Multimedia Section, please help me understand

[jtsoundtech]

Hi all, I'm a new member and am having some trouble understanding how the multimedia section works. There seem to be a few obstacles preventing just anyone from accessing the files that your members have uploaded. Many of the files present themselves in the body of a message as a TV-screen-looking image that has text that flashes across it, reading "Hidden content; you must write a message in this topic in order to see it." And then when I attempt to post a reply, I find a message that says, "You don't have permission to reply to this topic. What's up with that? On some of these "file-link-pictures", for lack of a better word, I am lucky, and can see the photo that is intended to be displayed. This is supposed to be some sort of link to download the fild, but I can't seem to figure out how to do it. It doesn't appear that yoou can right-click it and choose "Save Target As" and get the audio or video file to download. Furthermore, some of the members' uploaded files have text hyperlinks that lead you to a pop-up window asking for a special username and password in order to proceed. I've tried entering the one perscribed at the link, but it doesn't seem to be working. Why are these files password protected when you've got to have a forum membership in order to get at them in the first place? Why make life so complicated? Could somebody please help me understand and unravel all of this so that I can know what's going on and be in the loop too? Thanks so much.