Best of the Spectator Spectator Out Loud: Sean Thomas, John Power, Susie Mesure, Olivia Potts and Rory Sutherland
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Jun 13, 2025 Dive into a nostalgic discussion about the golden days of lads' mags and their cultural impact in today's digital age. Uncover the unexpected realities of social housing and hear about lifetime tenancies' implications on young professionals. Savor the importance of sausage rolls in culinary culture, blending nostalgia with practical recipes. Finally, explore how small economic changes, like plastic bag fees, subtly shape consumer behavior and societal views on wealth. Each topic is packed with intriguing insights and thought-provoking reflections.
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Lad Mags' Lost Playfulness
- Lad mags once embodied a joyful, communal eroticism lost in today's digital world of AI and OnlyFans.
- Despite being crude, these magazines had wit, humor, and genuine journalism, creating a shared British culture.
Origin of 'Wetter than an Otter's Pocket'
- Sean Thomas recounts inventing the phrase 'wetter than an otter's pocket' writing captions for FHM.
- The phrase unexpectedly entered popular usage, showing the cultural impact of lad mags' humor.
Social Housing's Unfair Incentives
- Lifetime social housing tenancies with no review foster a system with limited incentives to move.
- This creates unfairness as middle earners pay high costs, while some social tenants exploit the system indefinitely.