I don't have a problem with the ads per se, however they do embarass me. First of all, lets all admit to what Island House is, in reality. Its a Bath House. I have been there don't even attempt to gloss it over as a clothing optional resort etc etc. It's a bath house. You can buy entrance for 6 hours. Personally, I feel that as a NON sex site its an inappropriate advertiser. Will the Club Body Centers be next? The INNDulge? I mean come on guys. It's not like this is simply a Gay owned B & B.I don't care if the straights "get" what it really is, but is that the kind of advertising that makes a site legit?

Maybe its just me, but I have a tendency to drop this website in a LOT of conversations with people to show / prove to the straight world that men are men, and that we can legitimately be athletic, interesting, and as into sports as any guy on the street. If this was a closed, member only site for gay guys, I would say run any ad you want. You guys have put far too much time and effort into making sure this is a viable media outlet, and a legitimate source of newsworthy stories to have even HALF of the ads you have on here. Compare the ads here for the ads on yahoosports, googlesports, comcastsportsnet, ESPN.com etc. Its not the topics, nor the subject matter of the ads, which as a gay website, are completely appropo. It is the hook used to attract click throughs that I find lacking, and that falls on the actual advertisers themselves. Trust me I love a nice round tight ass, and I love checking the boards and reading the articles on here. I just sometimes question whether the combination works.

Clearly it's a matter of 'take what you can get'. I don't think there a lot of mainstream options available. It takes money to run this site and if legitimate sponsors and advertising aren't there, you have to go with the few options that exist.

I know where you're coming from shorejim. There are times I've wanted to share this site with co-workers, family and straight friends, but I end up not doing so because I don't want them focusing on the soft porn.

I think the ads are perfect. Whenever you log out of Myspace you find a match.com add with some chick looking like she's ready to suck on a dude's weiner. On CnnSI.com right now there is a photo of Yesica Toscanini topless with her arms covering her nipples but with her large boobies clearly visible for the world to see. We gays are sexual people. I come to Outsports to read about sports and embrace my gayness. I go to the other sports sites to get their spin on sports news. This site is a niche site and people don't have to choose to come here. As gays I guess we are destined to always have this argument about "what str8 people will think of us" are we perverts who only think about sex? Do HETEROSEXUAL men only think about sex? I would say men in general think about sex a lot. It's just who we are. If a straight person or a media person comes to this site and notices the ads I hope they learn something, that we are charting our own destiny and embracing who we are. And I must say, I do think it's funny that someone complained about the ad representing a bathhouse but they've patronized said bathhouse. Also, Cyd and Jim are capitalists. Boring ads and boring sites aren't sustainable from a financial perspective. I rarely get to see gay sexuality in any media so I welcome it.
Never change, Outsports, never change!

BRAVO, MY FRIEND!!

Like non-gays aren't? Way to stereotype.

And who cares what pics straight sites have? The discussion is about what ads are appropriate for Outsports, not what's appropriate for Outsports in comparison to other sites.

And I must say, I do think it's funny that someone complained about the ad representing a bathhouse but they've patronized said bathhouse

Now. I am NOT a saint. Never said I was, HOWEVER. Do not attempt to paint me a hypocrite based on my statement of I have been there. I was not a patron. At the time I had no idea what it was, so I went to see what the accomodations were. I thought it would be a cheaper alternative to me always renting a house when I go down for a week. I would sooner give my money to a gay hotel, restaurant etc, as Cyd knows from my trip to NYC to go to the Ranger's game. The place in NYC turned out to be a dump, so I will continue staying at the Doubletree suites on Times Square, and Island House is an expensive bathhouse, and since my Mom sold the house on Margaret St, I will continue to rent a house on my own when I head to Key West. I call it like I see it, and I am sorry you feel my opinion is not valid. BUT not my problem.

I gave my opinion, I don't really care. Naked, not Naked. It's not my website. I LIKE looking at naked people. I am going to keep coming here no matter what. They asked, and I spoke. Sex sells, but is this ad selling the sexiness of outsports, probably not. Will it generate mainstream national advertising, probably not. In my opinion, will it hurt the chances of getting mainsteeam national advertisers, probably. Please don't attempt to invalidate my opinion, or libel me in an online setting.

AND before anyone attempts to start another war with me over that wording. From the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary;

Main Entry: 1li·bel
Pronunciation: 'lI-b&l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, written declaration, from Anglo-French, from Latin libellus, diminutive of liber book
1 a : a written statement in which a plaintiff in certain courts sets forth the cause of action or the relief sought b archaic : a handbill especially attacking or defaming someone
2 a : a written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression b (1) : a statement or representation published without just cause and tending to expose another to public contempt (2) : defamation of a person by written or representational means (3) : the publication of blasphemous, treasonable, seditious, or obscene writings or pictures (4) : the act, tort, or crime of publishing such a libel

Okay, so you didn't wear a towel?

Who the f*ck cares if a clothing-optional Inn advertises or not? We're not here to advocate morals. If you know anything about ad rates and click throughs, etc., you know that users jump on the skin-heavy ads. Let the guys try and make a living, for god's sake. Sure sometimes it looks like too much skin, especially in a work setting, but we're gay adults...if sweet little wannabe superstars like Reichen wants to fly naked, well, go right ahead. I might not fly with ya, but I'll be happy to watch..

First reaction to it, before reading the other opinions was Yuk. Why do they have to show a bare ass on here? I would feel the same if it was a female. This site looks very pornish, so I do not share it with friends. Too bad. If you took the sexual stuff off here, you'd be makng a step toward diminishing that (especially around Gay Pride time) sadly common public opinion that all gays think about is sex. And that Gay Pride is nothing but a parade of naked men in underwear.

Well if they were wearing skivs, they wouldn't be naked.....

As if men in general, straight or gay, don't think about sex practically all the time? I hardly think this site looks like a porn site though perhaps I don't do enough porn to know...

And come on, straight men think about sex as much as gay men do, they just don't get it as often once they get married and she gets frustrated, demanding, and no fun. Ooops, guess I've seen too many marriages dissolve lately...

The sad part is that straight folks never have to apologize for looking at half naked models but not only do we get stereotyped but then we get chastized by other gay people because of their concern about being stereotyped.You really can't please everyone.

Sure they do, anytime their wives/girlfriends catch them scoping them out

Damn thats me... I always get caught checking out guys asses....

Ok, I have to be careful @ work & all cuz the "Lick It" ad for DList/MySpace for guys would be a bit much for my students/coworkers.

Was it better yesterday when it said "Spank It"?

Could we get some more Google ads please? I mean I can still tell the ads from the articles. If your goal is to make the site as confusing and distracting as possible, you're going to need a few more ads.

You mean like the "Zac Efron Naked" Google ad? With the text saying "download the hottest & newest Zac Efron tracks, 100% Free!" Is it a music site? Is it a porn site? Can an ad be any more misleading?

I like this one...

Are
You Homophobia?
The-Gay-Quiz.com

Especially the part of the site that promises...
"...find out if you are gay or a tough guy."

The gay sports world definitely needs more homophobic gay people.

Are these ads supposed to generate based on what else is on the page (using keywords and such)? It's quite amusing -- one ad is for someone named Holly whom I've never heard of, apparently posing naked for an anti-fur ad. Then there's the one where married women are seeking guys for affairs. And that one called "Outsports" -- what's the deal with THAT???

I think most of the Google ads are simply facade sites who want your personal info and will try every angle to get it. Then of course sell it as part of a list. I recommend that no one give their personal info to any of these sites unless you want spam for the rest of your life.

Okay seriously. Will the bombardment of these ads continue?

The Google ads are highly preferable to those banner adds with the buzzing insects or the blathering "You have won a free iPod nano" and other such nonsense.

Yes, very pornish. This would be fine in the privacy of your own home, but not at work. Also, I've wanted to share some of the thread topics with friends/family..etc, but there is no way I'm going to direct them to a gay porn site - why would I?

I could have sworn I saw an Ann Coulter ad on here earlier

it freaked me out

where are the ads?

i don't see any ads.

My teammates once stumbled upon me surfing this site, and they definitely thought it was porn. Though it might have had *something* to do with the shirtless picture of Brady Quinn in the other window...

There's an ad in the P&R area where you can sign up for a free e-mail from Newt Gingrich.

Am I seeing things or does one of the rotating models for the gay.com ad need a man-bra?

Note to self: Man taking hormones results in protruding breastesses...Not sexy!

Not everyone has a perfect bod like you,Ray-Ray!

Isn't Newt HotGeorgiaPeach on the message board?

How about the same ad with the guy holding a loose towel around him? No ass - just class.

God, I wish I don't come across as an a-hole....Seriously!

But the ads sometimes can be...well...too much.

Just messin' with ya!!

You've got to be kidding..."Is your baby gay? Find out now if your baby is gay. Fast easy guaranteed 100 percent for $19.99."

I vote against all the ads on here... For a site that at times seems to play against stereotypes, the sex-crazed/sleep with anything stereotype is alive and well through the Outsports ads.

I don't see anyone sleeping in these ads. They are downright sexual. But then who looks at them but gay guys, right? I am not interested in them, but it's something that gay women have come to accept (with disgust) as being part of what we have to put up with to be in the "gay culture." I really appreciate it when guys say they would rather not be stereotyped like this. I would rather not be lumped in there either.

Relately, I had an idiot (former very close) coworker shock the sh*t out of me by saying that gays don't usually live very long because they are out spreading diseases.
EXCUSE ME! I said. If you are referring to AIDS, this is now spread in huge disproportion in the 3rd world heterosexual population. grrrrr. I reported this incident and the possible ripples it could create because we are teachers. I cant' stant the idea of her perpetrating hateful and ignorant propaganda to children.
Loss of coworker bond. Loss of sleep. Gain of personal esteem for speaking up.

It was very smart of Petsmart to start advertising on the board.There are many pet owners in the gay community.

Please for the love of Christ get rid of that completely obnoxious ad telling me I've just won two iPod Nanos. No I didn't. And I'm usually listening to music or Howard Stern and this is just a ridiculous and unnecessary intrusion.