Either Instinct has a monkey doing it's color correction or Ethan got himself some bad tanning lotion.

quit yer bitchin', take off your pants, and maybe they'll put you in the mag, too.

classy AND innovative.

the gay media industry is like this everywhere. if they put 'average' guys on the cover then no one would buy the magazine. one of the side-effects of this is that it causes a lot of people to have eating disorders or body dysmorphia...

Wait, are you surprised? Or just dismayed?

Things that I can't stand.

1. Men who wear make-up.
2. Men who highlight their hair.
3. Those ridiculous trunk underwear.
4. Self-tanning lotion. I mean, at least go to the tanning salon!

It's sad, because he's not an unattractuive guy.

It really is interesting that so much of "gay" media is geared to this image of gay men: young, thin/"gymmed"...you could even throw in "white." It's obviously not true that there are no good gay journalists and writers--god knows history shows that. In fact, Toby is a very good young writer. Since this is true, then why is there such a dearth of really good writing in gay media? You might not expect *War and Peace* in, say *Out*...but might you not expect something like *Newsweek* in *Advocate*? *Instinct* is certainly nothing to write home about, but I'm saying the whole of so-called gay media is often verging on substandard.

Don't get me wrong...I don't mind seeing cute guys any more than the next person. In fact, I started reading Toby's blog because I thought he was very attractive and even now I have a huge crush on him. But it's also true that I enjoy reading his writing--simple as that. I hardly ever enjoy reading "gay" media...I read *The Advocate* because I feel obligated, but that's about it. So in some ways, my response to what Toby's written here is "Well...what do you expect?" But another response is that it's a real shame.

That editor's response is really, really sad. I'm really embarrassed that a gay publication would endorse such low aspirations for our community. Like it or not, magazines like that speak for all gays (at least to the rest of the world), and that just makes me really mad.

I've got nothing against shallow lookism; I'm not impressed with Ethan's writing either, but it's not like he's hurting anyone.

But what's this crap about Instinct struggling to achieve equality? Please . . . they're only struggling to achieve dollars.

You're entirely right in your criticism here. Mr Michael Kossart made a serious point concerning the vanity of the gay community which was greeted with a thoroughly worthless and insulting reply.

The gay community, on the whole, is overwhelmingly guilty of being obsessed by looks, and all that glitters. Here you appear to have taken a stance that such obsession is wrong, and that we aim higher and take more pride in ourselves.

It's quite sad then that your 26th Feb entry 'Freaky Fredy' attacks someone who actually tries to get on with their life, rather than pander to any stereotypes of what a gay person must be, or must be interested in. He’s lambasted as boring and underwhelming, (then racially abused by Rocco) just because he doesn’t fit some kind of sleazy gay 'fuck me now, I know 157 sexual positions' coverboy stereotype.

Do you see that the entry is on a par with the Instinct editor's glib arrogance, or does your own arrogance stop such a revelation from taking place?

I was wondering if you saw that.

I decided months ago not to renew my Instinct subscription when it expires... this issue made me ashamed I ever subscribed in the first place.

Fuck gay marriage. Just give me more of that Brat Boy.

Delish-us!

Whoa, fake tanner.

I don't understand what your problem with Ethan is. Has he done anything to you? I've tried looking, and I can't find anything that explains why you dislike him so much.

Thank you,

Kahil

TOBY SAYS: This entry expresses nothing against Ethan.

I've always likened Instinct to what would happen if Maxim and Cosmo had a gay baby. Yeah, it's shallow as hell, but sometimes all I want is 30-45 minutes of fluff reading, beauty advice and eye candy -- I can't read the Economist all the time. The editor's response was glib and tounge-in-cheek, but an appropriate way to respond to someone who incorrectly and foolishly assumed that the magazine's mission was to somehow contribute to the intellectual discourse of the gay community. That isn't to say that there shouldn't be weightier alternatives to Instinct, but that isn't the mission the magazine has set out to conquer. Come to think of it, shouldn't the Advocate be filling that role?

Wow. Classy, "shallow lookism?"
Is that even English. Lovely.

Instinct sucks. I would like to know what Rocco thinks.

You know, I think Ethan is actually a cult-master and has a very devoted and crazy following. I guess reading inane shit like the stuff he calls "writing" will kill your brain cells or something.

If this Ethan bitch were actually hot, I wouldn't give two shits about the matter. But since he's one of those 30-year-old fags who tries to look 18, I'm offended that he's considered the paragon of what's superficially attractive.

Isn't this Kossart guy a blog comment troll?

If you don't like the magazine (or a blog) start your own one!

TOBY SAYS: The whole "If you don't like it, don't read it!" thing has got to be the lamest thing ever.

It's pretty obvious Instinct is struggling anyway. I canceled my subscription in 2004 via not-renewing, and I still (as of yesterday when the new issue arrived) receive their magazine, along with an insert that allows me to renew for $6.00 a year.

Maybe this pretty blogger boys is the only thing keeping them in business considering that we know it's not their content.

Maybe I wouldn't mind vapid, brainless and shirtless boys on the cover if the editorial content had anything worth reading. At. All. And as far as the editor? Wow. Way to express bitterness at the 92% of all gay men that don't look like cover boys. What a tool.

Best blog? I thought mine was the best one. Next to Rocco and Toby's. ;-)

ON a serious note, the editor is right. As much as it is appalling, looks sells.

I dont think EThan is cute. I think he's just one of these twinks that I see frequently in Chelsea. Not my thing. Too shallow and all that.

Was in his town recently -- he was nowhere to be found. Go figure -- maybe he's in love with himself. I don't know.

R-

for a magazine that celebrates shallow lookism, that guy is really busted.

seriously guys, you've gotten your point across several times in this blog about how you don't like Ethan. Believe it or not, he really is a nice guy & he isn't some 30yr old posing as 18... I don't understand how you can vehimently dislike someone so much whom you don't even know. Why waste all that time and energy to do that? Are there not more important things to worry about other than why someone chooses to model or what/how he writes in his blog?

Move on already...

Well, is this a gay thing or a guy thing? Look at any "hetero" mens magazine out there (FHM, Maxim, GQ, Men's Health) and you see nothing but buff men and air-brushed women.

It seems to be the way of the magazine world in general - not specifically a gay affliction.

I don't subscribe to gay mags because I can get their most important articles online, and if I want porn, well, that's why god invented to internet.

I think the editor tactlessly expressed what we all knew about the mag business from the start. I can't get outraged about something that's been around in the hetero and homo worlds forever and will continue on whether I'm reading or not.

Kahil you think these guys can't stand ethan. Let me tell you I am the only person in brat school history that shut that damn school down for 4 days. I am the reason he changed his comment system and moved his blog off blogspot. So I took his school name as soon as it came open as a prize. I think Brandon has it right you got a 30 years trying to act 18 and with all the make up a 18 year old Tammy Faye at that. Instinct should be a shamed of them self's for having him in their magazine in the first place and along with many other people I cancelled just cause they but him in there.

Kyle,

What are you talking about? Are you admitting to hacking or something? Whats your problem with him? Jealous? What has he done to you? Nothing I bet. Its sad that you put all that energy into hating someone you don't know...

The irony is, Ethan's got to love all of this attention from Toby and the gang!

Kyle - You are a scary motherfucker. Get a life, man.

- If you don't like it, don't read it. -

That's a good statement in response to censorship.
But, it's complete crap in response to someone calling a publication (or editor) a piece of shit. This is America, baby! Isn't it?

(The editor *does* write like a complete dick. But what do I know. Maybe that's just his writing persona.)

Kahil

What am I talking about hacking? No what I am talking about is last summer I didn't agree with crap boy and I commented on his blog and he didn't like what I had to say. So he removed my comments every time I commented. Now he claims all comments are welcome but mine. So crap boy got upset and turned off his comments and finally moved the school so Kyle couldn't bother him anymore thanks to the help of his buddy super keith. So what did Kyle do he took his bratboyschool.blogspot.com Did I hack it to get it did I steal it nope just waited for it. Don't you hate that I talk about myself like I am a third person?

As long as your kissing his sprayed on tan ass then you can comment but when you say something that might make him cry he starts calling it harassment saying it's hate and claims the police know about it and all these laws were broke. Please there hasn't been anyone to see me and to top that he claimed he will out the pest well it's been a year and nothing. Out me you bitches I am already out.

Jealous of crap boy please who in their right mind would be jealous of a Tammy Faye Baker look a like. I don't like him period the reason why is he is stuck on himself and he is a liar. I have proven it time and time again.

Bryan Thanks I know I am!

Toby's blog is one of the best! Good or bad he let's his comments come through. He don't need people sucking his ass or fixing soup in a jock strap to get comments. I think there is something in crap boys soup maybe that's how he keeps his cult together.

Well you act like the editor acctually got his job for his writing skills...when it was more for his hoovering abilities

Yeah, I will say that him posting mostly pics of him in underwear gets a lil old. But getting so worked up and angry at someone you don't know is a waste of time. If you dislike him so much, then why do you keep going to his site? If you stop going there you'll have one less thing to bitch/whine about right? Yeah you guys have some valid points, but its just not worth it.

BTW, even if it has been about a year with that crap, it doesn't mean that authorities haven't been notified and aren't looking into it. All he has to do is provide the IP address that the originating comment/email came from. So don't set too pretty up there on your high horse. One thing for him is that he doesn't make posts and sit an rant and rave about other bloggers/people he doesn't like.

The guy is a model. He does what he's told just like every other model would. Think about the triplets who bleached their hair for the pics with Tom Ford.

As for glitter, what about all those picture by Lachapelle? It's just make up.

Gonna clue you in a little here, Noah - the Tom Ford spread in W was an intentional spoof on the artificial nature of the fashion biz. The hideous hair and (literal) ass-buffing was meant as social commentary.

Somehow I doubt bratboy was looking to make the same statement.

He [the model} looks like a girl.

Is Michael Kossart, the reader, an idiot? Did he fall off the turnip truck yesterday? He is surprised that Instinct offers this sort of fare? Huh. THAT'S surprising.

If he'd look around a bit more, he could find more interesting folks "showcased" in other publications. ("Showcase"? Like objects on display for consumption? Editor's response is pretty funny in view of that word choice.) Gay Times here in the UK recently did a big glossy spread on gay movers and shakers, for instance. Not all pretty, but definitely interesting folks who made for good reading.

Maybe the fault is with the lazy public, not the magazine. Instinct wouldn't be in business without people like him. Either the reader needs to expand his horizons a bit past Instinct, or admit that he likes looking at the pretty bloggers.

I prefer to let my money speak for me in situations like these. I recently was fortunate enough to start earning a middle class salary, and I'll be damned if I'll support rags that promote surreal/implausible standards on how we look and how we should live our lives. Unfortunately - what real options are out there? I'll hold on to my money until I see something worthwhile - or start producing it myself.

every time I look at him, the millisecond before I think "he's hot," Britney Spears' face pops into my head. I wonder if he likes Cheetos too.

you've never been so right. i'm sick over this, actually. you've got a good perspective on this for someone so young. - lonestarsteve

Okay, I'll chime in here. I think those are some cute underwear. I want some. I would also like to make motorboat zerbert noises on his tummy and then feed him grapes and perhaps some ice cream.

they could have featured a blog that combines BOTH brains and beauty... i enjoy Proceed at Your Own Risk because there is plenty of eye candy, and plenty of stuff for the mind too....