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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is it ok to describe someone as camp?...

18 replies

mathsin · 16/03/2018 21:03

... or if not then what description is ok to use instead?

I'm asking because I was watching a programme presented by Alan Carr with my 11yo DS. He hadn't seen him in anything before and he said "that guy's voice is weird". I said "it's not weird, it's just a bit camp", but then wondered if that was an appropriate answer.

I could have said "effeminate" but it didn't seem to fit. And I didn't think it was ok to say he was gay, because it's not directly relevant - there are plenty of gay men who don't talk like that, and some that talk a bit like that who aren't gay.

What should I have said?

OP posts:
retirednow · 16/03/2018 21:07

Nothing really, lots of people have different pitches to their voices.

Bluelady · 16/03/2018 21:09

Camp as a row of tents is one of my favourites.

sidewayswithatescotrolley · 16/03/2018 21:09

Not really. Your response could have just been "its not weird". Everyone sounds different, no further explanation needed.

ushuaiamonamour · 17/03/2018 09:38

'Camp' doesn't refer only to effeminacy in gay men anyway--it has a much broader application than that. A whacking great poster of Betty Grable in the sitting room outlined in fairy lights would be camp, e.g. Serving a really garish pudding popular in the 70's at a dinner party or drinks with parasols in them could be camp, too. It's sweet of you to worry about it, but don't.

LifeBeginsAtGin · 17/03/2018 09:42

Not if you are a snowflake

YoloSwaggins · 17/03/2018 09:58

I say camp all the time....

AjasLipstick · 17/03/2018 09:59

I THINK it's ok....I am sure Alan Carr wouldn't mind!

InspMorse · 17/03/2018 10:06

I say camp. I'm now wondering if I'm wrong to?

I remember when I was young it was highly offensive to describe a person as 'black'. Only 'Coloured' was acceptable Hmm
Acceptable use of words changes constantly.

Original poster
mathsin · 17/03/2018 10:23

Exactly InspMorse. I was hoping Mumsnet would help me keep up to date.

I could have said he talks like that because he's gay and although not all gay people talk like that, some do - it's part of their identity. But then if he hears someone talking like that and says "that sounds gay" he will rightly get into trouble for it. I suppose as it stands he's more likely to say "you sound like Alan Carr".

I'm not overly worried - just curious as to what the 'done thing' is these days.

OP posts:
PaperdollCartoon · 17/03/2018 10:26

He doesn’t talk like that ‘because he’s gay’ though, he talks like that because that’s how he talks and people are all different. You should have just said it’s not weird, everyone’s different.
Camp is fine in context, but as a PP said it has much broader application than effeminate.

teaiseverything · 17/03/2018 10:26

I have many, many gay friends and I/they have often used "camp as Christmas". Obviously this doesn't stand for everyone but it certainly isn't a word my crowd have ever found offensive. Ages mis 20's to early 40's if that helps.

Kitchenbound · 17/03/2018 10:27

I can't see anything wrong with saying camp i say it all the time... are we all wrong then 😂

retirednow · 17/03/2018 11:09

What about women that have deep voices, how do you refer to them.

NotASingleFuckToGive · 17/03/2018 11:10

I have many, many gay friends and I/they have often used "camp as Christmas".

I also have many gay friends, and some use words I'm sure I'd be admonished for if I used myself. My gay BF has called me his "favourite f-g hag" for 25 years. I wouldn't ever refer to myself as one though- it'd instantly come off as massively offensive, and I'd sound wrong for doing so.
Many words and expressions have been reclaimed for use by the LGB community which I wouldn't use myself as a straight woman, even if they were comfortable with me doing so in their company.
For the same reasons that I'm sure one white person in a group of their black friends wouldn't use the N word, even if it was being used freely by their friends.

Camp is different though surely...I didn't think camp was strictly synonymous with gay, or offensive?!

CompleteAisling · 17/03/2018 13:32

remember when I was young it was highly offensive to describe a person as 'black'. Only 'Coloured' was acceptable .Acceptable use of words changes constantly

It really doesn't. It's been half a century since Colored was the ok word to use, and that has not changed since. So as you say yourself, it does not change constantly at all.

InspMorse · 17/03/2018 21:22

It really doesn't. It's been half a century since Colored was the ok word to use, and that has not changed since. So as you say yourself, it does not change constantly at all.

Half a century?
The term was used up until I was in my 20s. So that makes me 70 something. Thanks for clearing that up.

InspMorse · 17/03/2018 21:29

To be fair though, it depends where you're from. Many people/places were slow to keep up.

PabloEscabar · 01/04/2021 22:20

Butch !

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