Editorial:  Disabling The Right Click on Images is No Fun by Cometdog

Disabling the right click on images not only is no fun but it makes it so hard for us to play with our own pictures on Tripawds. But mostly - it's also pointless.  Yes, I said it – disabling the right click is pointless for someone who wants to steal a photo!

I totally understand that no one wants their pictures stolen!  I get that.  No one gets it more than I do.   I've have sued over having my pictures, text and name stolen.  I have spent thousands of dollars on attorney fees for those that didn't go to court.  And I have personally sent over the D.M.C.A. notificaton to more websites that I can count over the course of 10 years. 

Disabling the right click only hurts us, not theives.  If they want to steal, they will.  They can simply take a screen shot and crop to the pic. Or they can view the source code and get the pic. Or they can disable Javascript and right click all day long!

As one that takes the photos of others here (for good and bad)  – it's now a few extra steps that actually now becomes work, not fun.  Plus, we can't find an old photo posted on the tripawds site and repost it.  (Yes, I know I can because I'm a moderator but, again – it's a lot of work to go to the html's of someone's post to find its source code).

If someone is worried about the photo being stolen, then why not mark it?  The best way to deter the would-be thief is to make a visual mark on the most interesting part of the image. Marks such as your logo, name or your site address in either a solid or translucent color make it obvious that an image is not intended for general distribution.

As a business owner that fights a constant battle of stolen images and text, I still believe that only a small percentage of images are stolen for profit.  And disabling the right click, only alienates the bigger percentage using the site for good.

—– Cometdog 

Hallelujah ! ! !   Strike Up the Band ! ! ! !    Raise the Debt Ceiling ! ! ! !

The ban on Red Party Hats has been lifted!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

And the picture thieves thank you!