OK, I posted this on Twitter and only Catsmeat was goodly enough to respond. I’m looking for an answer, and I’m not looking to accept something as simple as “oh, Internet ads something have random pictures attached to them.”
Who the hell is this guy?
This bearded, wild-haired fellow has been haunting sidebar ads all over the Internet for months, and I can’t find any reasonable explanation. Usually I’m pretty resourceful when it comes to finding out about weird stuff that’s on the Internet — I have access to Google, it turns out — but I can’t seem to find the right string of search terms.
I should note, though, that searching for “sidebar advertisement beard man” — not in quotes — did lead me to this article, so my efforts weren’t entirely in vain.
Anyway, I have so many questions: Why is this man the face of debt relief? Is this supposed to be the type of person these ads are targeting, or the type of person that will come get you if your debt spirals so far out of control that you end up living on the streets?
Even if you want to tell me that these photos are randomly attached to these ads, this guy comes up with enough frequency that there has to be a very limited numbers of photos that are ever attached to the ads. So then, why this guy and not a sunset, or, I don’t know, a parakeet or something? How did that happen? Could this possibly have been the product of someone’s conscious decision?
And where did the photo come from? Who is this bearded man?
Please, Internet, help me. If anyone has any answers, I welcome them.
Tedquarters 
Firefox+adblocker, Ted.
Yeah but then how would I see this hilarious guy?
It’s a tradeoff I’m willing to take.
I actually would be too, but I have to be able to see the ad units on the SNY.tv sites for work purposes sometimes.
I think it’s to let us know that even Jesus himself had some debt in his day. Little known fact: He was actually on his way to file Chapter 11 when Peter gave him up.
Maybe he’s supposed to represent what you will become (a bum!) if you don’t take em up on their offer?
Johnny Damon the day before he signed with the Yankees?
Dad?
I’m assuming they’re just trying to attach themselves to the success of the Geico cavemen ads.
The new fifth starter canidate?
Would you believe that I did a quick Google search under “obama school ad bearded man” and the first search result was a terriblly unfunny fake interview with the bearded man? At least you know you’re not the only one looking for him:
http://npaper-wehaa.com/bluffton-today/2010/01/12/#?article=722516
And while I’m at it, here’s another hit on that came up in my googling:
http://outlawvern.com/2010/01/02/the-mystery-of-bearded-harold/