I cannot speak for everyone but, I am almost positive that I am not alone in my thinking. This problem, if it is a problem, needs a resolution.

1) If its financial, I am willing to cough up a few bucks in assistance... NO STRINGS ATTACHED!

2) If it is a bug in the system (which I am nearly sure it is) then we need Lep to scan the code.

3) If it is its members (which I am positive it is) then we need to promote better usage of our resources.

Now, I know that #2 and #3 look contrary but I am not discounting any possibility and I am acknowledging that both are a possibility. I just am leaning more toward #3.

Also, #3 could be associated with #2 if the bug is one that our members are taking advantage of. Then both would be true.

Now, on a certain level we cannot do anything because the code is 100% Lep's domain, and his influence is the only solution. On the other, at a user level we can prevent this happening again. Either by throwing money at it till it goes away, or finding out if its even correctable by doing so. As a wise person mentioned yesterday, "If it is a bug, no amount of cash will stop up the hole" (paraphrasing)

My personal belief is its a combination of poor posting practices (over large screenshots @ about 10%) and hotlinking to other sites (About 80%) with the rest of our bandwidth usage going to normal every day posting and surfing. NOW I KNOW that these numbers are purely for reference purposes, and are probably not even close to actual, but it is my STRONG opinion that hotlinking is our major cause of grief here.

The solution is simple IMO.
1st, we need to stop doing so... PERIOD.
2nd, Lep needs to code the site to prevent it.

This will, or could solve our troubles and then we are left with throwing money at the site. (Which I would do gladly)

So, If anyone here is aware of anyone else hotlinking PLEASE ask them to desist immediately.

Opinions/Views????????

When you post an image, the image is downloaded from where its hosted, not through Snarkpit (except when the automatic downsizing is used).

Here's a way to get the bandwidth down. We go back to all of our "random images" and "photography" threads that have not been used in a long time and we edit our posts to not have the pics in them anymore

or delete the threads altogether.

I know that I am anal about images but, my compulsion is hardly effecting anyone but 56k users. I am finding it difficult to believe that a few thousand people looking at screens is the issue.

HL2 maps are much larger than HL1 maps. No one wants to get them via a server so they are hotlinking to websites that have them stored. I bet a 1,000 servers are linked to us in some form or another.

That has got to be it.