Is it camp for a man to carry an umbrella?

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I never do and the idea has never occurred to me, not cos I thought it was camp but my friend said she thinks it probably is because of a fear of campness that men don't carry umbrellas so much, maybe a subconscious one.

Do men even carry umbrellas less?

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:00 (twenty-one years ago)

where do golf umbrellas fit into this?

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:01 (twenty-one years ago)

after visiting rainy Seattle last week, i would have to say yes. I got strange looks with my umbrella raised.

― Lt. Kingfish Del Pickles (Kingfish), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I carry an umbrella all the time (uh, when it's rainy out, natch). It's a Weather Channel umbrella, though, which I'm convinced is pretty manly.

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Only Gene Kelly looks cool carrying a brolly.

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)

golf umbrellas are like "hey we're on the course, let's take up lots of space".

I'm not sure they're the main cog in the wheel of golf's general panache but they are a solid utility.

I have a cool umbrella but it says vodafone on it, I've never used it. Maybe this week.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I would've thought it would depend on what your umbrella looked like. If it was pink with sequins, then yes.

― Ben Mott (Ben Mott), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:04 (twenty-one years ago)

the worst is dudes (and it's always dudes) using golf umbrellas on a crowded city sidewalk.

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:04 (twenty-one years ago)

They normally have very stern creases in their pants.

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I have a real fear of people ripping my eye out with the point of an umbrella. I am fairly sure it's possible.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

(also I don't think it the campness thing necessarily depends on the type of umbrella)

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

You'll look like a bigger asshat walking around in the rain soaking wet than you would carrying an umbrella.

― Je4nne ƒury (Jeanne Fury), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

probably yeah. I amn't dead against them.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Gimme a sodden asshat over an automatic golf brolly brandisher any day.

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:08 (twenty-one years ago)

what's with people in NYC with a small plastic bottle on top of their umbrella?

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:09 (twenty-one years ago)

those sodom asshats are all going to hell

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:09 (twenty-one years ago)

if it's raining and you're not carrying an umbrella you're an idiot

― jess, Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

what if you're wearing a raincoat or a poncho?

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

then you're camp

― jess, Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:12 (twenty-one years ago)

An idiot with panache.

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:12 (twenty-one years ago)

strong feeling from camp hulkington.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't like being wet. i shower in one of those divers suits with the big brass helmets.

― jess, Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I nearly always have one of those little fold-up ones in my bag. I remember being warned when visiting Andrew L, late of this board, in his native Sidcup, that my walking around the town centre on a Saturday night twirling a red umbrella was not a good idea. I still like twirling my umbrella (not a euphemism), but my current one is black. I don't mind looking camp.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:15 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.mspineapple.com/cards/camp.gif

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

it's not camp. it's common sense. jeez.

― lauren (laurenp), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)

as I said it's never occurred to me.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:23 (twenty-one years ago)

if it's camp it's an extremely mild form of the phenomenon

― s1ocki (slutsky), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

probably. do fewer men carry umbrellas though? and if so why?

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:29 (twenty-one years ago)

'Cause they don't (on average) have to worry about a slight misting of rain ruining the hairstyle they spent twenty minutes on before leaving the house?

― Kim (Kim), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I guess so. maybe this was a stupid thread.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:34 (twenty-one years ago)

ambrose was just going on to me about umbrellas. I looked at him skeptically, as if he were some sort of fairy. and then he said "but they're great! they keep you dry!" Then i KNEW he was a fairy.

xpost haha MAYBE?

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I still like twirling my umbrella (not a euphemism)

EXCELSIOR!!!

― jed_ (jed), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, I don't think carrying an umbrella is camp - with me, it's the twirling that makes it so.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:36 (twenty-one years ago)

tracer I thought at first you were backing me up. it seems now you're not and I have to hate you forever.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Dude stop pretending like you're not gay.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

but I said I DON'T carry an umbrella. sheesh.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes but you're curious, that basically makes you gay.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:52 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe in Texas.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:52 (twenty-one years ago)

It never rains in Texas.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:56 (twenty-one years ago)

in the land where it never rains, the man who carries the umbrella is wet.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't carry an umbrella because I'm lazy, stupid and keep forgetting to buy one. I'm not proud of this.

I am proud that I finally bought a belt though. No more thug-stylin' boxer display!

― CeCe Peniston (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Are "golf umbrellas" qualitatively different from, um, regular umbrellas? I play golf and I didn't know there was a difference. Nobody should really be playing golf in the rain anyway. Haven't you people seen Caddyshack?

― Monetizing Eyeballs (diamond), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:58 (twenty-one years ago)

golf umbrellas are those big-ass umbrellas.

― hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, 15 August 2004 20:59 (twenty-one years ago)

The city should provide a big Bjork-at-the-Olympics-like dress to cover everuone when it rains.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 15 August 2004 21:28 (twenty-one years ago)

http://heavyharmonies.com/cdcovers/A/ANDREWWK_IGW.JPG

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 15 August 2004 21:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I carry an umbrella all the time. It's a huge one with the music to "Singin' in the Rain" on it. I'm pretty sure it makes me look rather camp.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Monday, 16 August 2004 07:35 (twenty-one years ago)

My umbrella contains a mechanism, which when activated, shoots a tiny capsule filled with DEADLY POISON into your leg. Who are you calling camp again?

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 16 August 2004 07:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Killing people with umbrellas is the most camp way EVAH of committing murder.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Monday, 16 August 2004 07:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I have a proper black city gents umbrella which I regularly carry about. I have been known to twirl it on occasion.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Monday, 16 August 2004 07:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Nice. A proper (non-telescopic) umbrella is a lovely formal thing to have, but can be a bitch to cart around.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Monday, 16 August 2004 07:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 26 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I usually carry one of these in my front pocket.
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0001FFDLA.01-A31B5X10R828KF._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Keeping dry in a rainstorm is worth the stares.

― when something smacks of something (dave225.3), Monday, 24 October 2005 13:47 (twenty years ago)

Big umbrellas are great BECAUSE they feel like a bludgeon. Like you could really defend yourself against ruffians with it.

― Come Back Johnny B (Johnney B), Monday, 24 October 2005 13:48 (twenty years ago)

People who carry enourmous golf style umbrellas in London - EPSECIALLY on the platform of the train - should be tortured with Chinese Water Torture. I think that's fitting.

― Paranoid Spice (kate), Monday, 24 October 2005 13:52 (twenty years ago)

Damnit I need a new uberella, I think I shall buy it at James Smith and Sons.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 24 October 2005 13:59 (twenty years ago)

Is that that wonderful umbrella shop on Theobalds Rd? Ooh, I have never been in there, but I love it from the outside.

― Paranoid Spice (kate), Monday, 24 October 2005 14:00 (twenty years ago)

umbrellas on union st.

― c7n (Cozen), Monday, 24 October 2005 14:01 (twenty years ago)

once again my brolly has fallen foul to the back seat of a mates car. CURSE YOU WEATHER LADY IN THE SKY FOR YOUR UNTIMELY DOWN POUR.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Monday, 24 October 2005 14:04 (twenty years ago)

Good, sturdy men's umbrellas are awesome, even the telescoping kind because you can be prepared for all eventualities with those. I think more men DON'T carry them cos you need a man-bag or attache to stash them in, so if you're the wallet-in-pocket type you're probably not equipped for sudden storms. But then you need a man-bag for EVERYTHING good, like hardcover books and slide rules and surprise Toblerone -- all kinds of nifty odds and ends.

But of course when you see the delicate young thing taking shelter outside the department store, you can always run across to the club and steal some other gentleman's brolly. +5 Psmith points if you never actually apologize despite talking aroud the issue for a good 12 minutes.

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 24 October 2005 14:09 (twenty years ago)

I feel I needa manbag but deciding on the size is oh so terribly difficult. The larger the bag the more I'd be encouraged to put in it but basic essentials need to be taken care of and my last two books have been 2inches think and more. I don't think brollies should go in a bag, though.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 24 October 2005 14:20 (twenty years ago)

it's medium sized

for tinseltown in the rain

― c7n (Cozen), Monday, 24 October 2005 14:49 (twenty years ago)

Ed, I'd be hopeless at choosing one merse, that's why I have a shelf of handbags and totes at home. I usually find a design/color/sale I like regardless of the size, and then only carry it on days when I have X-volume of materials to transport. Very inefficient. But I will start the recommendations at one (1) bag large enough for hefty HCs and sack lunches and extra shoes for the office becos you biked to work, and one (1) just big enough for that trade PB + mobile phone + Toblerone.

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 24 October 2005 15:14 (twenty years ago)

I think I have lost yet another umbrella

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 24 October 2005 17:14 (twenty years ago)

I only have big golf-type umbrellas. I keep leaving little umbrellas places, and find I'm less likely to forget a big inconvenient one. However, my big golf umbrellas reside in the boot of my car and just inside my front door, and I never actually take them with me in anticipation of rain. They only accompany me when it's actually raining when I set out from house/car.

I don't think men carrying umbrellas are camp. I think they're practical. More so than me, anyway.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 24 October 2005 18:02 (twenty years ago)

It's on an island now.

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 24 October 2005 18:03 (twenty years ago)

I stole a very compact brolly off somebody, but don't like it very much - it collapses too easily in the wind, and the fact it fits in my coat pocket means I don't get the fun of carrying an umbrella, which always feels very grown up and english.

My manbag holds two paperbacks, or one paperback and one camera and one mp3 player. Which is all i need usually (wallet and phone stay in trouser pockets). It also has a built in mirror though, which makes it sound less of a manbag and more of a bag, I know, but honestly, it's meant for men. And the mirror is handy!

― JimD (JimD), Monday, 24 October 2005 18:04 (twenty years ago)

I use CD's as mirrors.

― jel -- (jel), Monday, 24 October 2005 18:05 (twenty years ago)

The ealy stage of this thread is hysterically funny! "strong feeling from camp hulkington." hahahahahahaha

Umbrella = necessary. Any color besides black = camp. Ergo, carry a black umbrella and no one will think you are camp.

― The Ghost of Black Elegance (Dan Perry), Monday, 24 October 2005 18:06 (twenty years ago)

Dan OTM re: blackness. Although I saw a dude with a camo umbrealla a couple of months ago and I thought that was quite cool.

― JimD (JimD), Monday, 24 October 2005 18:09 (twenty years ago)

There is absolutely nothing camper than a non-military person wearing/carrying something camouflage except possibly a ballerina tutu.

― The Ghost of Black Elegance (Dan Perry), Monday, 24 October 2005 18:13 (twenty years ago)

Roffle! He was japanese! And fat! Seriously, he looked good.

― JimD (JimD), Monday, 24 October 2005 18:14 (twenty years ago)

two years pass...

apparently it's not camp if it's really big.

― tipsy mothra, Thursday, 29 November 2007 08:21 (eighteen years ago)

as hstencil noted three years ago...

the worst is dudes (and it's always dudes) using golf umbrellas on a crowded city sidewalk.

-- hstencil (hstencil), Sunday, August 15, 2004 8:04 PM (3 years ago) Bookmark Link

in the future all urban trends stories will be based on 3-yr-old internet posts.

(which to be fair is a year or two sooner than the trends stories used to catch up.)

― tipsy mothra, Thursday, 29 November 2007 08:25 (eighteen years ago)

I once got an umbrella caught in a girls hair as I walked through the crowded streets of York. She SCREAMED when I pulled it out. I made a swift exit.

I bought a see-thru girls umbrella from Top Shop at the weekend. It's not rained and given me an excuse to use it yet.

― Raw Patrick, Thursday, 29 November 2007 09:36 (eighteen years ago)

avengers_steed.jpg

― Dom Passantino, Thursday, 29 November 2007 09:38 (eighteen years ago)

the idea that umbrellas are 'camp' is o_O to the extreme.

― That one guy that hit it and quit it, Thursday, 29 November 2007 09:42 (eighteen years ago)

I've never ever even thought that carrying an unmbrella might somehow be "wrong" for guys. Learning new thing on the net everyday.

― Tuomas, Thursday, 29 November 2007 10:01 (eighteen years ago)

Yes, how weird

― Tom D., Thursday, 29 November 2007 10:03 (eighteen years ago)

"Most of the time they say they were walking and minding their own business, trying to keep out of the rain, and all of a sudden — bang! — from nowhere they got poked," said Dr. Sheldon Jacobson, chairman of emergency medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:22 (eighteen years ago)

I'm sorry, this article is killing me.

Last Monday, Paget St. Clair Williams, 25, used a black Nike Golf umbrella to make his way home to Jersey City. He was careful not to hit anyone. But, he said, many people in New York will "walk right through you with their umbrella and poke you in the eye, and not even look back twice."

OK first of all -- "Paget St. Clair Williams"? Really?

Second of all -- who the fuck cares if it was a "Nike Golf" umbrella?

Second of all -- "not even look back twice"? I'm trying to picture what not looking back twice looks like, and failing.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:26 (eighteen years ago)

Sorry, I mean third of all. Christ my post may as well have been edited by a Styles editor.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:26 (eighteen years ago)

T/S: carrying an umbrella vs wanking in front of babies

― ken c, Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:27 (eighteen years ago)

Paget St. Clair Williams

ilx progeny

― That one guy that hit it and quit it, Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:27 (eighteen years ago)

don't say you didn't see that one coming.

― That one guy that hit it and quit it, Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:27 (eighteen years ago)

British men are supposed to look camp, which is fortunate seeing as it never fucking stops raining. Umbrellas rule.

Dishonourable exception:

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44253000/jpg/_44253877_sm2_getty416.jpg

― Matt DC, Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:29 (eighteen years ago)

he was advertising the FA in a desperate attempt to try to save his job => cheap whore

― ken c, Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:31 (eighteen years ago)

and one who FAILED

― ken c, Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:31 (eighteen years ago)

Most enigmatic quote:

"We do have some golf umbrellas that are strictly for women, and they don't move," Ms. Glick said.

Do they have boobs on them or something?

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:33 (eighteen years ago)

For women, not are women.

― libcrypt, Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:55 (eighteen years ago)

Oh right.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:56 (eighteen years ago)

Now the "not moving" thing makes more sense too.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 29 November 2007 11:56 (eighteen years ago)

http://home.hiwaay.net/~emilyj/pictures/tank/Think-Tank-03.jpg

― snoball, Thursday, 29 November 2007 12:29 (eighteen years ago)

Apparently in Seattle only tourists carry umbrellas, that might explain the stares whatshisface up there got. But then I've been told it seldom actually rains there, it's more a damp, cold, indeterminate-but-light precipitation. Sort of a beefed up misting. Or something.

― Laurel, Thursday, 29 November 2007 14:43 (eighteen years ago)

Is it camp to be soaking fucking wet?

― Dr Morbius, Thursday, 29 November 2007 14:45 (eighteen years ago)

Do you WANT me to post jpg of boy model in waterfall or similar here, morbs? Because it can be done.

― Laurel, Thursday, 29 November 2007 14:55 (eighteen years ago)

little compact folding brollies are a bit camp, i think. you should ride or die by your morning weather decisions and not tippytoe around being all ooh-just-in-case.

big golf brollies are just crass.

― r|t|c, Thursday, 29 November 2007 15:18 (eighteen years ago)

They are fucking pointless in the greater Los Angeles area 9/10 times.

But, having lived in DC prior to here, there isn't anything better than having one when you need it.

― B.L.A.M., Thursday, 29 November 2007 16:50 (eighteen years ago)

Paget St. Clair Williams

ilx progeny

Haha, the Kate/Jon love story finally fulfilled!

― Tuomas, Thursday, 29 November 2007 17:02 (eighteen years ago)

Who the hell cares whether it's camp or not, it's fucking annoying for others.

― nathalie, Friday, 30 November 2007 16:25 (eighteen years ago)

If the choices are:

1) Carry an umbrella and annoy a few people I will most likely never see again.
2) Get really wet and make myself more suceptible to getting an illness that will keep me from making extra cash by singing so that I will avoid annoying a few people I will most likely never see again.

...GUESS WHO IS ALWAYS PICKING OPTION 2?

― HI DERE, Friday, 30 November 2007 17:37 (eighteen years ago)

in ireland, you're either one of the people who somehow carry an umbrella the size of a house around with them without you noticing, and one drop of rain and BAM all the men in suits have them. Or you're one of the people who look like you've never seen rain before and expect a newspaper to suffice.

― I know, right?, Friday, 30 November 2007 17:48 (eighteen years ago)

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