Thanks Dov. While we can track down IP addresses, it's really not a typical or proactive measure in the everyday life of FlyerTalk and a members choice of access to the Internet including proxy anonymizers remains that of the member themselves. We only get involved with members at this level when they show an incompatibility to play well with others. We have some members who because of personal or professional reasons do use proxy anonymizers, but participate on FlyerTalk at the same level as overwhelming most other members do—to talk miles, points and travel.

This has really become one of the many, along with keeping spammers out, tasks of our volunteer Moderators and along with the assistance of our members, we're fairly quick and active to remove the individual's that provide the kind of dialogue that you reference.

The topic of banning access to FlyerTalk via proxy anonymizers actually has been brought up before—all the way back in 2003 and was brought up by one of our Moderators, skofarrell. At that time there was no real consensus of support for such a ban, with many pointing out that the prevalence of such services really is not an easy one to track down and as well that there are many legitimate reasons to use them, mostly work related, etc.

My guess is that such a ban really needs to be analyzed by Internet Brands and as well researched with their experience on such problems from the more than 100 other Web sites that they own and manage.

While we do have an occasional problem with these situations, I can easily point out that the same problem exists with members who don't use proxy anonymizers to log onto FlyerTalk and the problem has always been managing members who seem to have some sort of problem playing well with others and in the case of the example you note, it's playing well with the authority of the TSA and FlyerTalk just seems to be a viable soapbox to them, though like you, we sure wish they would pick another street corner on this one.

Appreciate any additional feedback from you on this. Thanks.