calls to missing images

which is better??

[click watcher]

i have a site on w2k where i don't have the option to prevent images being called except from my own pages.

currently someone is using one of my images in their sig file at a forum.

usually i email the board owner and the image is pulled, in this case it is some kind of "password" sharing forum and the owners don't care, they don't reply to my request.

i've changed the file name so i'm getting calls for a non existant image, 1000's a day now (gee that forum is busy!!)
now i'm not sure how it works but is this tying up my server looking for a non existant file, should i just upload a tiny jpg file and serve that??

in the past i have been known to replace the image with something unsavory, but given the nature of the forum in question i don't think they'll mind!!

[txbakers]

I guess I'd upload a 1 x 1 blank image file

[seofan]

Or a really nice graphic advertisement :) Could be an excellent promotional vehicle.

[hasbeen]

OR...create an image saying something to the effect of "This sig image has been stolen". Personally, I'd be a bit nastier, but it depends on the board it's used on.

[EliteWeb]

A few people who use eBay and steal their images (actually linking to them on the other guys server) has been replaced with nice little phrases like 'F*&# U' hahah but since its a hackerish type forum id personally go see the guys name and make a personaized image that says something bad ;) or adveritse my site!

[click watcher]

>>>Or a really nice graphic advertisement

possibly, and i've tried that before, but in this case the forum is one where they exchange adult passwords, my sites are all for families or children, it could attract altogether the wrong person!!! (infact how this particular pic works as a sig in this particular forum is baffling me)

i'll probably go for the tiny image option.