Just a note of thanks to the moderator for dealing with the rudeness on this thread. Too often, many posters on FT have a remarkable intolerance for those who are not just like them, and that can get tedious. It's the diversity of thoughts and ideas that makes a forum interesting.

I have old tags on some of my luggage. When they get ripped off by machines or idiots, I'll put the new ones on. Until then, I have better things to do. I'm certainly not going to get excited when a new tag arrives, the way Steve Martin's character in The Jerk got so happy over the new phone book. But if a new tag makes someone happy, more power to them!

I'm not about to judge what someone else uses for a luggage tag. That said, as I'm standing there, waiting for boarding to start, my mind might wander when I see an interesting tag. And on occasion, I've compared the tag to the person: "Does he really look like an SE? Or did he steal the tag?"

Is this a worthwhile topic for discussion? Of course it is. I'd rather read something fun from time to time than yet more blather about how Air Canada or Aeroplan are terrible, or how Elites are not worthy, and so on. I'd also suggest that this topic is close to irrelevant, but that doesn't mean it is not interesting. We come here for information, for enlightenment, and for entertainment. Tags are entertainment. Enjoy.

So again, thanks to the moderator. Some of the early comments were horrifying. Simon's even-handed, level-headed approach was just what was needed to get this topic back on track.