The Top Shelf...

I've been looking at the top shelf of the magazine shelf at my local supermarket. And before you ask, no, I was not looking for porn! Instead I've been trying to find my regular gadget mags that I normally buy.

Whilst I'm already understanding that lad's magazines such as FHM, Nuts and Zoo probably do need to be on the top shelf. I'm struggling to understand why my usual tech magazines such as Stuff and T3 have had most of their bottom halfs covered.

Back in my teenage years, I used to buy Nuts and Zoo a lot. Back in the time before they became a porn mag. When I first bought it, it was pretty tame. Nowadays, it's ex-Big Brother stars showing their balloons like they have no shame (oh wait, they probably don't). Then I started reading FHM with the same idea since some of the content were more interesting such as fashion tips and the occasional fitness advice (of which, despite all the reading, I have not taken into practice).

But with Stuff and T3. The only 'raunchy' bit I see is the front cover. The rest are consumer electronic reviews and gaming stuff. Granted, some of the photo work in T3 is aiming more at the woman then the electronics in some sort of gratutious fashion but I doubt there someone who's masturbating over the new shiny iPhone (and dear god please get help if you do!) nor do people intend to buy the magazine for the lovely lady shown in the middle of the magazines. They don't mention the model's name and neither do they interview her in a page 3 style manner where they expect their opinion of current affairs.

If you go on the websites I've mentioned, you see little to no sexual content at all. But move into FHM or Maxim, then you see their intentions and marketing straight off.


Now I was under the idea that top-shelf mags are for porno mags or magazines that have sexy ladies that are pretty much close to porno mags. Yet I almost feel ashamed and disgusted if I'm only getting a magazine off the top rack because the moment you reach for that, people around you start staring and think 'Oh dear! I know what that boy's up to in the next hour!' It's actually making me ashamed to be geek!

I see more boobs and cleavage in Heat magazine! You don't see them getting covered up do you?

So the next time someone sees me pick up a mag from the top shelf. Fine, think what you want, but it's not what you think. Yes I like reading geeky magazines and there's no shame in it.

And for anyone else who has to know, porn is on the internet. I do not need a magazine for that!