This is an e-mail I just received.  This isn’t the first time someone has written to me saying this very thing, but this one is notable for a few reasons.  I’ve redacted all the personal information and links.

Subject: Can’t use your images

I tried to use [the photo in this post] at [his MySpace page]. It don’t [sic] work. It won’t show. All I get is a blank [image icon, I’m assuming]. I tried linking to it instead but that don’t [sic] work. All I got is a message that say [sic] forbidden.*

How do I use your images? Please fix my page.

Thanks,
[redacted name, e-mail, and URI]

Um, sure, I’ll get right on that bit about fixing his page.

* Note on the 403 forbidden error.  Here’s what the top of the page actually says if people would read it:

403 Error — Forbidden

I’m sorry, but you’re forbidden from accessing whatever they linked to.

Note that hotlinking is not permitted from this blog.  Images, audio files, videos, and other resource files cannot be accessed except from the original post on this site, and direct links to those files are not allowed from any other domain.

It then delves into other reasons they might be seeing the error (you can view the entire page here).

I don’t understand people.  Why is it so difficult to understand hotlinking is theft?  Why is it so difficult to read the error message since it would make clear precisely why that error is being generated?  Why do people believe they’re due something (like help from me) when their attempt at theft doesn’t work according to plan?

Why oh why oh why…