OPINIONS WANTED: What should we do about images?

[_Dr. Shades]

As you all know by now, there was a bit of drama recently regarding images being posted here and the copyrights of those images. This resulted in my disabling of users' ability to "hotlink" images, i.e. the feature wherein people type a "tag" so that the picture or image actually shows up in his or her posts as opposed to a mere link to that picture or image.

Unfortunately, my original solution, that of having us moderators type the tags after-the-fact so that we can "screen" the pictures beforehand, didn't work. For some bizarre reason, if you can't post them, I can't post them. It's probably just an issue of technological ignorance on my part, but for now it's either all or nothing.

Therefore, the time has come to have a dialogue about this issue. Should we leave the image "hotlink" feature disabled, or should we re-enable it? Here are my thoughts:

ARGUMENTS FOR RE-ENABLING: If a copyrighted image is posted here, Joseph has promised to A) contact me first and let me handle the situation as opposed to contacting the copyright holder, and/or B) give the copyright holder my e-mail address and inform him or her that I will delete the image outright upon request, obviating the need to contact our ISP. So there's less of a chance that we'll go offline. Plus, sometimes images can be very relevant to the post, such as Uncle Dale's charts and diagrams or Kevin Graham's images and annotations of the KEP.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST RE-ENABLING: The arrangement with Joseph won't stop someone from seeing the image and contacting our ISP anyway, which is exactly what happened the last time. Therefore, keeping images disabled will ensure that we won't go offline again. Plus, images sometimes create a great deal of work for me, because A) Telestial-caliber images are often posted in this forum, and B) people love engaging in "image wars" wherein the supposed picture of another poster is, uh, posted. In each case, especially the latter, it creates excess work for me, which won't happen if the "hotlink" feature remains disabled. Lastly, images are, quite often, used as methods to launch personal attacks, of which people have expressed disapproval in my other thread.

~~~~~~

Now, you might be thinking, "Just require the person to add a copyright notice" or "just require the person to post a link to its actual home on the Internet." Well, I've been around the block enough times to know that people won't actually do that.

If not that, then you might be thinking, "Just delete a picture that ridicules another person and suspend the one who posted it." Yes, I could do that, but it nevertheless creates more work for me, which won't happen if the hotlink feature remains disabled.

So, once again, I'd like to hear all of your opinions. Should we bring back the image "hotlink" feature or shouldn't we, and why?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

[_Malcolm]

I have voted to leave images alone.
Rather than have the forum closed down by people whose feelings may be hurt,
it may be better to leave things alone.

If we can establish that copyright is granted to use an image or diagram for review or educational purposes then I am happy with that. We do not want to put more work onto the shoulders of the Mods than can be coped with.

[_beastie]

How long has this board been operating? And how many times was it shut down due to this issue?

I think the fact that it has only happened one time in its long history indicates that there really is no need to hit the panic button on this issue. Keep the pictures.

Ban Joseph.

I know that won't solve the problem because he can still see the board, unless you can do the trick that MDD does and disable his IP address from looking at the board. Of course he could look at it via proxy. But I see no need to allow a poster to remain with us who has a personal obsession that causes such concern and fear. (Joseph, don't even bother with the "breaking the law" blahblahblah. Do you by roadsides and clock the speed of passing cars, by any chance? If not, then shut up about it. No one elected you Deputy Dan.)

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Helllo Dr. Shades,

Ban Joseph.

V/R
Dr. Cameron

[_Spurven Ten Sing]

Ban Joseph.

[_gramps]

Yes, to images.

[_LDSToronto]

Yes to images.

Yes to kicking Joseph in the nuts.

Yes to banning Joseph.

H.

[_beastie]

And if Shades isn't willing to ban Joseph due to the fact that he'd rather have him on the inside to warn him, I say that we use intense peer pressure to encourage every other poster on the board to put him on ignore.

I'll go first. Done.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

And if Shades isn't willing to ban Joseph due to the fact that he'd rather have him on the inside to warn him, I say that we use intense peer pressure to encourage every other poster on the board to put him on ignore.

I'll go first. Done.

Hello Ms. Beastie,

He was the first I ever placed on Ignore.

V/R
Dr. C

[_Spurven Ten Sing]

And if Shades isn't willing to ban Joseph due to the fact that he'd rather have him on the inside to warn him, I say that we use intense peer pressure to encourage every other poster on the board to put him on ignore.

I'll go first. Done.

Done.