Popularity

Something I have never been is popular.  Not in school, not in life and not on the internet.  And I’m OK with that.  I had a few days where I’ve been very unpopular, and days when I’m popular with a few folks.  The people who do like me, like me for who I am.  Perhaps what I do or have done for them.  Some of my customers simply adore me.  Some of my friends would do anything for me.

Sometimes I do something on the net people like.  Such as a website I’ve designed or an image I’ve created or a tutorial or two I’ve put up.  And they show their appreciation by giving me compliments or money or some sort of acknowledgment of the work I have done.

Though yesterday I noticed I was popular with a few people on the internet who thought it was OK to take my work and not only post it on their site verbatim, but to use my images from my web hosting that I pay for.  Thus making my bandwidth costs go higher while they get a free ride.

Most of the content I use is originally created posts and images and code.  Some I use because it’s public domain or open source.  Some I used with permission.  And yet some is quoted with a clear link back to the author (as I have learned this lesson the hard way myself).  This is what anyone with manners would do.  People who don’t, whether intentional or not are simply thieves.  And falls into the category of people I’ve discussed in my previous article.  As anyone will tell you in a court of law, Ignorantia juris non excusat (ignorance of the law does not excuse).

Now I could have had some real fun and made the anti-hotlinking image something vulgar and offensive, but I’m not that ruthless.  But… I think I’m going to get my point across now.  They’ve made my content popular, now let’s see how popular I make them.