What is direct linking?
Well I am glad you asked, because it is a serious offence. Direct linking is when you don't upload the image to your own server. You use my server. So you use <img src="/image.jpg"> when you should be using <img src="http://yoursite.com/image.jpg">. The first one is the direct linking one. If you do this, you will be using my space and my bandwidth (that I pay for) which is totally not fair! But if you do direct link, I will replace that image with a nasty, insulting one and you won't be too happy. Also, everyone will know that you are direct linking and your popularity GO DOWN! Nobody will like you. So DON'T DIRECT LINK!!!! And upload the image to your own server!