While I agree with points on both sides of this debate, the fact of the matter is that the whole situation is purely subjective. Words like “powerful”, “athletic”, and “beauty” are completely based on the opinions of the individual.
You think some of those girls in the thongs don’t work out? I can be pretty damn sure that in the case of most of them that’s incorrect. Just because their workout/bodies may not look anything like yours, it doesn’t mean they don’t take care of themselves. And yes, photos can be edited, but it still takes a certain amount of dedication to maintain the bodies that most of those girls have. And no they don’t ALL have eating disorders.
“They’re not athletic.” Well for one, how the hell do you know? Just because they don’t look like Olympians (I mean Olympics, not 'roid monkeys 
) doesn’t mean they’re not athletic. How do you know they’re not playing tennis, going rollerblading, playing basketball, or staying active in numerous other ways during their time off. Of course this may not be true for all of them. But how can you judge without really knowing? Some people may only think of athletes as those who are actually involved in competition, but again this is wholly subjective.
I also don’t remember anything by T-mag ever saying this site is specifically geared towards athletes, anyway. Yes, many of the articles they publish ARE for improving athletic performance. But there are also articles that serve nothing more than for some people to look in the mirror and feel better.
“They’re only soft-porn bunnies looking for attention.” Who’s NOT looking for attention? I’m sorry but anyone who claims they don’t workout for attention is completely full of shit. Bodybuilders and fitness models are obviously a given. Athletes, if you only consider those who are involoved in competition as “true athletes”, are competing for attention and recognition. And people who powerlift and say “I do it for myself” are flat-out fucking lying if they say they don’t feel better when they see someone who can’t lift as much as them (myself included) or they dwarf them as they pass them by. Even if you never plan on competing except for your own PR’s, you know it still feels good that you’re stronger/better looking than a lot of the general population. It’s all a “competition” of sorts, formal or informal.
Point is, if you really are “doing it for yourself”, then quit worrying so damn much about anyone else and how they carry themselves or their website. If you’re really that upset about it then find somewhere else where you are more comfortable. I’m a member of several other forums and I like them all for many different reasons. Some are geared towards gossip, some are better for powerlifters, some are better for bodybuilders, some are fun just to fuck around on. In all honesty, however, if some people here want to see pics such as those from the beginning of the thread then I think it’s only fair they be accomodated. I don’t find a lot of the women at the beginning of this thread attractive (okay, make that none of them save for Shannon Hartnett and the girl on the far left in the picture with three). Women who are “six feet tall and can kick your ass” just don’t do it for me. But just the same, some of the women who are part of this site don’t think the fitness bunnies are attractive, and that’s perfectly okay. It only becomes a problem when we start trying to tell others they are wrong for their definition of what “powerful”, “athletic” and “beautfiul” is. It works both ways and no one is “wrong” for it.
P.S. I didn’t directly quote because this post isn’t aimed at anyone in particular. I don’t even know if some of the things I talked about were even mentioned. It’s just some random thoughts I had after reading through this thread.
