The thread of "MD vs. Flex - Really Setting the Record Straight" discusses the fact that one magazine seems to discuss steroids too much, and one refuses to discuss them at all. And whether or not drugs should be discussed seems to be (in that thread anyway) a question of whether or not your average Joe reader understands that although they are not discussed in Flex, they are obviously a large part of the pro BB lifestyle. Since Flex never mentions the drugs, but has no problem displaying only athletes (in editorials and advertisements) who use drugs, it would seem they must really be certain that you know that their advice is meant to be taken with a grain of salt, i.e. don't emulate the workouts they describe unless you're pharmaceutically enhanced as well.
But does the average reader know, or is that a convenient and self-serving rationale provided by Flex? Does the average reader only figure it out after dumping X amount of money into Flex, before realizing he's a chump? Were you ever that guy? I was curious to see how many otherwise intelligent guys didn't know any better.
So what's your opinion? Is gear use so understood that Flex should not have to point it out, even though a reader may be new to bodybuilding and Flex magazine, or, since they show nothing but juiced athletes, shouldn't they remind any newcomers (which every business needs to survive) that the guys you see are not natural?
