I wasn't going to post in this thread, and will still not address the main issue -- I will leave that to Randy -- but as a member of TalkBoard who voted both on signatures and on the cited TOS provision I do want to clarify some side points which have been raised here.

1. As I noted in a recent thread, moderators do not remove signatures. TalkBoard voted to leave that to Randy's discretion.

2. An insult to a particular person (including Kip Hawley) is not a violation of the TOS unless he is a member of F/T.

3. The TOS provision cited was never intended to prevent attacks on organizations. You are free to state that "Southwest is the worst airline in the world" or that "The TSA is completely worthless and should be disbanded tomorrow."

The provision was meant only to prevent classes of employees from being attacked (eg: FAs, TSA screeners, Gate Agents). Moreover, it was not intended to protect someone simply because he is a member of such a class -- you are free to denounce the particular employee who gave you problems or who mishandled his job.

Where you would run afoul of this provision is if you were to condemn all FAs, screeners, etc. When I voted to pass this, it was to provide protection for such employees who might be FT members. If FlyerTalker Joe works as a TSA screener, and I post that "TSA screeners aren't smart enough to get jobs flipping burgers at McDonalds" then I am saying that FlyerTalker Joe is not smart enough to work at McD's -- and, to me, that is a personal attack.

The main issue which you raised -- whether this is being enforced and, if not, why -- I am, as I said earlier, leaving to Randy to discuss.