on that theme...

[low_delta]

Why is it that books are supposed to be kept, but magazines are supposed to be thrown away?

Comments

[seamusd.livejournal.com]

A book often represents a person's life work, or at least a significant time spend writing it. Magazines, while often of historical significance (because of the advertisements and the periodic nature of the stories) are produced in a much shorter time frame and often (as is the case with propaganda rags like Time and Newsweek) with much less care.

[ravengirl.livejournal.com]

i am not familiar with that rule, sir. *sheepish smile*
i have back copies of "real simple" magazine
that would be foolish to toss!
so much valuable information in those pages-
i would find it difficult to throw them out~

my mom and dad still have every copy
of "national geographic" we got throughout my childhood~

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I guess many periodicals are of a "current events" nature. Most of the mags I get are photography and art related. If I buy books for the artwork, why would I throw away magazines that had great artwork?

Re:

[seamusd.livejournal.com]

I suppose that's entirely up to you. many stores sell nice cases for storing old magazines, and in the future, back issues in good condition could be worth something on e-bay!

[zonal.livejournal.com]

Mags are supposed to be thrown away? That's news to me.
Most of mine are crafty and art-related, so like your photography mags, they're useful anytime.

[cynnerth.livejournal.com]

Acccckkkk noooooooo
We must purge before we can consolidate our houses!
*fret fret*

[i.livejournal.com]

i give away most of my magazines and a lot of my books. i hate throwing them away. that said, i think the reason magazines are more disposeable is that they are much more tied to the moment of publication. unless there is an event of significance, there is no reason to keep a magazine. naturally, how-to magazines and publications of non-topical information like national geographic or art news are exceptions likely to be lined up on a shelf in someone's bathroom. i bet there are a half a billion magazines and newspapers from 9-11 hanging around.

[penpusher.livejournal.com]

Now I see where this is coming from!

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Anyone who would throw a National G away, is... gotta be... I don't know. It's just not right.

I sold about fifteen years worth of them at our rummage sale. I got $3 (a dollars box). The kid who got them was really excited, which made me happy. I was excited too, since it was my only sale that day.

[cynnerth.livejournal.com]

Yes and no. He and I both feel the same way about books and magazines. Neither one of us wants to throw out the mags. But, we both know that we're going to have to be somewhat ruthless in cleaning out our homes. He's helped me clear a LOT of crap out of my house so far. But I'm clinging to all the issues of the Sun Magazine and my old issues of Life. I'm not sure that we'll be able to find a house with enough room for all our stuff AND us. *L*

[penpusher.livejournal.com]

Always good to know other pack rats. Sun Magazine? I don't think I know that one! But, yes, practicality counts for a lot.

[cynnerth.livejournal.com]

The Sun (http://www.thesunmagazine.org/) is a literary magazine with fantastic black & white photography, spiritual interviews, gritty/earthy/dark side of life writings...kind of an "old hippie" angsty publication.

Re: Ideas Dawning

[penpusher.livejournal.com]

Hm. Wow. I worked in the periodicals department of my college library and I'm quite sure we never received this mag. Certainly I would have remembered it, being an English major and all.

Thanks for pointing out The Sun to me!

[emschin.livejournal.com]

That is my general attitude, I think, because a new magazine comes every month and books don't multiply that fast--in my house. I only subscribe to Smithsonian and The New Yorker. Pick up "women's magazines" at the grocery store line sometimes.

I did go out and buy a pretty little storage trunk (a little bigger than those magazines lying flat) to keep them in until I've finished with them. As they come, I mark an X in the index next to any article I think I want to read. When I've read it, I circle the X. When all the Xs are circled, it goes out.

OF COURSE............I sometimes buy a trash magazine in the grocery store. The Star, or The National Inquirer. Their shelf life is quite short.