I don't usually go to the story arena, but I just had a squiz at it and got greeted by some chick who badly needs a bikini wax showing her goods to me. Maybe banner ads with less explicit pics would be a better option? Or at a less prominent place on the page. Or text ads rather than banner ads. Or a membership drive for the private members area.

And maybe just take note of the perspective from the site's users who are getting used to changes around here. Ads may keep the site running financially, but what use are ads if no one is around to see them because everyone buggered off because they didn't like the place anymore?

Just my $0.02 from the peanut gallery