Tom Daley

[Paul22118]

How nice to see young Tom Daley (finally) coming out of the closet today. Well done and I hope it inspires many young lads to do the same and live 'your' life not in he shadows of society.

[Zeuhl]

/and not about cruising on Hampstead or WImbledon or wherever ? /

well apparently it is also about those matters PP

that's the thing with 'Forums'

[Ellipsis]

So, Andy, for clarity: discounting one's own sexual partners where it's obviously important to know their sexuality ... knowing someone's sexuality is unimportant unless they are a "celeb" and then it becomes important solely for the purposes of "gossip". Have I got that right?

If so then it's really not important, is it?

[andy-hughes]

Zacs-Master - "Andy, was (is?) your job not interviewing 'celebrities' and have you therefore not made a living out of the la-la land which you seem to loath?"

Not entirely. My part-time occupation was, and is, interviewing musicians in the main - no 'celebrity' angle involved becaause I don't, and never have written for celebrity maagzines.

I have done a couple of interviews with people who could loosely be described as 'celebrities' - but the conversation has centered around their project at the time - book, tv series etc., and I wouldn't get involved in anyone's personal life, I don't feel comfortable with that branch of journalism, so I have never worked in it.

Witnessed it going on plenty of times though - which only increases my desire to steer clear of it.

I attended a TV shoot with a number of very big and popular bands, at which a News Of The World journalist was present. Ar dinner, after the day's filming, we would sit and chat, and they would know that they were 'off the record' with me, and could speak freely. When the NOTW jouranlist appeared, conversations would stop, and remain stopped until she was out of earshot. ]

That's not the way I want to spend my hobby time - so I don't.

[andy-hughes]

Ellipsis - "So, Andy, for clarity: discounting one's own sexual partners where it's obviously important to know their sexuality ... knowing someone's sexuality is unimportant unless they are a "celeb" and then it becomes important solely for the purposes of "gossip". Have I got that right?

If so then it's really not important, is it?"

In my view, yes you have got it right, and no, it's not really important at all.

[Zacs-Master]

'Not entirely. My part-time occupation was, and is, interviewing musicians in the main - no 'celebrity' angle involved becaause I don't, and never have written for celebrity maagzines.'
....So you admit to your income being partly funded by the system which you're criticising? I also think your rather deluded if you don't think that the interviews which you undertook increased the sales of the relevant mag because they were famous, which is essentially what 'celebrity' means.

[craft1948]

He's only come out to get a tick in the box to retain his lottery funding.....

[Zeuhl]

zacs

that seems rather confused

a magazine about music and musicians where the content is about playing music (not their latest squeeze or their favourite colour)
doesn't become a 'celebrity magazine' just because they are famous musicians

New Scientist interviews a lot of scientists about science

If they are well-known scientists do you think that makes New Scientist a 'celebrity magazine'?

[mikey4444]

Tom was always quite high in my estimation but now he is even higher. We need more sports people like him. Well done Tom !

[sp1814]

Ellipsis

Yes - if someone is important to you, knowing their sexual orientation is quite important as it will dictate part of your relationship with them.

If you have a single straight male friend, it's important that you know that if you're going to be a 'wing man' for them on a night out...that's just a for instance.

For casual acquaintances, it's of less importance.

[Zacs-Master]

I never said it was a celebrity magazine Zeuhl per say but I'm sure you (nor Andy) would deny that celebrity just means a 'famous' person.

Andy wrote 'there is a multi-million pound industry devoted to examining every minute detail about the lives of the rich and famous, because that is the culture in which we live.'

This is the culture which means the mag's he writes for realise that fame (or celebrity, if you like) sells more copies. I therefore found his stance to be a little hypocritical.

[Zeuhl]

/I'm sure you (nor Andy) would deny that celebrity just means a 'famous' person. /

I think I would zacs :-)

'Celebrity' is a term used generically, but is only applied to individuals in lieu of an alternative.

Daniel Day-Lewis, David Starkey and Nigel Kennedy might be 'celebrities' but are more accurately described as an actor, historian and musician

True 'Celebrities' are those who are well known for being well known such as the cast of TOWIE or MIC

[andy-hughes]

Zeuhl - thanks for your excellent response, which is exactly as I would have stated had I not been travelling home from work at the time you were posting.

Zacs - as has been pointed out, I interview musicians about music, their private life is not a subject that is within my remit.

If I interviewed Tommy Lee for Drummer Magazine, I would talk to him about a new drum kit he was looking to buy, I would not talk to him about being married to Pamela Anderson.

I trust that clears up any confusion.

[Zeuhl]

/I would not talk to him about being married to Pamela Anderson. /

Quite right too andy

(would you ask him about his film-making? Offer to review his latest DVD? etc)

[DTCwordfan]

He's entitled to his choice.....makes me wonder if it is a sub for losing his father's love and support when he did.

I also find the whole Tom Daley press machine a bit much and I didn't think it did him any good on going into the last Olympics and it won't be good for Rio either...he would have been/will be, far better to have kept his head down and minimise the splashes in the pool (the dive they showed on Spotlight tonight was truly awful).

[gness]

Hope so too, Paul.

I had an experience today which made me wonder exactly when we do really grow up.

Seeing these two threads I guess it's when we can just be gay without having to announce it and be subjected to comment, publicity in this case, and smutty schoolchild "humour"......

[anneasquith]

why did he feel the need to 'go public' and make a video anyway ? just get on with your life .

[ummmm]

Go public to stop rumours and speculation.

[DTCwordfan]

anne, I agree with you on that.

[weecalf]

Question what was he doing in the closet any way ?

[Maydup]

Media management Anne - he can't just get in with his life because he's followed constantly by the media. He needs to take control of this situation and announce it in a way and at a time that suits him: rather than be outed by a red top that spots him out with a man and makes a bit scandal of it.