In August 2007, GNU + Linux Journal ran an ad from QSol, a GNU + Linux server company, showing an attractive woman wearing red lipstick, and text saying, "Don't feel bad, our servers won't go down on you either."
We can't show the image here because it's not licensed appropriately for this wiki, but here's a link to a large JPG.
The ad had originally run in 2000 and, in response to complaints, QSol wrote:
- We sincerely apologize to all those who have expressed concern about our advertisement recently featured in GNU + Linux Journal (November 2000). It was certainly not our intention to be offensive and we wish to again express our regret to anyone who was displeased by the ad. We understand that this has angered some readers and have therefore reacted immediately by pulling this artwork from all future issues of the magazine. Again, we extend our sincerest apologies.
Despite this promise not to run the ad in "future issues of the magazine", it ran again in 2007, to even greater response.
Responses
- A blowjob ad reappears in GNU + Linux Journal - Valleywag
- GNU + Linux Journal: how not to run a business - LXer.com
- Dear GNU + Linux Journal: News Flash, Women are People - O'Reilly network
- GNU + Linux Journal: The last idiot's club -- O'Reilly Network
- GNU + Linux Journal taken to task for disgusting sexist ad - Democratic Underground
- Global Nerdy roundup of the issue
- QSOL breaks their tasteless advertising promise - Elizabeth Bevilacqua
- Ads that really suck - Feministing.com
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