness and final suicide, I met a lot of people who blamed me, because I’m a man and, given the overall imbalance, I’m surely to blame. The only helpful voice came from a kind woman who reminded me that my wife hadn’t been “just that person who’d killed herself.” And, gracious memorial to her, Meredith Emerson to wasn’t just someone who’d been murdered by some asshole whose negativity exceeded her positivity. She wasn’t just an emblem of misogyny. She wasn’t just a device for your resentment. When I was a 1970s teenager, the world then was divided between the cool/good people and the uncool/bad people. (SDMB people are older and may remember). A young man could be on the right side of that equation. He could go to a kegger-in-the-meadow party, where a young woman would over-partake and need to sleep; and he’d keep a watch over her against the individual creeps and groups of wanna-be Hells Angels biker assholes. He’d help a non-girlfriend girl friend who needed a lift to and from a certain clinic, no questions asked. And if he found himself in a relationship with an abuse survivor who went zombie-compliant during foreplay, he didn’t break up with her, because he loved her as a person more than he loved the ideal of hot sex. He’d be “cool:” a friend/lover with no excuses or expectations, just doing the best he could as a fellow human being. But now, fifty years later and in a different world, because he too has a penis, he’s tarred with the same brush. Times have changed. People get rolled over. It’s not the “cool/good people” vs the “uncool/bad” people anymore. That proved too complex to parse, so let’s keep it simple and rely on ideographics like “weapon-penis.” I would not presume any woman distrust her own experience. I am wondering at the trust some obviously give over to hatred. Can they conceive that their own hate, nonetheless founded upon by data and personal experience, might be lying to them? Could it possibly be a shortcut, an untrained lunging guard dog, that only makes the world a more hateful place? Status may vary, but every life is as valuable as mine Morals may vary, but every life experience is as valid as mine Behavior may vary, but if you have a penis, you are as bad _in theory_ as anyone who also has one. (Covered with a Tiktok-er laugh). Tiktok gave us agency, and we’ve chosen to be agents of hate. Mirthful hate. BTW, Children have even less agency than women. And here’s who’s murdering _them_: #1: Stepfather/mom’s boyfriend. #2: Mom herself. #3: Bio-Dad. Men do sometimes kill their children, but not as often as #s 2&3 Love your “Bear VS Man” TikTok? Then you’re sure to love mine where I go in front of the kiddies and say _“if mommy and her boyfriend take you to the beach, run for the water because you’re chances with the sharks are better.”_ (Covered by a Tiktok-er laugh) ---
**Author:** ![Mislav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mislav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mislav)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/139 "2024-05-10T08:51:37Z")
They won’t help you afterwards, you will be lunch. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284/140 "2024-05-10T08:53:50Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > To toss additional gasoline on this fire, I wonder if those answering the question assume cis men? How the equation would be effected if the options were bear, cis man, trans man, or trans woman? People didn’t have metadata floating over their heads. How the hell do i know if that person is a trans man or a cis man? This is about an encounter with an unknown stranger. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-bear-woman-whats-the-meme-im-missing/1001284.md?page=8)