Why Cougars love them some Cookie
Joined: Sep 2008
Asheville , NC
Sunday, October 12, 2008 - 00:57
Why Cougars love them some Cookie
I have a theory about why the "cougar" demographic of women aged 30-55 find David Cook so irresistable. Besides his obvious talent and his incredible voice that has the ability to appeal to a wide range of generations (Boomers, Gen-Xers and Millennials)--which is the mark of an artist with staying power--there is something about David's physical appearance that brings out the maternal instincts in women older than himself.
It's a scientific fact that the females of all mammalian species (and to a lesser extent, males) are highly attracted to and feel very protective toward those who have infantile features, and this urge crosses species. For example, a mother dog will feel protective toward a human infant, and it also explains our desire to adopt kittens and puppies. This protective urge is a programmed reaction to ensure that infants get proper nurturing and protection. Infantile features include: large, wide eyes, a large, high and rounded skull, small features (except for the eyes), soft skin, and large head in proportion to body size. David has all these features, which gives him a sweet and vulnerable appearance that brings out protective (and sometimes almost maternal) instincts in older women. But at the same time he is extremely masculine and appeals to their sexual desires. The combination of the infantile facial features and his masculine body type makes for an explosive concoction when it comes to the "cougar" demographic. It's all about biology, baby.
Comments for this Forum Topic
Okay people I don't consider myself a cougar(I am only 32), but I have this too say! No matter what age we are we all have one thing in common we all agree that David Cook is an awesome, talented, wonderful human being. Age should have nothing to do with music, my mother who is only 55 loves my generation of music same as I enjoy hers,each year music evolves and bands, singers and songwriters come and go but one thing stays true and that is the love of the music. I totally agree that David Cook and his music abilities will long outlive us and I hope that he inspires many generations of musicians to come, he is a great artist and we are his greatest fans!!!! David may you continue to enjoy the much derserved and long awaited sucess and know that as long as you keep on rocking this Missouir girl will keep on listening as will all your great fans!!!!
Hmm, I might even be to old to be considered a "cougar" anymore, and yet I don't feel the least bit "maternal" when I watch and listen to David (heh). Quite the contrary, he makes me feel guilty about what I feel. LOL!
jajaajajajajajja He´s hot!!!!! that´s it!!!!!!!!!! I´m 32 and I just loooooooooveeeeeee him!!!!!!! his eyes and smile OMG!!!!!!!!!!
lol, RP, you really meant that, didn't you? (from posting it half a dozen times?) -- no, i know it's not your fault, this site is just wacked when it comes to speed, glitches in posting, etc. Yeah, I may be OLD, but I know how to drive my computer, and I know the 'interweb' has better to offer than this.....
So rca, sony, webnerds -- the digital world is going to 'plode in just a few weeks, tick tock tick tock. There will be a preliminary 'plode on 11/1 and then... supernova on 11/18. And y'all had BETTER be upgrading your server capacity -- because young and seasoned, whoever we are, whatever you call us? We're gonna want to hang here with like-minded FANS, be cheering loudly for our guy, singin' kumbaya together, or drinking Patron shots together, or whatever. And it is hard to do all that when your interface is so balky and your capacity is so limited.
just SAYIN.
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I laugh at myself while the tears roll down....
If I'm called a cougar for enjoying DC because of his beautiful voice, his great sense of humor, his wonderful laugh, his intelligence and his charisma, than so be it! I am so enjoying this man's talent and for the first time in a long time, I'm so enjoying his journey to success. He is such a breath of fresh air in this crazy business and these mixed up stars. He has brought a sense of our youth back to us. I know David would agree, whether we are his young fans or his older fans, we are all his fans and will enjoy his talent for many years to come. He is such a caring and kind soul and I'm proud to support him.
If I'm called a cougar for enjoying DC because of his beautiful voice, his great sense of humor, his wonderful laugh, his intelligence and his charisma, than so be it! I am so enjoying this man's talent and for the first time in a long time, I'm so enjoying his journey to success. He is such a breath of fresh air in this crazy business and these mixed up stars. He has brought a sense of our youth back to us. I know David would agree, whether we are his young fans or his older fans, we are all his fans and will enjoy his talent for many years to come. He is such a caring and kind soul and I'm proud to support him.
If I'm called a cougar for enjoying DC because of his beautiful voice, his great sense of humor, his wonderful laugh, his intelligence and his charisma, than so be it! I am so enjoying this man's talent and for the first time in a long time, I'm so enjoying his journey to success. He is such a breath of fresh air in this crazy business and these mixed up stars. He has brought a sense of our youth back to us. I know David would agree, whether we are his young fans or his older fans, we are all his fans and will enjoy his talent for many years to come. He is such a caring and kind soul and I'm proud to support him.
If I'm called a cougar for enjoying DC because of his beautiful voice, his great sense of humor, his wonderful laugh, his intelligence and his charisma, than so be it! I am so enjoying this man's talent and for the first time in a long time, I'm so enjoying his journey to success. He is such a breath of fresh air in this crazy business and these mixed up stars. He has brought a sense of our youth back to us. I know David would agree, whether we are his young fans or his older fans, we are all his fans and will enjoy his talent for many years to come. He is such a caring and kind soul and I'm proud to support him.
If I'm called a cougar for enjoying DC because of his beautiful voice, his great sense of humor, his wonderful laugh, his intelligence and his charisma, than so be it! I am so enjoying this man's talent and for the first time in a long time, I'm so enjoying his journey to success. He is such a breath of fresh air in this crazy business and these mixed up stars. He has brought a sense of our youth back to us. I know David would agree, whether we are his young fans or his older fans, we are all his fans and will enjoy his talent for many years to come. He is such a caring and kind soul and I'm proud to support him.
If I'm called a cougar for enjoying DC because of his beautiful voice, his great sense of humor, his wonderful laugh, his intelligence and his charisma, than so be it! I am so enjoying this man's talent and for the first time in a long time, I'm so enjoying his journey to success. He is such a breath of fresh air in this crazy business and these mixed up stars. He has brought a sense of our youth back to us. I know David would agree, whether we are his young fans or his older fans, we are all his fans and will enjoy his talent for many years to come. He is such a caring and kind soul and I'm proud to support him.
If I'm called a cougar for enjoying DC because of his beautiful voice, his great sense of humor, his wonderful laugh, his intelligence and his charisma, than so be it! I am so enjoying this man's talent and for the first time in a long time, I'm so enjoying his journey to success. He is such a breath of fresh air in this crazy business and these mixed up stars. He has brought a sense of our youth back to us. I know David would agree, whether we are his young fans or his older fans, we are all his fans and will enjoy his talent for many years to come. He is such a caring and kind soul and I'm proud to support him.
Why can't women say they are a fan of Dave's or a Word Nerd? Why does age have to be attached to it? I have even seen threads for Baby Cubs or Baby Cougars for the opposite end of the age timeline. I think of myself as a Word Nerd first- due to Dave's awesome nerdy intelligence.
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WissPhoto, Word Nerd #805
I was just thinking. Maybe we should name ourselves after another animal. Let's see:
The Dogs - noooo
The Armadillos - too omnivorous
The Elephants - too fat
The O'Possums - too gray
The Gorillas - Lord, what could I be thinking!
The Foxes - That's not bad
Any ideas?
re the cougar term, as discussed downthread -- you can redefine it for yourself, as the poster there has, and that's a good way to deal with it, I guess, but -- it's out there in the pop cultureverse now, with the ick connotation, and I don't think there's any way of 'fixing' it, out there. So I don't want the label, because I know what it means for the majority of people who are going to hear it.
Yeah, that's my problem with trying to redefine it too. It's out there with a certain connotation, and for way too many people all they think of is the SNL stereotype. Really, really hard to overcome.
This is not about me and my age. It is about HIM and what he has done to/for us. He has opened joy and thrilling excitement to our lives in a profound way. Just read the thousands of posts and tell me this non-relationship/relationship with David is about age. I don`t know another human who has opened hearts,eyes and ears like he has, for all generations AND I LOVE IT. Maybe it is scientific. Thanks, David
I'm loving this thread. I'm in my 50's and haven't been this excited about a musician since I was a kid and had a crush on Davy Jones! (Seems really silly now!) Most rock stars seemed like they were in it for themselves; chicks, money, fame, etc. You know, "money for nothing and your chicks for free". That attitude doesn't do anything for me. The long hair and messed up lives due to too much partying and drugs didn't do it for me either. I know I am generalizing and they all weren't that way, but I never felt like they cared about me or their fans except for the adulation fix.
David Cook seems like a really nice guy with all of the wonderful qualities you all have mentioned in your previous posts. And he really cares about his fans. As a result, I feel like I and we are part of this exciting journey he's on. I have never felt that way before.
The access to so much daily information on this website and other websites has increased the feeling of connectedness with DC. When I was young, we had album covers with notes about the band or the songs on the sleeve (sometimes) and Tiger Beat magazine. By the time MTV came around, I was busy getting married and starting a family so I wasn't paying too much attention to the music scene. Now that my kids are older, I have the time too look around and listen. This was my first season to watch American Idol and what a pleasant surprise I found. I liked David from the begining and now I think he's freakin' awesome! I have changed the radio station from oldies and am listening to current music. I'm excited and what fun it is to feel young again!
I don't consider myself a cougar, just a fan of David Cook who is thrilled to find a genuinely caring, extremely talented, and easy on the eyes musician. No matter what the age, his or mine.
EmmyLo
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"Rub some dirt on it, walk it off."
Hey, don't give up on Clapton, he remains a genius, and can still rock it pretty hard, though he has some mileage on him (uh, a lot of us in this thread do....)
re the cougar term, as discussed downthread -- you can redefine it for yourself, as the poster there has, and that's a good way to deal with it, I guess, but -- it's out there in the pop cultureverse now, with the ick connotation, and I don't think there's any way of 'fixing' it, out there. So I don't want the label, because I know what it means for the majority of people who are going to hear it.
And those SNL cougars? Blech. Those women... are NOT me.
You know.... 'fan' is really the only label I want, with regard to DC. (Or maybe 'diehard fan'. 'Forever fan?' Can't say 'hardcore' or soon we're back in cougar territory, lol.) Do we have to have a label that incorporates an age cohort? Is that really necessary? How about 'fan with cred'? Because ... a bunch of us have seen a bunch of rock history go down, and we know what's good, and we know this guy is... the real deal.
Gah. If there were such a thing as 'namaste fan' -- THAT is what I'd be, because that is what I say, with regard to the whole phenom -- 'what is divine in me salutes what is divine in you....'
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I laugh at myself while the tears roll down....
Delurking to say I'm loving this thread because it really hits home.
I'm in the older "cougar" range (and yes, I agree with mistie's Mrs. Robinson analogy which feels skeevy) but what draws me to David is that he reminds me of the guys I dated or had crushes on back in my 20's; rock and roll creative types who truly excited me. He's the real deal and the first musician I've cared about in probably decades (I use to have it bad for John Lennon and Eric Clapton but fortunately that's faded). David is like a trip down memory lane and brings a big grin to my face and I thank him for it.
A simple answer to this is that in a way David's music is a musical shout-out to the time we were in our twenties, but he is current and makes us feel hip again.
David is the whole package and i guess i am considered a cougar - but i must say - i wouldnt like to take him home and keep him all to myself - about 20 years ago yes - but now that would b kinda creepy - he just brings out the best in all people - that is why he has so many fans and such a deverse crowd....So take your journey David - we will be watching and enjoying it along with you...We are your support - the fact that you are great eye candy just makes the journey that much more pleasing.....
Very interesting stuff here.
I think of myself as a "Boomer Chick" although I know that the younger among us in this demographic are not Boomers. I'm neutral about the Cougar name, but not for me, a little bit above the 55 in the op.
I don't actually mind the term "cougar" because I associate the term with independence, beauty, grace, and strength, which are all traits of the beautiful feline we've been named after.
I know the term has been associated with "predatory older females," but I just don't see it that way. At first I had more fantasies of us being together (even though I knew it would never happen), but that's changed. I'm in no way predatory. I do not wish to stalk David and I don't even think about him much *that* way anymore. He's just someone I have come to love and admire deeply, and care about as much about as my own children (not that I think of him as a child either!). While I wouldn't stalk David (other than trying to get to greet him at a concert), I would throw myself in front of a bus to save his life if I had to. I mean that too. I feel like he's someone in my own family and I love him very much. I would love to spend a few hours just talking to him about all kinds of things.
I may be a cougar, but only because of my age. I don't mind the term though.
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http://www.BittenByACougar.com
I can't think at the moment of any new, creative term to substitute for "cougar" in describing David's female fans over 40, but I definitely advocate getting a new term! While his soulful gazes do make my heart skip a beat, and I could look at him all day, I am too genteel to be a cougar in the popular sense of the word. I am a married lady with kids, for heaven's sake, and like his mom Beth, would be pretty mortified if someone my age told me my own (teenage) son was "sexy". I think David's appeal has as much to do with his character as his looks, because I would not be his fan if he were just another pretty, shallow pop star. I will therefore list the wonderful traits David shares with my own husband (& I can totally see them watching the game together with a beer): intelligence, great sense of humor, amiability, mature self-knowledge and perspective, generosity, down-to-earth, loves kids. My dear hubby can't carry a tune in a bucket, though...
As you all said I'm not a Cougar either, although I'm 48,
but I think it could be fun to build a thread to RENAME us who love and enjoy being fans, and happen to be a litlle older... Who starts!!!
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die-for-david ***Martha
NOT A COUGAR
NOT A COUGAR
NOT A COUGAR
I am a tad older , like could be his big sister or Aunt maybe LOL
but refuse to say the C word, and no I'd never hunt down young uns for sex.
I am married and all that good stuff
I love David bc he sings Fanfrickentastical and he is a stand up guy whom I think If I were younger I'd be best friends with
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** Sue **
"Who's LAUGHING now"
Count me among those who don't own the term 'cougar', though I fit the demographic. The term is derogatory in its most common understanding. I just happen to be an older woman who recognizes real talent and heart and brains when she sees it. And I'm with Jenney - the VOICE. I suspect it's true, as Minstrel said, that there are many different reasons among us why older women are such big fans.
Barbwyre, I agree with you about all the plastic young men. David's realness stands out. NONE of the popular young pretty boys do a thing for me. I may see that some are nice looking, but that's it.
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Look out world, here he comes!
If the term "Cougar" misrepresents us "older" women who are fans of David, why not adopt a different term? As I see it, the issue with "Cougar" is that it denotes a rapaciousness and and connotes a dirty old woman image. It also implies an impulsivity that our consistent attempts at self analysis contradict.
We could insist on redefining Cougar or find another way to identify ourselves if we need to differentiate from the rest of David's fans.
Either way, many of us do feel that the intensity of our connection to David creates a sense of status incongruity. For many of us this is the very first time we've been struck by anything like this. We are responsible professionals, wives, mothers, and grandmothers. Yet we've responded to David with an enthusiasm and that is reminiscent of the juiciness of our youthful selves. I for one am mystified but overjoyed to have received this gift at this time of my life (no pun intended, I think).
I can't help being a little embarrassed. I'm working on that. I refuse to feel ashamed.
I don't think you can put everybody who's in the 40+ demographic into the same box, because not all of us are attracted by the same thing.
I agree, I think over-40 women are as diverse a group of fans as any others (afraid to use the term "fanbase" any more, lol).
And as you said, no diss to anyone, but I'm kind of tired of hearing that all older women who happen to find David talented are "cougars".
It's a catch-22. If you don't want to be called a "cougar", you get accused by some of being an old prude. If you do, you get lambasted with the SNL stereotype. As a commune-dwelling mescaline-popping former flower child I hardly qualify as a prude, and yet at this point in my life I prefer men my own age.
As for David, I fall into the "I admire this guy's guts, and diligence, and that he cares for his family, and that he's funny, and irreverent, and loyal. And that he wants to use his newfound power in service of the big 'give back', not just self-service" category. Oh, and I am a major aficionado of "The Voice". OMG, The Voice.
****runs off to listen to Creep one more time.****
I'm definitely at a cougar age. I don't look at the word cougar as what it is suppose to mean. I look at it as being a older, sexy, confident, self proclaimed women who is proud of who she is. I don't look at as being a negative phrase.
David has made me feel young again. So, what can be wrong with that?
My husband is defintely benefiting from this whole David Cook Obession.
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Thank you bianca!
The whole "cougar" term? It was invented, as far as i can tell, by people who think women over 40 shouldn't be sexual -- that it's embarrassing to the universe, if they ARE -- and it's not a word I'd be wanting to use to label myself, because I think it's a fairly derogatory term. (Not everyone who's over 40, and who enjoys music made by people who are younger, is predatory. And if those SNL cougars are representative of how younger people see women over 40 -- that is not a pretty picture.)
I don't think you can put everybody who's in the 40+ demographic into the same box, because not all of us are attracted by the same thing.
I think in general the passion regarding the way DC sings is fairly universal, so I'd use that as a bottom line, for almost all of us, across the board, regardless of age and inclinations. Because.... he has a gift. And the fact that he can also write is a big big plus.
But beyond that -- for some folks the phenom is primarily erotic. And for some folks it's maternal, as discussed in the OP. Or at least sisterly. Some sort of proto-familial love, at any rate. And for some it's "I admire this guy's guts, and diligence, and that he cares for his family, and that he's funny, and irreverent, and loyal. And that he wants to use his newfound power in service of the big 'give back', not just self-service."
There is a jumble of good stuff going on there -- and what we respond to, and choose to focus on, says as much about US, as individuals, as it does about him.
Me? Cougar thing, no. Sorry, I've got a man already, and ... for me, old enough to be his mom, just ... no. (No diss to anybody else who likes that. Just ... not for me. Though he is undeniably nice to look at.) But the brain, the guts, the general high-quality-human-being vibe, the humor? On top of the artistic talent? That stuff, for me? That's "you made me your staunch supporter for the rest of my life" stuff.
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I laugh at myself while the tears roll down....
I always thought he was gorgeous--but the hair and tacky clothes in the beginning of the year didn't do it for him. Of course, he's ten times more gorgeous now because of the way he's changed inside. It's his inner beauty that's really responsible for the amazing transformation, more than all the external tweaking.
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http://www.BittenByACougar.com
Another interesting thread.
On AI I first fell in love with his voice and singing style - I thought he was sort of funny looking. (I have since changed my mind - about his appearance that is.)
I'm so addicted to his voice that if he woke up tomorrow looking like Jabba the Hut but sounding the same I'd still be a fan of his music.
I had a theory for those of us over 40 - a lot of our good-looking standbys have been disappearing. Either they're aging (Harrison Ford, Robert Redford) or going crazy (Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson) or whatever, but anymore it seems like George Clooney is about the only guy out there - and he's not getting any younger. (Denzel Washington's still awfully easy on the eyes, though...)
For some reason the younger guys don't do much for me. I guess I'm not much of a cougar. Most of them seem plastic. But David on the other hand is definitely not a plastic cutout.
Now I'm starting to lose my train of thought. What were we talking about?
mmmm i don´t know but In my case I just loved him the first time I saw him (audition) I´m 32 and he doesn´t look like the tipical twenty something guy...... like Justin Timberlake with his cute baby face jajajajaj.
I know a lot of women noticed David when he started to work on his look and loose weight but... I just loved his eyes from the first time.
i remember i told my husband about him and he said "that guy?????" jajajaja
That might be true for some.....but my attraction to him has nothing to do with maternal instincts.Its pure and simple lust....animal magnetism! His talent,creativity and intelligence are a turn on as well!
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Hahaha.....I have heard that his mom, Beth, doesn't like women saying David is sexy, too! Sorry mom! (I'm a big fan of his mom, Beth)
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I agree with the idea Chawan brought up about David being the "nesting" sort of male as opposed to the "warrior" type. In today's society, with women pursuing careers outside the home, the nesting sort of man is as--and perhaps more--necessary than the warrior. That doesn't necessarily mean he has to be a stay-at-home Dad or househusband, but it does mean that he would share the raising of children with the woman. It seems to me there are more nesting types among males of his generation (the Millennials) than any previous one, and this fits, as they were raised by modern women who didn't try to force them into sexual stereotypes.
I have a feeling that very soon David is going to have more success than he knows what to do with, and will want to take a break from all that--to marry, to have and raise children, and to be very involved in that. His record sales will allow him to stay afloat while he raises his children, and work on new projects at the same time. I definitely see David as the sort who needs companionship, a home, a family. He's very good with children, admitted he loves babies, and seems relationship oriented. He's not a partyboy. So I could definitely see David having one or more kids by the time he turns 30.
Anyone want to make a bet with me he won't cry when he sees his beautiful babies being born?
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http://www.BittenByACougar.com
LOL It was fun to read your take on this. As a person of Cougar age, I can tell you why I am crazy about David Cook. He is all man. He sings like a man. He looks like a man. He connects with the audience, particulary the females, like a man. He may not have known to begin with the impact he was having on fluttering female hearts and various other body parts when he looked longingly into the camera, but by a couple of weeks into the performances I believe he knew and made great use of it, and it wasn't phoney, like say a Constantine Maroulis. David made love to the audience with his eyes, his body language, and his music. Watching David move to the music and directing those long stares into the camera right at our collective "me" would have made me a huge fan even if he didn't sing like a true rock legend. I am more into rock than balland and in prior years I really liked Bo Bice and Daughtry and was sorry when they didn't win, but neither had the physicality of David Cook or the sultriness. His mom may not want women to say her son is sexy, but the fact of the matter is her son is sexy.
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A Cookie Fan Forever, Shari
for some reason i also believe cathryn that he will be married sooner rather then later.he does seem to be VERY good with children and seems so at ease with them and he is so loyal to the people in his life, he turned down a f***ing porn star !! if that aint loyalty i dont know what is lol kim is one lucky biotch (this is not a knock)
one thing is for sure he will make beautiful babies
im a cougar?? IM 30 I thought cougars were older (no offense lol) like 40 and up