We’ve had some great discussions on the lifestyle message boards this month, with many of you feeling really quite angry that the likes of Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan are given so much publicity.

Stuart Fitzgerald summed up his views in this nutshell: “These drunk tarts should be locked up. I don't want my wife or members of my family killed in a road accident with some drunk bimbo who has the cash for a cab home or a personal driver all night.  If you're going out to drink bubbly and do coke all night, why on earth would you drive? Their irresponsible attitude sickens me. Throw the key away!!”

While Sue Hurst added: “I think the real root of the problem is this celebrity culture that has been created. It must be handy for the governments and so on - if the public is occupied with such gossip, they will be too distracted to protest about real issues like the war in Iraq, civil liberties being eroded, medical staff working long hours for the sort of annual wage that these celebrities could spend in a single shopping trip.

“My only hope is that human beings will wake up one morning and realise they don't need this celebrity gossip, then maybe we will not end up with a future where thousands of words are devoted to someone like Paris Hilton who is famous for being famous.”

So enough of negative role models, we asked you what you thought about the launch of a new model agency that plans to buck the size zero trend and only employ girls with curvier frames. Fierce Model Management is looking back to the days when the most beautiful people were the likes of Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington, women with more shape than the likes of Kate Moss and Lily Cole.

Binifer definitely liked the idea, commenting: “Seems to me a positive step! It’s about time that models started looking more like real women. There are plenty of gorgeous women about that would inspire other women, without looking like stick-thin under-developed 10-year-olds. Good Move!”

But Mags UK had felt a bit more cynical about the idea: “Well I hardly think a new model agency is the answer!! For a start the media should STOP promoting looks as the be all and end all of what a woman is! They seem to have forgotten we have a brain and are more than able to use it! The media is stuck somewhere in another time....it certainly isn't the 21st century!!! ”

On Looking Good Naked, a thread that remains hugely popular on the boards, Mustangsalb added her experiences into the mix: “I hate my boyfriend seeing me in the buff!” she said. “BUT only because past boyfriends have put me down & called me fat! I’m a 14/16 and I know I’m not huge but I have wobbly bits. My boyfriend encourages me to love myself and says I look great but unfortunately nasty comments have stuck!! So he now has to pay for someone else's horrible attitude!! I’m coming round though ;)”

Fortunately Finditlaughable had some brilliant advice in one of our favourite postings this month: “Know what ? If any guy makes a negative comment to me or about my friends or just in general ... I just say "Bloody hell, who christened you Brad Pitt today?" It soon shuts them up. I have to laugh at people who are so far up their own ass and think they are perfect! None of us are perfect, the only woman that is truly perfect is a fake... she' s photographed and it's touched up beyond belief. Love your body, fat, thin scarred or pasty... it's your body and it's totally unique... just like you.”

On the subject that 40 has become the new 30, Rosyprospects posted this lovely comment to warm our cockles: “I belong to a ‘wrinklies club’. Our oldest member is 91 - I am the third oldest and I'm six years younger than our nonagenarian.   Most of the others are what I call "sweet old dears" but they make me feel young and carefree. I have ENJOYED getting old. Each decade has brought its differences along with the ability to go on enjoying what remains the same.”

And on the ‘men and women getting sexier with age’ debate, Blues Baby commented: “I think women get sexier because they get more confident with themselves as they get older, a lot of people who are older have natural beautiful anyhow. Today the urge to have plastic implants and silicone has gone a bit too far and looking at some of the people who have had surgery, they seem to have made themselves worse rather than better. As the saying goes beauty is only skin deep. Most people would agree beauty comes from within. ”

While Tom Barton added: “I think women get sexier because they get more confident with themselves as they get older, a lot of people who are older have natural beauty anyhow. Today the urge to have plastic implants and silicone has gone a bit too far and looking at some of the people who have had surgery, they seem to have made themselves worse rather than better. As the saying goes beauty is only skin deep. Most people would agree beauty comes from within. ” Thanks Tom!

And finally, one of our most touching posts came from Sue617 this month, under the heading, disabled and bored: "I'm disabled and very bored. I've 2 lovely daughters and a great husband but I'm still bored! I'd love it if there was someone who shared the same interests as me:- rock n roll (Eddie Cochran, Elvis, Richie Valens etc), drawing, photography, a good laugh, films (thrillers, war, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood) and my 2 Labradors - Jack and Max. I used to have loads of pen friends but nobody puts pen to paper now, do they? Mind, we only seem to talk to other via the internet or if we're shouting abuse at someone!

“Anyone out there fancy having a moan about anything and everything? I love having a good talk about anything (and a good moan). At the mo' hubby's watching Jethro (or rather, he's doing a good impression of it through closed eyes!) the dogs are chasing one another around the kitchen, and my stepson and his fiance have dropped in for supper. They're going to help me plan a surprise party for hubby's birthday. I love planning and giving parties, especially themed ones. Hope this wasn't too boring and I look forward to reading those moans ans whinges!” You can join the thread here.

Thanks for all your great postings on the message boards this month! We'll aim to come up with some more hot topics to debate in August.

Nic