apache os x 403 error

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hi
ive started apache (web sharing) on osx (panther). when i hit localhost 
isee the apache holding page fine, but if i try browse to a folder i 
create in my doc root (localhost/test) i get a 403 permission denied 
error. if i do the same in the account os x create for the user 
(localhost/~user/test) everything works fine. ive added DirectoryIndex 
index.html index.php, still nothing.
has anyone had any similar problems with this?
thanks