This is due to the Twitters of Dr Petra Boynton, who you can hear interviewed on the Skeptic Zone podcast (episode #78) – The UK Mirror has also picked up on the story.
The ‘Ask Danny’ column in Zoo Magazine gives advice to a ’23, not-bad-looking bloke’, who can’t get over a lost love.
What’s the advice that’s given? As you might expect for a men’s magazine, there’s the usual ‘go out with the lads, have a good time, distract yourself.’ Simplistic, but not that out-of-the-ordinary.
What’s one thing you might not have expected?
“Of course, the other option is to cut your ex’s face, and then no one will want her..’
It has been confirmed that the remark from Danny Dyer IS genuine and from current issue of Zoo Magazine (7-15 May 2010).
Dr Petra says that problems with lads mags/relationships advice is well documented - Lad’s mags score own goal: “In a feature by Rachel Gallagher in Press Gazette two editors disagreed with the report that had praised them and argued they had no responsibility for providing sex information.”
and here in the Guardian newspaper, Beware the Sexperts:
Men’s magazine Zoo recently launched a sex supplement with glamour model “Dr” Jodie Marsh at the helm. “No seven years at medical college for our resident sexpert,” read the introduction. “Jodie got her expertise burning the midnight oil at the University of Dirty Sex.” Jodie concurred: “I haven’t exactly got a degree in psychology, but I just love sex, don’t I?”
To me, this is like someone announcing, “I’m a lawyer! I don’t have any legal qualifications, but I never miss an episode of Judge John Deed!
She also has ‘tweeted’ that she has emailed Zoo’s editor tom.etherington@zootoday.com asking why they included the ‘cut women’ advice. PDF Guide on how to give good sex/relationships advice via media here.
The press contacts for Bauer media is here if you wish to ask those who own Zoo as to why they publish such advice for men. Additional open letter over at the OpheliaBottom site with ‘Cutting Women for Fun’.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Okay. I can see that it was intended as a joke. But it was in very poor taste, and Zoo should definitely issue a retraction and an apology. Some jokes just aren’t funny.
I agree. I’m also horrified to think that there will actually be some yobbo out there who does think it’s funny.
Funny? I’m worried that some yobbo will take it seriously!
The answer to the question in the title is easy: the magazine perceives its readership to be composed of wannabe thugs. They aren’t real thugs few of whom have the cojones to actually act out their fantasies, but the writers and editors knows that by saying things like that, they can help their readers make-believe that they have the balls to do things like that.
It’s pathetic, and a testament to the fact that British magazines tend to have far fewer scruples about trashiness than U.S. magazines. This is the other reason I will never move to Britain, after the fact that their government doesn’t even pretend to respect civil liberties.
It might just be a joke, but it’s a joke that reinforces a perception of violence against women as being normal and acceptable.
If Zoo’s readership were just adults that wouldn’t be such a big deal. It’s not. There are a lot of impressionable young men, and even young women, reading this trash.
How is ANY of it acceptable?
“Getting on the booze and smashing anything that moves”
I expect that would be disproportionately less acceptable if he replaced booze with phencyclidine.
Just no words for it stupid, even if it was a sad attempt at humor.
Really though I would be more annoyed at the magazine more so than the writer. I know it is not a high brow magazine but still no need to have this stuff in it as it makes it ok.
Stupid Zoo….
Perhaps Zoo could offer to donate a portion of the profits from its next run to a domestic violence centre.
I hope everyone posting here also sent their feedback to the parent company of the magazine. Below is the response I got following my e-mail (also below). I had e-mailed the parent company press contact, which forwarded the e-mail to the editor of Zoo.
I don’t buy the “production error” story, and since I don’t read/frequent this site, I can’t even boycott it. My hope is they got enough flack to ensure no further criminal advice will be offered online or in print.
===========================
E-mail from Etherington, the editor:
===========================
Thank you for your email regarding this week’s issue.
Firstly, let me unreservedly apologise for the inappropriate and indefensibile response to a letter which appeared. I am very sorry for any offence it has caused.
Danny Dyer, and everyone else that works on Zoo condemn any violence against women, and by way of a sincere apology we are making a donation to Women’s Aid.
An internal enquiry is underway to find out how this extremely regrettable production error occurred and I will be tighening up any procedures necessary to ensure it cannot happen again.
We have already posted an apology on our website and will also be printing a fuller apology in next week’s issue.
Regards
Tom Etherington
Editor
Zoo Magazine
________________________________________
From: Windsor, Jane
Sent: 06 May 2010 05:39
To: Etherington, Tom
Subject: Fwd: Questionable Advice
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: “Emilio D’alise” <ejdalise@gmail.com>
To: “Windsor, Jane” <jane.windsor@bauermedia.co.uk>
Subject: Questionable Advice
I wish to add my voice to what I hope is a torrent of indignation regarding advice offered in Zoo Magazine (see attached).
I charitably assume the comment suggesting one disfigures another human being as catharsis for a failed relationship was meant in jest, but it does not detract from inappropriateness of the comment.
One hopes readers of Zoo Magazine can discern between socially and legally acceptable behavior, and outright criminal behavior . . . something which apparently the staff of Zoo Magazine is unable to do.
ejd
There’s no way it was a production error. It’s completely in line with that hate-filled bullshit that’s in every issue of that magazine. The front page of the issue that column was in had the headline: “How to score a model!(So they don’t press charges)”
On the front page! (here: http://boganette.blogspot.com/2010/05/double-sigh.html)
Those magazines are full of hate against women from the front page to the back page.
I haven’t heard anything beyond it. :/ Will be sending in transcript of Dr Petra’s interview soon to CSI!
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