For The Love Of Amateurs...Body Hair Optional

Newsletter + On This Day

I don’t know about most YouTubers, but I moderate my channel’s comments section morning, noon, and night. Yes, three times (or more) a day. My intention is to create a safe(r) space for those there to enjoy the work and connect with like-minded folks.

I don’t/won’t hesitate to block, remove, and/or report comments by negative ninnies, pompous pricks, and questionable queens.

Censorship? Not exactly. It’s my channel, so my rules. Anyone who doesn’t like how I do it is welcome to start their own channel and block me back. The circle (jerks) of life.

Why am I writing about this? Well, this morning I blocked not one, not two, but three different duckheads. One for repeatedly commenting about how he hates any- and everything “amateur.” The other two for repeatedly commenting “eww” and “ugh” about images of guys with body hair. Ain’t nobody got time for their childishness.

First, the word amateur comes from the Latin word amator, meaning lover. So, at its core, being an amateur simply means doing something for the love of it, without the pressure of perfection or professional expectations. And honestly, isn't that what makes things interesting? Real people, real moments—those unpolished edges are often what turn an image or a video into something special.

Second, like it or not, body hair exists. It’s a natural, beautiful part of many people’s bodies, and it's not going anywhere. I feature a wide variety of men, and I like a wide variety of men—hairy, smooth, and everything in between. Don’t like one? Another’s just around the corner.

My Substack and YouTube channel are intended for reasonable and respectful adults. Shitposters and trolls can go…elsewhere. If they can’t find their way out, I’ll help.

For me, variety is the spice of life. I’ve always “colored” outside the lines…in all areas of my life, in every way possible. For those whose tastes are more “discriminating,” there are plenty of places online to enjoy whatever specific thing you’re into. But this isn’t one of them.

I’m a generalist by choice, design, and experience. I create and curate a motley mix of Art, Design, History, News, Opinion, Photo, and Video. Chances are I’m the only one who likes everything I post. And I’m okay with that.

I share because I care, but I make because I wake. It’s just what I do.

On a personal note, while I’ve been a “professional” creative (meaning I’ve made my living as a full-time or freelance creative) for 30+ years, I still consider myself an amateur. Pro-Am if you must. I do it because I LOVE it. Not because I do it perfectly.

On the subject of body hair, I take after my dad and have more than my fair share. I don’t always like my own, but my eye gravitates to other hairy guys like a moth to a flame. Frankly, other people’s feelings on the matter are none of my care or concern.

I’m here to celebrate the amateurs and embrace (figuratively) all types of men. The complete amateurs, the total pros, and everyone in between. Body hair optional.

Thanks for reading!
Clint

---

FOUND PHOTOS+ OF THE DAY

MARILYN MONROE BY ED FEINGERSH

---

ON THIS DAY = SEPTEMBER 12

BIRTHDAYS

• MAURICE CHEVALIER (1888)
  Actor + Singer

• MINNIE BRUCE PRATT (1946)
  Poet + Educator + Activist

• CHIP KIDD (1964)
  Graphic Designer

MAURICE CHEVALIER + CHIP KIDD

EVENTS

• The word gay appears in a cartoon from Punch magazine, used as a colloquialism for being a prostitute. One woman says to the other, "AH! FANNY! HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN GAY!" Note: The poster on the wall is for La Traviata, an opera about a courtesan. (1857)

• Gustav Mahler's 8th Symphony (aka "Symphony of A Thousand") premieres in Munich with 1028 musicians. (1910)

• Four teens, following their dog down a hole near Lascaux, France and discover 17,000 year old drawings now known as the Lascaux Cave Paintings. (1940)

• Bonanza premieres on NBC. (1959)

• Family Affair premieres on CBS. (1966)

• Photographer George Hoyningen-Huene dies in Los Angeles. (1968)

• Lola, The Kinks’s song about transvestism, enters the Billboard Top 40 where it stays for 12 weeks. (1970)

• Taxi premieres on ABC. (1978)

• The Smurfs premieres on NBC. (1981)

• Actor Anthony Perkins dies in Los Angeles from AIDS-related pneumonia. (1992)

• Singer-songwriter Johnny Cash dies in Nashville, Tennessee. (2003)

• Activist Edith Windsor dies in New York, New York. (2017)