Members who've purchased a gold membership in order to help support the site can turn off the adds.
Just as you've mentioned that you find some of the adds distasteful, would be along the same lines as someone who has the adds turned off, clicking on a story and finding a distasteful picture.
The rules for story pictures are the same as for the general forums (with the exception of the hardcore section).
The adds are a necessary evil which keep the basic membership free.
The cover picture for stories are not to show genitalia, just as avatars are not to be of the genitals. If you wish to turn of the "godforsaken hetero fuck ads," you may become a gold member and turn them off. If not, they will remain the "godforsaken hetero fuck ads" that keep the free memberships free.
I'm still missing something here, but whatever. I know the rules, I have no problem following them. I'm just... puzzled. It's my nature to delve into apparent contradictions so I can understand the rationale better. Thanks for the explanation. As for the ads, I'll close my right eye and hope for the best.
If the weak hand, that has recorded this tale, has, by its scenes, beguiled the mourner of one hour of sorrow, or, by its moral, taught him to sustain it - the effort, however humble, has not been vain, nor is the writer unrewarded.
Ads keep the site free for everyone. It's actually pretty simple
If you like it here but hate ads spend $50 on a year long gold membership and not only do you get to turn the adds off it has another perk you as an author may enjoy. It bumps your stories to the top of the list so it gets verified that much sooner.
one last thing I would like to point out is there are more than "Hetero fuck ads" there are gay and Lesbian ones as well, Lush has something for everyone even in their fuck ads.
Awesome signature! I'm going to add it to my verse collection.
Really, the ads per se aren't what I'm getting at. Why are genitals taboo in a story image, while two inches to the right genitals are on full display. Why is it OK for one but not the other? It's really just a curiosity thing. I'm a nurse, and it puzzles a lot of my co-workers that I can't seem to accept that a disease or medication simply is what it is. I have to go and learn all the dirty details whether they're relevant to what I'm facing or not. One of my colleagues told me I was a few degrees off true north -- that sums it up.
If the weak hand, that has recorded this tale, has, by its scenes, beguiled the mourner of one hour of sorrow, or, by its moral, taught him to sustain it - the effort, however humble, has not been vain, nor is the writer unrewarded.
because there is a way to make it so you don't have to see the ads if they bother you
There is no way to block story images...yet
I don't think it's so much about it being taboo as it is about what is deemed acceptable for our members to post on what is essentially the frontline of the site.
Lush doesn't host and isn't responsible for the ad content. As has been said, they are necessary, if vulgar. Fortunately, Lush can retain some control over everything else displayed on story pages.
I understand your confusion but, essentially, dems da rules.
Now THAT makes sense. Curiosity satisfied.
Sorry to try everyone's patience with my foolishness. In atonement:
"Whoever has created
An abiding friendship,
Or has won
A true and loving wife,
All who can call at least one soul theirs,
Join in our song of praise;
If the weak hand, that has recorded this tale, has, by its scenes, beguiled the mourner of one hour of sorrow, or, by its moral, taught him to sustain it - the effort, however humble, has not been vain, nor is the writer unrewarded.
Fair enough, lesson learned. But what's up with the endless stream of ads showing explicit fucking right next to the stories? I mean, we're treated to one guy after another reaming assorted women ad nauseum (I'm a lesbian and don't particularly care for such things cluttering up my background when I'm here). Something doesn't compute. 
