Top shelf mags
Discussion
We're chatting about the apparent demise of the printed version of Autosport over in the F1 room and an interesting side topic popped up (by me), namely the apparent continued availability of gentlemen's specialist art pamphlets found on the upper shelves.
I think the last time I flicked through one was after school having found it under a hedge. That girl from Grange Hill was in it. Or Mel out of Mel and Kim.
I'm told there is a cornucopia of such material (and much that is more exotic) online so it begs the question as to who is still reaching for the Clubs, Mayfairs and Fiestas?
I think the last time I flicked through one was after school having found it under a hedge. That girl from Grange Hill was in it. Or Mel out of Mel and Kim.
I'm told there is a cornucopia of such material (and much that is more exotic) online so it begs the question as to who is still reaching for the Clubs, Mayfairs and Fiestas?
I am no *ahem* expert on the purchasing of said publications, but I would imagine it's the same principle as those buying car or fitness or beauty or fashion magazines.
Everything's online now, but some people just prefer old-fashioned paper, words and pictures.
Plus, it's really expensive to ditch an iPad with smut on it in a hedge.
Everything's online now, but some people just prefer old-fashioned paper, words and pictures.
Plus, it's really expensive to ditch an iPad with smut on it in a hedge.
According to my newsagent, who is under pressure from the good ladies of Hampstead to eschew such exploitative material and devote the space instead to worthy publications like Pulses World incorporating Mung Bean Monthly and The Champagne Socialist, there is still a class of, ahem, older gentleman who do not have recourse to the inter web, or maybe don't have access to it in their sheds on the allotment.
I went hunting for a copy of MagPi when a free Zero was attached and went to a few local newsagents that I hadn’t been in for years. I was astounded to see the array of “top shelf” magazines.
I had just assumed they died out years ago with the plethora of all kinds of eye watering filth available on the internet ;-)
I had just assumed they died out years ago with the plethora of all kinds of eye watering filth available on the internet ;-)
I work on an oil rig, and found a very old copy of 'Asian babes' magazine in the tv cupboard.
I imagine for people who work out here, they might be quite handy. The internet is filtered, VPN's are banned, and quite a lot of people don't bring ipads/laptops due to the risk of damage in transit (two fixed wing flights and a helicopter flight to get here).
I imagine for people who work out here, they might be quite handy. The internet is filtered, VPN's are banned, and quite a lot of people don't bring ipads/laptops due to the risk of damage in transit (two fixed wing flights and a helicopter flight to get here).
I honestly thought they'd disappeared already. I haven't seen one for sale for ages. Or rather, I hadn't, as the bigger stores/chains seem to have dropped them completely. But I walked into a small independent newsagent a few weeks back and it had a full complement of all the old "favourites", and some I didn't recognise. I was especially surprised to see Fiesta still in print. I'd thought the only place I'd find Fiesta or Escort on a magazine cover these days would be Fast Ford or Classic Ford mags...
Not interested myself, really, but it's weirdly comforting to know that there are still 'old fashioned' things that the internet has failed to kill off...
Not interested myself, really, but it's weirdly comforting to know that there are still 'old fashioned' things that the internet has failed to kill off...
Have pondered this myself, I was thinking older grot enthusiasts who arent tech savvy, easier to stash your copy of Razzle than clearing your internet history if you arent that good with IT. Also, for folk who have jobs where they are highly vetted, going off grid, buying some filth using cash can cut down on intrusion and explaining your preferences.
Only ever bought a couple over the years, with the internet you just have to tell the Newsagent you are planning a grumble without making a purchase nowadays.
My kids found my limited stash, bought a couple when the Wifi didn't work in a hotel in London, stuck it on top of the wardrobe and forgot about them, we were getting stuff down off the wardrobe before Christmas and two of the kids were in the room (mid late teens I think) and I got a box down and along with a load of dust a porn mag drops onto the floor to initial confusion and disbelief, then revulsion (feigned) "Ewww, dad thats disgusting you perv" etc.
I just sighed and said "Well you two can f
k off, I have seen your internet history, shall I grab my Ipad and we can take a look" 
They shut up and disappeared pretty sharpish.
Only ever bought a couple over the years, with the internet you just have to tell the Newsagent you are planning a grumble without making a purchase nowadays.
My kids found my limited stash, bought a couple when the Wifi didn't work in a hotel in London, stuck it on top of the wardrobe and forgot about them, we were getting stuff down off the wardrobe before Christmas and two of the kids were in the room (mid late teens I think) and I got a box down and along with a load of dust a porn mag drops onto the floor to initial confusion and disbelief, then revulsion (feigned) "Ewww, dad thats disgusting you perv" etc.
I just sighed and said "Well you two can f
k off, I have seen your internet history, shall I grab my Ipad and we can take a look" They shut up and disappeared pretty sharpish.
alorotom said:
cranford10 said:
I do feel sorry for kids of today never being able to experience the sheer joy and sense of anticipation we used to feel when stumbling across some horticultural grumble. Happy days
Indeed. Tried explaining this to my 14yr old nephew who didnt get hedge-porn at all. Hedge porn was an aid to education: It required physical fitness (cycling the lanes), biology (understanding female anatomy), economics (value linked to quality / rarity of materials being sold), negotiation (establishing a price) and - ahead of its time - sustainability (recycling or reuse)...... it should be reintroduced!
StevieBee said:
Me and my mate once found an entire box stuffed full of previously enjoyed Whitehouse magazines - which some might remember to be somewhat more fruitier than the normal stuff. We split them and sold the lot at school - including one to the PE teacher!! Imagine that now!
Hedge porn was an aid to education: It required physical fitness (cycling the lanes), biology (understanding female anatomy), economics (value linked to quality / rarity of materials being sold), negotiation (establishing a price) and - ahead of its time - sustainability (recycling or reuse)...... it should be reintroduced!
Was more of a Playbirds man myselfHedge porn was an aid to education: It required physical fitness (cycling the lanes), biology (understanding female anatomy), economics (value linked to quality / rarity of materials being sold), negotiation (establishing a price) and - ahead of its time - sustainability (recycling or reuse)...... it should be reintroduced!
alorotom said:
cranford10 said:
I do feel sorry for kids of today never being able to experience the sheer joy and sense of anticipation we used to feel when stumbling across some horticultural grumble. Happy days
Indeed. Tried explaining this to my 14yr old nephew who didnt get hedge-porn at all. Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff