Should "unhealthy/unrealistic" sponsored links be on cc?

Don't think it's a huge issue but... I think unrealistic, "unhealthy" sponsored links like the ones below shouldn't be on CC...(its hard enough not to stray!)

Unless of course, that's how a great tool/service like CC can remain free of charge... Any thoughts?

"Diet of the Year 2009"
Drop 25 Pounds in 2 Weeks. As Seen on CNN - Try it Here!
www.25-Pounds-in-2-Weeks.com

Lose 21 Lbs In 7 Days
Yes, You Have Read It Correctly & I Will Show You How Day By Day!
21in7days.net

Sponsorship, yes its probably what keeps CC free.  These ads are kinda an oxymoron, CC promotes healthy eating and steady weight loss and the adds suggest not changing anything and lose weight rapidly.  There are so many other things they can advertise, maybe not. 

I just don't look. Only annoys me when it's the jiggly belly - why do the ads have to MOVE? Creepy.

It's ironic but it keeps CC free. I just hope no one gets sucked into the advertisement. There's no quick fix to taking the weight off, slow and steady is the only way.

I think the ads are actually hosted by someone else who streams them in???  I could be wrong.

I wonder what would happen if those people knew how much we bad-mouth their products/diets on these forums.

The one that caught my eye the other day was the one for McDonald's Double Filet'o Fish...I can't imagine what the calorie and fat content is, but I LOVE them so I looked. Still, it seems like an odd add to find here.

Oh, I just checked: a regular Filet'o fish has 380 calories and 18 grams of fat. Even has 2 grams of fiber. Hmmm. I didn't need to know that! I could actually fit that in! Crap. I was much better off thinking that it was about 600 calories and 30 grams of fat and no fiber at all.

Calorie count does not have control over what ads go up on this site.  Neither does About.com. All of this has been explained over and over again, but questions like these pop up every so often.  The ads are bundled and bring in revenue to keep the site free.  Unfortunately, the ads are bundled by a third party (which is how most sites do it these days).  You actually have more power than the website does because you can install an add blocker on your PC. 

If there is a specific ad you object to - do a screen print if possible.  Use the contact link at the bottom of every page to report it.  State the times you see the ad and as much information as you can gather about it.  The staff will do their best to block it.  In my experience, they get blocked and then pop up again after a while.

Understand that this will take valuable time and resources away from all the improvements that are constantly being designed, all of it free of charge to you. 

Personally, I hardly notice them because I've learned to ignore them.  They are just an unfortunate side effect of being on a free site.

Thanks everyone.  And peaches0405, clear.  Annoying side-effects to a great site. 

I keep seeing these threads and at first wonder what you're talking about, because I never see ads, then I remember, right, I have ad blocker.

It's really easy to get actually. Just install Mozilla Firefox (a lot of you probably already use it for the Calorie Count toolbar). There are some add-ons that block ads amazingly well. I have "Ad blocker", "Firefox ad blocker" and "Gmail ad blocker" installed - I never get ads here but do on some other sites - like Myspace. Urgh!

The one that tickles me pink for some reason is the DIY Gastric band. I haven't investigated this yet, but i am blooming curious how to fit a gastric band yourself, unless they either mean swallow a rubber band and hope for the best, or wear high-waisted trousers with very tight belts.

I find this troublesome too but understand what is going on.  Having said that I do think there are some people who in their desparation to lose weight would be pulled into these sites.  But they probably would get there anyway!  The ability to google brings it all to our pc's. 

 Personally I am just grateful for the service that CC provides as I am sure most people are.  There is a side effect to all of this.  I have read repeatedly comments from people who have used some of these "black magic" cures for the fats and never have seen one that said "This is the answer to your problem"  Maybe suggestions to check it out with posters on this site might be the best way  to combat these empty promises.

Pen_coed wrote:

"The one that tickles me pink for some reason is the DIY Gastric band. I haven't investigated this yet, but i am blooming curious how to fit a gastric band yourself, unless they either mean swallow a rubber band and hope for the best, or wear high-waisted trousers with very tight belts."

OMG, this seriously made me LOL for real.

Like most of us seem to, I have somewhat mixed feelings -- part of me is, like, "Anything that keeps CC Free!"  Another part of me thinks, "...But there are definitely people here who may not know enough not to try some of the dumber products that show up in the ads."

OTOH, since CC doesn't have much choice about it, I'm not going to knock them.