Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/The Natural Bears Classification System


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was   keep, given WP:SNOW, per withdrawing nominator'''. Non-admin closure by Skomorokh  16:36, 24 July 2008 (UTC)

The Natural Bears Classification System

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Reason: Notability. Obscure internet coding system (like Geek Code but not as popular?) for bears (the gay slang term, not the furry animal). User0529 (talk) 03:11, 20 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Delete per nomination-- though I'm persuaded this exists, it's not notable. Notwithstanding the George-Halas-turning-over-in-his-grave factor, the premise is that gay males who are looking for a hairy partner (hence "natural bears") would all understand and use a code like "B4 s- m g++ w d+c t+ f+ k+ r e+(+?)".  Maybe a gay cryptographer would, and imagine the consequences ("What?  You're a g+(-?), not a g++ (+?)!!!  Liar!! Get out of here!!") Mandsford (talk) 13:57, 20 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Weak Keep - as a gay version of geek code, I expected to find blog postings and whatnot, but was surpiried to find it has been covered in print sources. The Bear Book devotes would appear to devote a section to it. -- Whpq (talk) 16:02, 20 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Sexuality and gender-related deletion discussions.   -- the wub  "?!"  20:33, 20 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Keep Googling produces a number of references, including 2 books, one of which "The Bear Book II: Further readings in the history and evolution of a gay male subculture" by Les Wright is clearly an academic work.  The fact that this code is obviously ridiculous has not stopped it being studied and thus being notable. --Simon Speed (talk) 01:21, 21 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Keep. Odd and obscure but notable enough. Bears, like many subsets within the LGBT communities, were early and avid adopters of emerging technologies including usenet groups, chat rooms and email, this code, like the geek code is interesting to those looking at social dynamics in this context. It would be helpful, and hopefully interesting, to expand the article to show how the code emerged, was used and it's present usage tying into other forms of social networking. Banj e  b oi   09:34, 21 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Meh, weak keep. I don't personally feel it is notable, but i've seen it around on the net and mentioned in magazines, so it passes WPs criteria..Yobmod (talk) 12:09, 22 July 2008 (UTC)
 * Withrdaw nomination - per WP:SNOWBALL. User529 (talk) 03:22, 24 July 2008 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.