PLAYBOY: Your Father's Oldsmobile?

[David Reeves]

Somebody wrote:

>>Why do we think that PLAYBOY--the magazine, that
>>is--needs to aim at the common denominator, the "quarter-educated"? Leave 
>>the "quarter-educated" to those
>>guys and be satisfied that PLAYBOY provides the best entertainment for the
>>sophisticated man.

I've never heard the term "quarter-educated".  What does it mean?  
Under-educated?  Or someone who learns about the female body at those 25 
cent peep shows?  :)

Strange as this may sound, I think it's the sophisticated WOMAN whom Playboy 
should be targeting.  "Entertainment For Men" as a defining vision is too 
narrow.  Far from being pc, it's time to acknowledge that women ought to 
have a larger and more respected place in the "World of Playboy".

We cognecenti thankfully acknowledge that many women are willing to give 
Playboy a first (second, third...) look.  But I wonder how many potential 
female readers / subscribers are lost because some of them  feel "weird" to 
pick up a "dirty" magazine.  This male's perspective, however is quite 
different.  For instance, if the nude images in Playboy could magically be 
converted into words, they'd read like a love sonnet.  If you could convert 
the words of sexual advice printed in Cosmo into pictures, you'd have an 
issue of "Barely Legal" crossed with "40+".  The fundamental concern here is 
the old Venus and Mars argument: how do both sides avoid offending each 
other?

Clearly Playboy shouldn't risk losing even more male subscribers by 
serializing the latest Jackie Collins novel.  But an editorial style and 
outward marketed image that gives off the vibe of "cool meeting place" vs. 
"seedy dive" would seem to be one way to broaden the acceptance and 
readership of OFM.  Find and exploit the common ground.  Continue to respect 
certain taboos, while nudging this whole damn sexual revolution thing (which 
ISN'T over, BTW) forward.  Promote the heck out of good social and 
person-to-person practises, and shun anti-social behaviour.  Permit and 
encourage a forum for open discussion of the male AND female viewpoints - 
create a sexual "town hall".  Listen, learn and implement.

Some random thoughts:

Streamline the magazine by dropping marginally-interesting themes (eg. music 
poll),  then adopt and improve on ideas that work for Maxim, FHM, etc.  Drop 
the "hip old dude" schtick and bring back the refinement of the "Playboy 
After Dark" days.  Have an occasional "retro" issue - cover to cover, 
designed right down to the staples.

Add or enhance reader competitons - "editor for a day", "If I were 'Mr 
Playboy', I would...", "My favourite Playmate", "My best date", etc

"Stay the course" on PMOM design, but review the selection process.  Ie., no 
more than 3 Hef-mates per year.  Natural and natural-looking women are 
overdue for a comeback in the USA edition.  Look beyond your borders 
(Borders?) to see how the world views women.

David Reeves

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