the decline & fall of another iconic magazine?

[Marlow]

The pornographic world has definitely become more violent and depraved in our lifetime. So has the world in general in many ways. Simply.

Few historians would agree with you. The levels of depravity in past years ((think medieval means of torture and execution), when there was no international media eye, far exceed the norm today.

[tandfman]

The levels of depravity in past years ((think medieval means of torture and execution), when there was no international media eye, far exceed the norm today.

You sound almost nostalgic about that.

http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/damnyank ... lddays.htm

[gh]

Better lyrics

http://www.lyricsmania.com/lyrics/mel_b ... 07001.html

[Marlow]

You NEVER expect the Spanish Inquistion!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gldlyTjXk9A

[TrackDaddy]

The pornographic world has definitely become more violent and depraved in our lifetime. So has the world in general in many ways. Simply.

Few historians would agree with you. The levels of depravity in past years ((think medieval means of torture and execution), when there was no international media eye, far exceed the norm today.

Certainly the extent of those things ebbs and flows with eras.

But my point was in reference to our lifetime.

[tandfman]

You NEVER expect the Spanish Inquistion!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gldlyTjXk9A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpbM_dFHKWQ&NR=1

[Marlow]

But my point was in reference to our lifetime.

Hardly. Abu Ghraib and Gitmo have garnered the media's attention for 'bad' conditions. They are minuscule potatoes compared to the atrocities of history. The media are often pilloried for making mountains out of molehills (and they do), but the fact is that as soon as they shine a light on something it gets immediate attention, unlike some other famous horrors of history.

P.S. Can I get a Tafny nomination for where this thread started and is now?! :shock:

[TrackDaddy]

But my point was in reference to our lifetime.

Hardly. Abu Ghraib and Gitmo have garnered the media's attention for 'bad' conditions. They are minuscule potatoes compared to the atrocities of history. The media are often pilloried for making mountains out of molehills (and they do), but the fact is that as soon as they shine a light on something it gets immediate attention, unlike some other famous horrors of history.

P.S. Can I get a Tafny nomination for where this thread started and is now?! :shock:

If you go back you'll see that you're pretty far from my original point which was related to morality and lust.

Besides, the WORLD is bigger than the Middle East related subject matter.

Are you still suggesting that pornography hasnt gotten more graphic and violent in our lifetime?

[AthleticsInBritain]

I don't think porn has got more graphic/violent in our lifetime. You could buy all the extremes in the 19th century, before both World Wars, in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. It was just a small, closed world and very difficult to access. What we have now is more porn and more freely available to a wider audience. I think we're just more aware of things now than in previous decades when it was thought better to keep things quiet and locked away (literally).

Which brings me to my point - how do you know porn has got more graphic and violent these days, TrackDaddy? Been sampling the goods?

[paulthefan]

The pornographic world has definitely become more violent and depraved in our lifetime. So has the world in general in many ways. Simply.

Few historians would agree with you. The levels of depravity in past years ((think medieval means of torture and execution), when there was no international media eye, far exceed the norm today.

the world today is probably quite similar in terms of violence compared to the medieval world. In terms of sexual depravity we are probably a bit more so. To the ancient's discredit they married 13 year olds, We have other and more varied nation disabling habits. Id agree with Trackdaddy if we are comparing the middle america US of today with that of 50 years ago. Yes, some things are better left in a closet and certainly many many things children should never ever see. A nation resolved to protect its children is a nation that has a chance at success.

[TrackDaddy]

I don't think porn has got more graphic/violent in our lifetime. You could buy all the extremes in the 19th century, before both World Wars, in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. It was just a small, closed world and very difficult to access. What we have now is more porn and more freely available to a wider audience. I think we're just more aware of things now than in previous decades when it was thought better to keep things quiet and locked away (literally).

Which brings me to my point - how do you know porn has got more graphic and violent these days, TrackDaddy? Been sampling the goods?

:lol:

Uh....I wouldnt say that I'm quite old enough to declare it from firsthand experience. But I've read in many MAINSTREAM media accounts that its evolved to be more violent and graphic.

That information isnt hard to get.

But your question and differing opinion also begs a question...

How do you know it hasn't?

[TrackDaddy]

The pornographic world has definitely become more violent and depraved in our lifetime. So has the world in general in many ways. Simply.

Few historians would agree with you. The levels of depravity in past years ((think medieval means of torture and execution), when there was no international media eye, far exceed the norm today.

the world today is probably quite similar in terms of violence compared to the medieval world. In terms of sexual depravity we are probably a bit more so. To the ancient's discredit they married 13 year olds, We have other and more varied nation disabling habits. Id agree with Trackdaddy if we are comparing the middle america US of today with that of 50 years ago. Yes, some things are better left in a closet and certainly many many things children should never ever see. A nation resolved to protect its children is a nation that has a chance at success.

You sir,

Are a scholar AND a gentleman.

I wasnt comparing us with anyone or anything beyond our lifetime.

[hammer forever]

did the internet cause the decline of print "porn", just like the internet is being blamed for the demise of print journalism?

[AthleticsInBritain]

...

But your question and differing opinion also begs a question...

How do you know it hasn't?

Touché! :lol: Erm ... Channel 4 showed a very serious, intelligent and educational documentary all about it once?

To be honest, I think anyone familiar with Google could find practically anything they wanted in about 3 minutes! Which I think possibly bears out what hammer forever is suggesting - all that free online stuff has got to be impacting on magazines, just like online journalism is decimating print journalism. Why spend however many dollars Playboy costs if more graphic stuff is free online?

[Mighty Favog]

There were two things driving the magazine, both of which are passe. One was the style of photography, but the other was an image of a (decidedly male) upper-class "nothing but the best" lifestyle of good scotch, hi-fis and fine Corinthian leather. It's a testament to their business acumen that they've hung on as long as they have. Besides the internet, Maxim and its imitators stole their niche market among males under age 40.

Print journalism had its online competition, but many of the big players helped do themselves in. See Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspendent's Dinner three years ago to see what I mean.