Here’s a nice example of how magazines like this are written to feed off your shame levels.
As if the covers weren’t bad enough, once you see whats inside then your shame levels will be manipulated even more so you buy the shit that’s being advertised.
Most magazines, ads and gossip pieces are just as shame-mongering in their quest to get you to invest (buy some crap) towards something that you’re lacking.
Your abs aren’t defined enough.
You’re not beautiful enough.
Your sex life isn’t good enough.
You’re too ignorant about what the opposite sex thinks.
You’re not in the know like everyone else who has read the exclusive.
Have a glance through some of the headlines here and see how ridiculous it looks en masse (opens in new tab).
(My favourite is “Kegels – the most important five minutes of your day”. Not, you know, being with your loved ones or anything like that).
Shame => need => consumer-spending => profits
The ads inside the magazines are just the same – implying all the ways that you’re not quite right because you don’t dress a certain way, have a certain perfume (which is of course why your life isn’t like the celebrity in the ad), have a certain watch. Your skin isn’t perfect and you don’t look 20 years younger because you don’t use this certain skin cream.
The magazines might as well be called “read gossip for half an hour and end up feeling shitter about yourself”.
You’re good enough
Hey! You there! I just wanted to say that you’re good enough. Don’t believe what they say.
You’re lovable – and you don’t need any of the stuff they’re pushing to prove that to someone.
(Thanks to timzee from Reddit for the original post about this funny magazine combo).
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