FT positioning in my local WH Smiths

[Mythopoeika]

When I went to buy it, along with New Scientist, the gentleman behind the counter exclaimed "these two magazines could not possibly be for the same person" and when I told him they were, he looked at me in great surprise with his mouth ajar.

Yes, it's amazing how many people have a misconception about the Fortean Times, thinking that it is only read by people who are incapable of rational thought. :lol:

 

[47Forteans]

When I went to buy it, along with New Scientist, the gentleman behind the counter exclaimed "these two magazines could not possibly be for the same person" and when I told him they were, he looked at me in great surprise with his mouth ajar.

Yes, it's amazing how many people have a misconception about the Fortean Times, thinking that it is only read by people who are incapable of rational thought. :lol:

I've found that those of a Fortean frame of mind also have an interest in the sciences, and it throws me that people tend to think the two aren't connected...

 

[ramonmercado]

When I went to buy it, along with New Scientist, the gentleman behind the counter exclaimed "these two magazines could not possibly be for the same person" and when I told him they were, he looked at me in great surprise with his mouth ajar.

Yes, it's amazing how many people have a misconception about the Fortean Times, thinking that it is only read by people who are incapable of rational thought. :lol:

I've found that those of a Fortean frame of mind also have an interest in the sciences, and it throws me that people tend to think the two aren't connected...

Yeah, I find many of the items I post here on science sites.

 

[47Forteans]

When I went to buy it, along with New Scientist, the gentleman behind the counter exclaimed "these two magazines could not possibly be for the same person" and when I told him they were, he looked at me in great surprise with his mouth ajar.

Yes, it's amazing how many people have a misconception about the Fortean Times, thinking that it is only read by people who are incapable of rational thought. :lol:

I've found that those of a Fortean frame of mind also have an interest in the sciences, and it throws me that people tend to think the two aren't connected...

Yeah, I find many of the items I post here on science sites.

Interest in Forteana and science tend to go hand in hand for the most part, and it does strike me as odd that FT would be placed with all that New Age "Power Of The Crystals" nonsense magazines, or weirder, with Motoring magazines!

 

[Spookdaddy]

The manager of my local WH Smiths is a rude and gobby grade one twat and I've been calculating how many bars of discounted chocolate I could force down his fat throat before he was either full, or the peelers intervened, for several months now, but have never had the opportunity to test my conclusions.

It strikes me now that a discussion about the unpredictable nature of FT placement may form a suitable platform for further confrontation.

I am just going outside and may be some time.

 

[EnolaGaia]

... It strikes me now that a discussion about the unpredictable nature of FT placement may form a suitable platform for further confrontation. ...

One of the reasons I gave up and began subscribing to _FT_ years ago was because I couldn't reliably predict where on a newsstand's / bookseller's shelves the magazine might be placed.

This adds to the time required to locate a current _FT_ (or to simply ascertain if it's offered at all ...), and therefore increases the probability that one would give up without locating and purchasing an issue.

In shops having displays with topical / thematic sections, I've found _FT_ categorized among (e.g.):

- Secondary news and public affairs mags;
- Sci-fi and horror fanzines;
- Science and tech mags;
- Fringe-focused mags (e.g., UFO's, cryptozoology, conspiracies, etc.); and
- New Age / spirituality mags.

 

[EnolaGaia]

... Interest in Forteana and science tend to go hand in hand for the most part, and it does strike me as odd that FT would be placed with all that New Age "Power Of The Crystals" nonsense magazines, or weirder, with Motoring magazines! ...

Unfortunately, I don't find it odd at all.

Let's face it - the vast majority of _FT_ covers are sensationalistic and project an impression of fringe advocacy (if not fringe fiction) rather than agnostic reporting or critical inquiry.

Imagine being a relatively naive stock clerk arranging the shelves ... Where would you place a magazine whose cover is dominated by images and text relating to Nazi UFO's, Bigfoot, etc.?

 

[Anome]

When I went to buy it, along with New Scientist, the gentleman behind the counter exclaimed "these two magazines could not possibly be for the same person" and when I told him they were, he looked at me in great surprise with his mouth ajar.

Yes, it's amazing how many people have a misconception about the Fortean Times, thinking that it is only read by people who are incapable of rational thought. :lol:

I've found that those of a Fortean frame of mind also have an interest in the sciences, and it throws me that people tend to think the two aren't connected...

Yeah, I find many of the items I post here on science sites.

Interest in Forteana and science tend to go hand in hand for the most part, and it does strike me as odd that FT would be placed with all that New Age "Power Of The Crystals" nonsense magazines, or weirder, with Motoring magazines!

It's worse back home. A lot of places also put Nexus, Creation, and even Hard Evidence in with the Science magazines. In one newsagents, this is right next to Bacon Busters as well.

 

[47Forteans]

Bacon Busters? There's a magazine about exploding pigs?!

 

[JamesWhitehead]

I think Smiths has FT down for a berth next to Astronomy Today in all the branches I visit. I think they must be lovers.

I take EnolaGaia's point that the covers don't exactly scream "sensible!" I can't find the quotes right now but FT has been commended for the quality of its English. Not, I fear, much of a selling point, though it might be unique - if true.

Unfurling the magazine in public has caused some very odd characters to chat with me - none of them, so far, regular readers or posters on this board. I could start a thread.