explanation to what hotlinking is - and why it's bad.

[Dark_Angel]

The problem being that this forums are linked to the OCUK Shop and damage to the shops reputation is not easily undone and a Permaban is not going to help get it back.

Just upload to some webhost or photosite - it isn't hard (I use Flickr by the way)

Exactly. While it is probably doubtful and would never happen imagine the venting rage daily mail would go through if a hotlinked image on the forum happened to be altered in to two men having sex and then a 10 year old viewed it on the OCUK forum.

I admit, very very dramatic and unlikely to happen... but it's not worth the risk to the shops business or to the forums. If people can't spend 10 seconds to upload an image, then they obviously don't want to show it off enough.

 

[Casdawer]

Hotlinking is bad, mmmkay

 

[V4NT0M]

Skyfall what is your webhost / cost? (off topic completely).

I use dreamhost, unlimited space/bandwidth (currently using about 6gb space and 50 gb a month) for $10 month. Not the most reliable hosting but it beats imageshack etc by a country mile.

 

[JohnnyG]

People will always hotlink as some don't read the rules, don't know how to upload an image somewhere, are too lazy or are just in too much of a hurry to post a pic.
Having a list of permitted sites won't stop those things either so a blanket rule on no hotlinking is probably the only fair way to deal with it

 

[Le_Petit_Lapin]

ImageBot Firefox Extension

There really is no excuse.

 

[Freefaller]

The problem being that this forums are linked to the OCUK Shop and damage to the shops reputation is not easily undone and a Permaban is not going to help get it back.

Just upload to some webhost or photosite - it isn't hard (I use Flickr by the way)

You do realise my suggestion wasn't actually serioust yeah?

We'll go back to the way we were doing it before, suspending for 24hrs people who hotlink - we started off that way, but removed it as we gave people the benefit of the doubt - time to bring it back in methinks.

 

[LordSplodge]

...are too lazy or are just in too much of a hurry to post a pic.


Having a list of permitted sites won't stop those things either so a blanket rule on no hotlinking is probably the only fair way to deal with it

Post in haste. Repent a leisure.

One rule. Makes perfect sense and that rule is NO HOTLINKING.

 

[Dj_Jestar]

lol @ you, how is it stealing? You put files on your site for people to look at and people looked at them...

Let me join in with all the metaphors, it's like opening an all you can eat restaurant and then complaining that people are eating too much.

lol @ you, how is it not stealing?

I put files on my site, for people to look at whilst looking at my site. I do not put them on for people to use on their own site, nor other people's sites.

 

[Dj_Jestar]

No, it isn't. Using bandwidth in a way which doesn't suit the model you've chosen to operate your site, is not stealing.

Yes, it is. I have not authorised the use of that bandwidth. It has been used without my consent, it was stolen.

 

[Nymins]

Good thread. But do people still use Imageshack? Slowest image hosting website out there.

 

[PiKe]

Yes, it is. I have not authorised the use of that bandwidth. It has been used without my consent, it was stolen.

It's like asking people to now steal from your house but not having a lock on the door, it doesn't take a minute to put an anti hotlinking script on your site.

 

[Dj_Jestar]

It's like asking people to now steal from your house but not having a lock on the door, it doesn't take a minute to put an anti hotlinking script on your site.

But it is stealing, none the less. If you walk into an open house and take something, you can still be prosecuted for theft. If someone lifts your car/bike from the road, even if they don't use a key to open the door and drive it away, it is still theft. Just because I didn't have sufficient measures in place to stop them, doesn't make it legal for them to have taken it. If someone takes my bag/wallet/phone whilst it is on a table in a bar, it is still theft.

 

[Basher]

Yes, it is. I have not authorised the use of that bandwidth. It has been used without my consent, it was stolen.

Umm no. Do you have to authorise every user on to your site? You put a picture on the Internet, expect people to use it.

 

[Le_Petit_Lapin]

A simpler explaination would be;

"Don't Hotlink, it makes pictures of large erect penises replace your picture of Megan Fox and people think that you're a big homo"

 

[Basher]

lol @ you, how is it not stealing?

I put files on my site, for people to look at whilst looking at my site. I do not put them on for people to use on their own site, nor other people's sites.

Then you should put hotlinking protection in place. Simples.

 

[Dj_Jestar]

Then you should put hotlinking protection in place. Simples.

I have, but it's still stealing. Simples.

 

[Basher]

But it is stealing, none the less. If you walk into an open house and take something, you can still be prosecuted for theft. If someone lifts your car/bike from the road, even if they don't use a key to open the door and drive it away, it is still theft. Just because I didn't have sufficient measures in place to stop them, doesn't make it legal for them to have taken it. If someone takes my bag/wallet/phone whilst it is on a table in a bar, it is still theft.

Hotlinking is in no way like stealing a bike/car etc.

 

[Dj_Jestar]

Umm no. Do you have to authorise every user on to your site? You put a picture on the Internet, expect people to use it.

Umm no. I put a picture on my site, I expect people to view it, whilst on my site.

 

[Basher]

I have, but it's still stealing. Simples.

No it isn't. How is using an image which is on a publicly accessible area of the internet stealing!?

 

[Basher]

Umm no. I put a picture on my site, I expect people to view it, whilst on my site.

Then you are naive