Hotlinking? So not cool.

[dorkdance]

Congratulations, msasl, you're a hotlinker.

This entry explains exactly what hotlinking is, and why it's not, as previously mentioned, cool. Read it. That goes for everyone, especially if you're unsure about what constitutes hotlinking and what doesn't

Comments

[gracefulbeauty]

I've a question..really just curiousity.

How do you figure out who exactly is hotlinking?

I'm not asking so as I don't get caught...I don't need to steal someone else's bandwidth when I have plenty of my own and don't see why people feel the need to steal something from someone without consent. It's really all about respect. But I'm quite curious as to how you can pinpoint who exactly is being so disrespectful.

[dorkdance]

In this case, the hotlinker got themselves caught by posting the link to bbm_media's biggest file in a comment in this community. But usually you have to go into your site stats and check IPs, or use LJSeek to see if your URL is popping up in places it shouldn't be.

[gracefulbeauty]

Aaaaaaaaah, okay. Thanks for letting me know! :)

[elouisa]

This website helps if you suspect someone is hotlinking from your photobucket account. Just put your photobucket username in the search box and it will bring up people linking from your photobucket account to their journals. I recently found out that at least 9 people had hotlinked my Brokeback Mountain animations I posted in this community directly from my photobucket account and was able to call them to account for it.

[ciryatan]

OMG, I totally need an icon like the one you're using for this entry! *loves*

Also, thanks for posting this statement - it was about time someone did!

[dorkdance]

I saw lennongirl's 'Your Mod Loves You' icon that she has for ewan_hayden, and well... it went from there. :D

thanks for posting this statement - it was about time someone did!
You know me. I like to run a tight dictatorship.

[black_mariah]

I lurk about ewan_hayden all the time. XP

[lennongirl]

Hehehehehe ;)

[msasl]

well....i apologize. where did i do it?
i never knew what hotlinking was, and i don't recall doing it ...
can someone point it out to me.

i really am sorry :(

[dorkdance]

In the post where someone was asking about the LOGO special. Directly-linking to any files saps bandwidth from the people hosting said files when they're downloaded. It's not cool.

[msasl]

i assume someone already deleted that comment, right?

I'm sorry. I thought hotlinking reffered to stealing icons (I know it does this as well) and so I just never read about it b/c I've never stolen anyone's icons before.

So I'm really sorry and it won't happen again. I sent an email to bbm_media's maintainers to apologize. :(

[vertigo66]

It's okay, hun. We forgive you! :)

[vertigo66]

Is it really necessary to publically embarrass someone? Couldn't we just have the entry warning against hotlinking and have a private message sent to the offender?

[dorkdance]

Unfortunately, I've modded enough communities and run enough websites to know that if you don't call the hotlinkers out publicly, they might keep doing it. Whether it's by replacing an icon with a gigantic 'You're a hotlinker, ask me how!' image, or by posting their username publicly, it's a good warning for other community members that this person might -- accidentally or not -- steal their bandwidth.

[just_a_duck]

I agree with vertigo. Even a public statement can be made in a tasteful/tactful way.

[dorkdance]

Yes, because asking a hotlinker to pretty please don't do it again has the same effect as telling them that they're banned the next time. /sarcasm

I find that being harsh, while it's jarring for some people, is more effective than being nice about bandwidth theft. Have someone steal your bandwidth -- inadvertently or not -- and then tell me about tact. There is no tact involved in hotlinking files, so I provide hotlinkers with the same courtesy that they have shown their victims, whether the hotlinking was inadvertent or not.

[lily_17]

The one thing I don't understand about hotlinking is in regards to videos (the icon part is self-explanatory). When someone has a video link, and you just want to watch it (and not put a link to it in your journal or whatever) is just clicking on the link and watching it hotlinking? Because it seems to say that you are supposed to save files first...are you supposed to save the files before you watch them yourself, or just if you are going to redistribute them?
Sorry for the rambling, but this part always gets me confused.

[dorkdance]

Yeah, downloading the files takes significantly less bandwidth than watching them online. It's considered rude to stream media, unless the person hosting it specifically says that it's allowed.

[lily_17]

Makes sense. Thanks.