Suggest Improvements To The Fortean Times

Maybe we should have a poll on our favourites, I like ghosties and goolies....goolies in the ghostie sense of course.
 
But some of us like the' long legged beasties'.

Any chance the Saints' Days Almanac could be revived in some way?
 
More ghosties and a whole page for Mr.H. Although, to do those two we'd have to make more ghosts and more gossip.
I'm sure the two could be accomplished simultaneously, actually...
 
Personally i'm getting a bit fed up with ufo's & crypto's.
I would also like to see more "ghosties and goolies".

It would be interesting to see what kind of article would result from a collaberation between some of the members on the message board dont you think?
 
A "best of the message board" half page. (There's more than enough "collaboration" going on I think ;) )
 
Good idea Beaky. Other Mags utilise their online forums as mines of material, why should the FT be any different?
 
I agree with Beak, a monthly roundup of what the board is discussing would draw more people to the board.
 
"next month in FT: fake pubs, whinges, word association games" ;)
 
more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts more ghosts
 
1. Only publish when there is enough good content to actually fill it. Instead of publishing to meet a deadline. The web site should fill in the gaps.

2. Require proper footnotes again. Too much of the current material is almost impossible to properly trace. Important articles should normally incorporate an alternative point - of - view. Or else the articles should be genuinely neutral in perspective and present only the facts of what - was - claimed or said.

3. Charge what it actually costs and take an editorial stance on what is considered as acceptable advertising. Instead of attempting to sell *crap* on the back of what was once a decent and respectable, almost private, publication.

FT - the magazine - should only be published when it is ready. Every edition should be special. A web site could adequately cover everything in - between.

Fortean Times is currently a failing title. It may currently sell more copies than ever - but like, say, 'Wired' it no longer attracts the people who made it special.

I think 'Wired' is a good comparison. That magazine seldom attracts the original writers (Bruce Sterling, Douglas Coupland et al). And nobody (in the loop) reads religiously or writes for 'Wired' anymore. It certainly doesn't attract the new equivalent writers.

Personally, and sadly, I no longer thing that FT is definitive. The people who liked the old FT no longer think it is as good. It has become a commercial enterprise. Little else. I believe that the internet better offers what once made FT so very special.

I see a future for the dumbed - down FT. But I think that the people who once liked it are drifting away. It is no longer so serious (the advertising reflects this).

Unless the web site is developed as the main resource, then I think that FT will become old news. I think that people have already launched better web alternatives which are more in the spirit of the old FT.

IMO:

FT - the magazine --- will never again be like the old FT. Because it is now a mainstream commercial publication. It is no longer put out by people with a love for their subject. Rather, it is published by people trying to balance commercial realities.

As someone who is simply interested in the issues - well I see less and less point in a magazine which seldom offers any articles more interesting than those I could print from a web page.

As an old style FT reader I don't see the point of FT as it currrently exists.

This is all sad. Because a serious FT could have become one of the great titles - both serious and with a long term commercial future.
 
In short, I believe that the current 'Bizarre' style version of FT is sold on the back of what was once a respectable and serious title.

Only the name remains.
 
I'm firmly in the 'old school' camp. In my opinion FT is nowhere near as good as it used to be - though it's still one of the best printed publications around.

I can't help thinking that "Fortean Times" is the 'wrong' name for the magazine. Too cliquey!

Perhaps a re-launch under a new name is in order?

Suggestions on the back of a postcard please!
 
Faggus said:
"next month in FT: fake pubs, whinges, word association games" ;)
Click to expand...
:rofl:
That'll get the issue noticed Faggus!

I think some of us may be suffering from "the good old days syndrome", whereby the past is viewed through rose-coloured glasses.
FT is a commercial enterprise. How else can its writers and editorial staff be paid?

Just for comparison, take the New Scientist mag. Almost half of that consists of Employment Opportunities which don't interest me in the least. I wouldn't dream of complaining about them being there, because that's obviously how the company gets its revenue to publish the mag in the first place.
The New Scientist website is only available to subscribers of the mag, not to everyone.
Its all very well saying "only publish when there are enough decent articles", but our opinions of what constitutes "a decent article" may well differ considerably from reader to reader.

I didn't become an FT reader until the 90's but I have absolutely no complaint whatsoever with its current format or content. To paraphrase a famous quotation: "You can't please all of the people all of the time."

My only quibble is that there's never enough of it and it isn't published often enough - the cry of a true Fortaholic! :D :D
 
The print version of FT should be aimed at a mass audience with a view to improving public perception of the fortean approach to paranormal subjects.
 
Many_Angled_One said:
Personally i'm getting a bit fed up with ufo's & crypto's.
I would also like to see more "ghosties and goolies".
Click to expand...

Oh without a doubt, a little less re-hashing of what are getting to be quite boring subjects too. Reading about fake moon landings and black helicopters over and over again is about as interesting as "The War in Iraq" thread in the News section on here.

And get rid of those pathetic adverts selling drugs paraphernalia in the back too.

It's also rather odd that each issue seems more aimed towards the first time reader. Remembering when I picked up my first copy in 91-92, I had to go and look up half the things that were being talked about, which just made me more interested. Nowadays, articles seem to start, "UFOs are these funny glowing things that people claim to see...".

And when did the letters section become utterly devoted "You'll never guess what happened to me..." type correspondence, rather than also having serious correspondence about Fortean subjects? I had to chuckle about the 'elves and pixies' letter in this month's issue. Not so much the content, but the fact that the narrative style made it through the editing process.. "oh man, we were on some serious shit, like...".

It's a shame that I used to buy the mag without hesitation up until about a year ago, whereas now, if upon a brief perusal in Smiths, and consequent realisation that I'm essentially reading something that had been covered in depth about 2-3 months ago, I won't buy it.

Oh for the days when there was a more 'New Scientisty' feel about it (minus the job ads of course).

Well, there's my thruppence. :nonplus:
 
Hunt Emerson Cartoons!

Please, Please, Please get rid of the Hunt Emerson Cartoon - Ive been getting FT for ten years now and I cant think of one thats been truly funny - but I could produce dozens that have been truly awful and pointless! I read every issue cover to cover and the space could be used for something so much better!
 
I like the Hunt Emerson cartoons, the pointlessness is part of the appeal.
 
Hunt

By pointless I mean that you read it, groan a few seconds later, and grieve for those seconds that have uselessly been erased from your life. You cant tell me you find his stuff entertaining?
 
Hunt

By pointless I mean that you read it, groan a few seconds later, and grieve for those seconds that have uselessly been erased from your life. You cant tell me you find his stuff entertaining?
 
I can tell you I find much of it highly entertaining. It isn't the "plot" or "jokes" in the cartoon that are funny (not usually anyway) it's the way he draws them. You obviously don't like that kind of visual humour.
The one with the atomic particles (I suppose I should hunt it out and find which issue, but I can't be arsed at the moment) was brilliant and hilarious. I looked at it several times.
 
An Abyss Opens......

No, I get the visual jokes, the scenery and objects changing in the background of similar frames etc, but its such an old joke now. Dont you think a whole page could be much better used? I like other cartoons in the mag(c'est la guerre, for example).

Hang on, do I know you? Didnt you used to live in Weymouth, on Dorchester Road. Or are you not that Gunner Graham?
 
I really must change that description :rolleyes:
It's a character from a British sitcom, who's a characature of middleclassness and genteel intellectualism. I'm married to him. (Well, not literally to him you understand, just someone who reminds me of him.)
 
Phenomenomix

This is the only part of the magazine that I don't read.

:cool:
 
Re: An Abyss Opens......

TheGord said:
Dont you think a whole page could be much better used? I like other cartoons in the mag(c'est la guerre, for example).
Click to expand...

Hello Gord

Hunt Emerson's cartoons and artwork have been in FT since the early days. They always cheer me up and long may they continue, as I posted further up this thread.

In what way do you think the page currently devoted to Phenomenomix can be put to better use? What exactly would you like to see in its place?

My suspicion is that dispensing with this section would not free up a page for new and exciting content (as you hope), but would instead see the page immediately appropriated by the Advertising Managers, on the reasoning that people would rapidly forget it had ever carried anything different. We would all be the poorer, whether we admired Hunt's work, or not.

I personally can do without even more ads for crap like custom ring tones, drug paraphernalia and the (chokes back the sick at this point) Duncan Roads-endorsed Elanra Ioniser.

Let's not f**k with this bit of the magazine, please.

PB
 
Re: Phenomenomix

lennynero said:
This is the only part of the magazine that I don't read.
Click to expand...
How do you know whether it's good or not then? Eh? Eh?:sceptic:
 
Thank you for "for all the saints". It may not be "Saint's Days" but it is appreciated. Keep Phenomenomix as it is.
 
Phenomenomix

How do you know whether it's good or not then?
Click to expand...
Allright you caught me...:blush: ....I read it a couple of times, and never since.

:cool:
 
I was very pleased to see the two "models?" (snigger) wearing FT T-shirts have not made an appearance this month and have been replaced by a much more eye-friendly mug - resisting temptation for mug jokes-.

I have read FT for 10 years now and the nerd factor has never really bothered me, untill relatively recently... adverts for swords, really bad films, not to mention those "models" again, the list goes on. FT should not be in WHSmiths with The Cult Times, Sci-Fi magazines and comics it should be with other scientific journals, Scientific American and New Scientist have some pretty crazy stories too!

Until FT gets rid of this trash - especially the swords, I mean, why!?! - it will never be respected by the wider audience it deserves and will be left for all those weirdos with two-tone pewter belt buckles and T-shirts with "Worship Satan" on them.

Rant over....
 
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