tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post7144679997262636903..comments2023-10-30T00:51:36.361-11:00Comments on Diary of a Desperate Exmoor Woman: Why we don't buy glossy magazinesExmoorjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09230395732150659356noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-68649228790131953492013-08-25T21:06:28.207-11:002013-08-25T21:06:28.207-11:00Oh, I thought it was just me no longer subscribing...Oh, I thought it was just me no longer subscribing to Good Housekeeping or Woman and Home, indeed not even buying them. At one time they were aspirational but we had no other way of learning about trends, looks, books etc.<br /><br />I remember Honey closing, Over21 starting out, Nova too, and eagerly awaiting the next month's issue. When our daughter was in her teens we gave her a subscription to Vogue, the writing and content was of a higher standard than teen magazines.Pixiemumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-74484899630510633312013-08-23T09:12:51.920-11:002013-08-23T09:12:51.920-11:00Exactly right! I loved Marie Claire, Eve - which t...Exactly right! I loved Marie Claire, Eve - which they shut down - and Country Living. I had subscriptions and they took me a good week to read. Then the ad content went up and up and the good reading material went down - actually years ago She magazine used to be excellent, as did Cosmopolitan - then one day they all looked far too alike. I swear they all just copied each other. I stopped everything about four years ago and am far richer as a result.janerowenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00295097968168916092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-37676832780227199262013-08-23T04:34:07.120-11:002013-08-23T04:34:07.120-11:00You have said just what I have been thinking for a...You have said just what I have been thinking for a long time Jane. I stopped buying Country Living (remember Jane?) and since then have not been tempted to buy any glossy mag. I used to be a great fan of them but no more, for all the reasons you give. There is a gap in the market for what women want, what we really really want..... and at a price we can afford...Cait O'Connorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04569760764766505179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-11556228488461227012013-08-22T22:37:47.722-11:002013-08-22T22:37:47.722-11:00You're so right, Jane. I've had subscripti...You're so right, Jane. I've had subscriptions for years to women's magazines, but I'm seriously going to stop the habit - it takes about ten minutes to read anything I care about. <br />I'm enjoying your blog. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11007766251364466722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-44461672011215761602013-08-22T19:06:05.564-11:002013-08-22T19:06:05.564-11:00This analysis hits the nail squarely on the head. ...This analysis hits the nail squarely on the head. I haven't bought a non food magazine for years. I find them expensive and empty of anything intelligent - I've resorted to The Observer and occasionally the Saturday Guardian supplements and magazines. These provide in depth articles, the odd recipe and my (guilty?) pleasure is Mariella's agony aunt column which is always thoughtfully written. I just don't need to pay a fortune for nonsense.Ericahttp://www.littlemummy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-43631370620381007552013-08-22T14:47:09.003-11:002013-08-22T14:47:09.003-11:00Jane, I admit to once upon a time being a big maga...Jane, I admit to once upon a time being a big magazine fan. I'm still interested in how the medium has evolved. Glossies might not be the place for deep thoughts...too many handbag-selling advertisers wouldn't want heavy articles surrounding their strange portrait photos of women with handbags.<br /><br />All the same, since my work does tip toe into fashion land, I do usually subscribe to a major fashion magazine...switching them up as the subscription expires. I want to know what sorts of messages are being sent out the female public. <br /><br />My favorite magazine continues to be The New Yorker. I've been reading it since the late 1950's (Yes!) and find all sorts of interesting articles and great fiction collected in its pages. And then there are the NYC culture listings and the droll cartoons, too. Somehow, some of those handbag adverts find their way in. They make me smile, along with the cartoons.<br /><br />Back to the previous post. Silence is fine and very helpful from time to time. However, I think that it's fun and educational communicating with fellow humans. I enjoy being able to meet folks from all over the world every day...not just on the internet.<br /><br />Am I the only person you know who never had a walkman, and still doesn't have any earphone techy thingy? I listen to what's around me, when I am out and about. Nothing pre-set.<br /><br />xoFranceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08352407314710067616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-23041045269344581322013-08-22T07:18:51.661-11:002013-08-22T07:18:51.661-11:00I don't think you're being unfair. I don&...I don't think you're being unfair. I don't buy magazines for exactly those points. I long for a decent one (Inspired Times did quite a good job but had to go online in the end).<br />Maybe it's time you put a quarterly together, Jane? :-)Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09296046152348128777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-77289426369196683742013-08-22T06:52:04.997-11:002013-08-22T06:52:04.997-11:00I think you've covered all the reasons I no lo...I think you've covered all the reasons I no longer buy magazines - and I used to devour them. Price, everything and more on the internet, and the fact that women are just more informed and savvy than we once were. We now all know, because we've spent the past 10 years online, that the meaning or life and how to get it all is just not accessible via print or photography. Good post. Rachel Selbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13113411205306116614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-20529471159828288662013-08-22T06:28:09.785-11:002013-08-22T06:28:09.785-11:00I don't think you're being unfair at all -...I don't think you're being unfair at all - you're spot on about Red being closest to the mark, but yes - when are they going to start featuring women over 40 in their ads, stories etc etc? Maybe there's a gap in the market there, Jane? Potty Mummyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04751869800592294891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-24705315836425766542013-08-22T06:11:58.450-11:002013-08-22T06:11:58.450-11:00Review blogs where they immediately tell you wheth...Review blogs where they immediately tell you whether the project is a PR freebie or brought by themselves are better in my eyes as magazines tend to have over the top reviews and ...you guessed it, a lot of advertising for the product paid for by the company. Unbiased, I think not.<br /><br />I generally only read activity magazine such as running or walking ones or maybe the odd copy of New Scientist now unless like above there is a freebie I would use that outstrips the magazine cost.<br /><br />It is a shame but I feel that a lot of magazine writing has been dumbed down now. Meer For Beerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06491541613823327962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-50411314309255073652013-08-22T04:49:41.978-11:002013-08-22T04:49:41.978-11:00I buy the occasional magazine- but only if it has ...I buy the occasional magazine- but only if it has a freebie on it the worth of which exceeds the four quid the magazine costs. Have had some super Neal's Yard and L'Occitane creams this way. Then I leaf through the magazine for other freebies and vouchers, then the whole lot goes in the recycling, unread.<br />The writing in most is crap, crass and part of what keeps the consumer machine going and women subjugated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4677133322409652783.post-28223441881274063982013-08-22T03:48:48.072-11:002013-08-22T03:48:48.072-11:00Great piece, Jane, which echoes the thoughts I'...Great piece, Jane, which echoes the thoughts I've long had about magazines. On reflection, I realise that I haven't actually bought a glossy for years; the nearest I get is flicking through them in the dentist's waiting room . . .and don't think I've ever been tempted to run down to the nearest newsagent afterwards to buy a copy of the magazine I was flicking through.<br /><br />The content of most, if not all, women's mags (not just the glossies) is predicated on the view that we readers are just not cutting the mustard. We could be so much better if we tried harder; you know, slimmer, fitter, better cooks, better wives, better lovers, better parents, better grandparents, better friends. We could - and should - dress better, look better, be sexier, be smarter, be more successful at work and, hey, here's a magazine that could tell us how to do it. FFS . . .<br /><br />The other reason I don't read over-priced glossy mags any longer is that almost all of the content and certainly all the ads are irrelevant to me at 65 pushing 66. I haven't lost my marbles; I still read; I'm still interested in what's going on in the world; I still have a social life; I still do yoga; I still work, for heaven's sake. And, yes, sometimes, I like to dress up a bit and to dance and sing. But like many older people, my perspective on the world has shifted; my priorities have changed, and, oh, my income has shrunk (as in plummeted) too and, these days, the only writing I come across that reflects these shifts and changes, especially in older women's lives, is to be found in a number of edgy, well-written and honest blogs. And in books, of course.<br /><br />(You were spot on about early Marie Claire; their features on women's lives in different, often remote, parts of the world and their campaigns were first class.)<br /><br />Sorry, very long comment but it was good to have the opportunity to put the thoughts into words!60 going on 16http://www.60goingon16.typepad.com/noreply@blogger.com