Well, I wasn't discounting it as a form of discrimination, in fact it drives me mad the way the media sells such a thin image to women (and men to a lesser extent) whilst simultaneously marketing really fatty foods, then marketing diets that don't work, etc in a big horrid circular way. I'm the first to criticise fatism. I just meant that being fat isn't like being black in that you're not usually discriminated against in quite the same way, and you're not really in a minority. However, what I was really referring to was the RW cover - we are runners who do aspire to be more athletic and fit and healthy (most of us), and so to put a fit healthy athletic person on the front cover makes sense. (even though many of us, myself included, are never gonna look like an athelete) I don't think there's many black people running in an attempt to become more white.
I've always thought the models look too much like happy smiley fake people and nothing like the real world. They always seem to be on the beach as well. They look very 'american runner' to me, all clean and wholesome and average. Attractive but mainly wholesome. Maybe that's what makes people pick the mag up on the shelf.
I don't really care though because as a regular reader all I look at on the front cover is the top stories for a preview on the inside.
I think it's probably right that they put on the front what their market sector wants and I don't think political correctness or proportional representation will have an effect either way.
If I bought a mag in affica for african people (say nigeria where most people are not white) i'd expect not to see many white people on the cover, I think non white ethnicity only accounts for 5% of the uk population so even if it was propotional only one in 20 covers would have a black/asian person on it.
I would like to see more varied people on the cover though because the boring wholesome american looking person bounding down the beach looks just like every other cover.
Sorry to any americans out there I can't think of any other way of describing that look.. it comes from seeing american tv dramas where the good looking ones all have that look about them.
I think this whole thread is ridiculous. Another case of someone trying to make something out of nothing! I suppose the original poster is one of those people who think its racist that we teach kids about Henry VIII and the Romans, and thinks Baa Baa Black Sheep is a racist song... These things don't even enter normal people's heads!
"can anyone tell me if RW has ever featured a black model/runner on it's front cover?i honestly can't remember...why doesn't RW feature black runners for example when most of the best runners are kenyan,ethiopean?"
What in that gives you the impression that he isn't "normal" and is "making something out of nothing"?
Lots of different things enter lots of different people's heads, largely because people get perspectives on life due to their experience.
Comments
I don't think there's many black people running in an attempt to become more white.
I guess they wouldnt let you put the caption on as well ?!!
which make me wonder, how many brown people have been in the RW's cover?
and you, little nosey thing?
i'm fine ta, still as nosey as you will see!
gotta rush now.....see you soon!!
I don't really care though because as a regular reader all I look at on the front cover is the top stories for a preview on the inside.
I think it's probably right that they put on the front what their market sector wants and I don't think political correctness or proportional representation will have an effect either way.
If I bought a mag in affica for african people (say nigeria where most people are not white) i'd expect not to see many white people on the cover, I think non white ethnicity only accounts for 5% of the uk population so even if it was propotional only one in 20 covers would have a black/asian person on it.
I would like to see more varied people on the cover though because the boring wholesome american looking person bounding down the beach looks just like every other cover.
Sorry to any americans out there I can't think of any other way of describing that look.. it comes from seeing american tv dramas where the good looking ones all have that look about them.
Nice try Steve.
Did you read the whole thread? If you did you will see from the FIRST post that this is exactly not the argument.
Shame you are so quick to judge that somebody else isn't 'normal'.
"can anyone tell me if RW has ever featured a black model/runner on it's front cover?i honestly can't remember...why doesn't RW feature black runners for example when most of the best runners are kenyan,ethiopean?"
What in that gives you the impression that he isn't "normal" and is "making something out of nothing"?
Lots of different things enter lots of different people's heads, largely because people get perspectives on life due to their experience.
(Ha, beat you by 1 second!)
(You wasted time cutting and pasting...)