# Does this Rolling Stone magazine cover offend you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 17, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774 "2013-07-17T18:10:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/181 "2013-07-18T16:49:22Z")
Yeah, and the fangirls are mobilizing to get this “pretty boy” off. Great stuff, way to push the visual crack. RS. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/182 "2013-07-18T16:53:49Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Laboriousness is a different issue. It’s stupid. > > Plus, it’s ineffective. That person is already famous and there’s nothing you can do about it. Avoiding the name does nothing to change that. > > Plus it smacks of Stalinist style revisionism. I don’t know. If not using the names was standard procedure through out the media, would we remember names like John Wayne Gacy? Personally, I don’t think it would be such a horrible thing if we didn’t. Small victories and all that. [shrugs] And “Stalinist style revisionism” comparison is silly. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/183 "2013-07-18T16:53:52Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > Yeah, and the fangirls are mobilizing to get this “pretty boy” off. I’m sure that’ll be really effective. ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/184 "2013-07-18T16:55:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m sure that’ll be really effective. It will turn an open and shut case into a fucking circus, just like the Manson case. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/185 "2013-07-18T16:56:12Z")
I’m sure the prosecutors are really worried about 15 year olds taping the RS cover to the wall by their bed. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/186 "2013-07-18T16:58:23Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > It will turn an open and shut case into a fucking circus, just like the Manson case. No, it won’t. The federal government is going to prosecute the guy for terrorism and it’s an open and shut case with a confession. It doesn’t matter what some dumb kids say. And however much a circus his trial might’ve been, Manson is serving a life sentence and just about everyone connected to him is doing the same. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/187 "2013-07-18T16:59:14Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > It will turn an open and shut case into a fucking circus, just like the Manson case. I’ve got news for you; the moment he was captured we were guaranteed a fucking circus. That being said, it’s really not that hard to avoid them. I completely missed the Arias drama, for example. I mean, just don’t turn on HLN and you’re like 65% of the way there. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/188 "2013-07-18T17:05:17Z")
Boycotts are the traditional way consumers can peacefully voice displeasure with a company or publisher. This is a little different because five major chains won’t be selling this issue of RS. Theres also a national boycott that social media is pushing. RS will still makes gobs of money exploiting this story. But at least some Americans can send them a message that not everyone approves of putting a terrorist/mass murderer on _The Cover of The Rolling Stone_. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > _What_ point does it make? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/189 "2013-07-18T17:07:15Z")
The message that large numbers if people are idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/190 "2013-07-18T17:08:09Z")
You misunderstand me. I mean _why_ are they displeased? You can’t be telling me the people complaining that the picture is too pretty are _serious_. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/191 "2013-07-18T17:08:56Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I don’t know. If not using the names was standard procedure through out the media, would we remember names like John Wayne Gacy? Personally, I don’t think it would be such a horrible thing if we didn’t. Small victories and all that. [shrugs] People who did horrible things and their names should be remembered. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/192 "2013-07-18T17:16:08Z")
The concept of deleting bad people from the public memory is creepy, and yes, the comparison to Stalinism is appropriate. Not that it’s feasible anyway since we’ve been memorializing killers and creepy in story and song for as long as those media have existed. All you can really do is punish or ostracize people who mention the forbidden names, which is stupid and (again) creepy. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/193 "2013-07-18T17:17:25Z")
If you do a big story on an infamous person, it stands to reason their photo would be on the cover. Second, this was a photo that was already available and had been used by other publications, including the New York Times. It’s not as if they had sent a photo crew and make-up artist to pretty him up and shoot a photo specifically for this cover. I think it also supports the journalistic premise stated on the cover–how did this guy who was once a nice kid end up as a murderer? Based on the cover only, I don’t think he’s glorified in any way, though I haven’t read the article. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/194 "2013-07-18T17:18:31Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > People who did horrible things and their names should be remembered. The acts yes, the names no. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/195 "2013-07-18T17:20:21Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The concept of deleting bad people from the public memory is creepy, and yes, the comparison to Stalinism is appropriate. Not that it’s feasible anyway since we’ve been memorializing killers and creepy in story and song for as long as those media have existed. All you can really do is punish or ostracize people who mention the forbidden names, which is stupid and (again) creepy. Creepy? That’s a rather strange adjective to use. Also, I’m not proposing it should be a law that we don’t use their names. So no, Stalinism isn’t appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/196 "2013-07-18T17:21:50Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You misunderstand me. I mean _why_ are they displeased? You can’t be telling me the people complaining that the picture is too pretty are _serious_. Of course they are. I’ve also gotten a nice helping of, “You’re not from Boston, you wouldn’t understand.” on my Facebook feed. And they’re right, I’m not from Boston, but how does your physical location make a news article in a news magazine “offensive”? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/197 "2013-07-18T17:22:46Z")
Well, fuck me. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/198 "2013-07-18T17:23:44Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Five chains so far won’t be selling this issue in their stores. Not enough to really slap RS down, but at least it makes the point. Great, now I have to boycott those five chains for their stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/199 "2013-07-18T17:26:06Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Creepy? That’s a rather strange adjective to use. I don’t think it is. Why should we pretend we don’t know who committed a crime? > [@](#): > > Also, I’m not proposing it should be a law that we don’t use their names. So no, Stalinism isn’t appropriate. Nobody thought you were proposing a law (and I’m not sure Stalin needed laws to accomplish this), so that’s not the point. The point is the concept of pretending to erase someone’s existence as a show of disapproval- as if prison or execution didn’t already send that message pretty clearly. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774/200 "2013-07-18T17:29:22Z")
Can anyone point me to a list of retailers that boycotted TIME Magazine because they retouched [Stalin’s Man of the Year photo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JStalin_Secretary_general_CCCP_1942.jpg)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-rolling-stone-magazine-cover-offend-you/663774.md?page=11)