Stereotypes are rampant in any society. Usually when we think of people being harmed by a stereotype we think of other, more powerful groups, picking on minorities. What do you do though if the minority you are part of (gay men) ignores you because you don't fit the stereotype (not athletic, young, expensively dressed with expensive tastes in clothes, etc)? Well you can establish communities and band together for your betterment as many bears have done. However, there is also a point in which a group must laugh at itself, and Kampf's "The Bear Handbook" is one of the signs of that time. I've talked to Bears I know and they remember the big uproar when this book came out -- seems that some folks did not understand that it was first and foremost a satire. As satire Kampf's book does its job very well -- it makes you laugh while pointing out how bear community may be repeating some of the stereotyping and social confinement it rose against.