I'm finding the advertising of late to be nearing the "borderline" of what I find totally acceptable, too.
But then, I remember the more than several times this site "disappeared" (for weeks and weeks) when times were tough with ownership changes and NO sustaining income to keep the site up and running.
THOSE were difficult weeks to get through. I didn't have any way of knowing when and if (ever) the LPSG would return at all...I had no close LPSG friendships established (i.e. via other e-mail opportunities) to even inform me what the heck had happened during the dark periods. Those of you newcomers who love this site so much now just think how much you'd miss it if you suddenly couldn't bring up the site on the net! Like---AT ALL! ---no matter how hard you tried! THAT'S what it was like for weeks and (once, I believe), like half a year or more, I think it was. --AWFUL times to remember.
While sensitive to the "kind" of advertising we might be seeing, we might also give thought as to how difficult it must be to FIND advertising which would accept, identify with, and otherwise "tie-in" with the subject matter we get into around here. Major (easily recognized, "main-stream America" corporate advertisers like "John Q. Public" citizens would ordinarily see sponsoring other sites) are NOT very likely to be inclined to support and underwrite a website about the woes of having a big penis! I don't expect to see Nabisco, Ford Motors, or Wachovia stepping up with sustaining advertising here anytime soon.
Honestly, I'm surprised Mark has been able to do as well as he has and, for as long as he has! --And, not to mention the innovations he's added to the site! I'd keep a headache everyday, I believe. I used to "sell and recruit" sponsorships in broadcasting. It's not easy, believe me.
We can't have the LPSG totally perfect by virtue of all the facts considered here-- regarding what we're talking about in subject matter alone AND the diversity of our membership. Someone is always going to be slightly concerned or slightly "ticked".
--That's life, I suppose.
I'm trying to bite my lip when I feel offended and realize I'd rather have this site available as to NOT having it at all.
The only other option (instead of sustaining advertising) would be a PAID membership approach. We've come close to that too, in our troubled past.
NOT all that popular an idea, from what I can recall.