So it's a controversy now? And here I thought it was just an example of a member not fully aware of the guidelines for signature style. As for the technical point, actually other technical points come to mind as well - that the TalkBoard was asked to review and accept and provide input on the current TOS which contains those guidelines for signatures. You were a TalkBoard member during this period I believe so you would have been aware of the rules as they were.

As for the TalkBoard assigning me the responsibility "that controversial or offensive signature lines will be removed at his discretion" sort of reminds me of an upcoming Broadway play "Barney Fife, Signature Policeman." This laugh-a-minute play opens Wednesday at the Crying Shame Autotorium. Against an attractive backdrop of travel-related scenes, the courageous and often ridiculous Barney Fife, portrayed by the affable Randy Petersen, knocks down set furniture, goofs up his lines and revert to his non-acting self with disconcerting regularity as seeks to enforce a “controversy.”

It is immediately obvious that the story of Barney Fife and his mind-changing alteration from an affable and generous man to a bumbling police officer of sorts is not the purpose the playwrights had in mind. We must accept the play as a wild romp and suspend disbelief. Absurdities abound as the plot allows interaction between the character and members of FlyerTalk in the front row.

His basic prop is a seemingly simple TOS which always clues us to what the madcap rules are, even when it fails to spell out that Kevin 07’ in billboard type size is hardly non-obtrusive.

Petersen stands out in his role and helps us to laugh heartily while wondering what on earth is happening. Some of Petersen’s funniest moments come when he reacts with irritation to the mistakes of others and reverts to being a Signature Policeman venting his annoyance.

“Barney Fife, Signature Policeman” gives audiences a unique perspective and a chuckle at the exposed life (both literally and figuratively) of a benevolent dictator that becomes a dysfunctional policeman by the end of the play. The comedy, written by Talk Board, takes place in a large forum in the virtual world of the Internet.

The time and effort put into the production is visible in the coordination of Barney’s numerous entries and exits. Complicating matters further, several members of FlyerTalk disguise, change and otherwise seek to hide their signatures as Barney bumbles around absent-mindedly seeking to standardize them. Later in the play when the members are faced with each other in the larger forum, they all discover that there are far more people in the forum than they had thought.

The last act brings the play full circle and leaves the production in shambles. Nothing is going right but the slap stick humor incorporated into the last two acts is more than entertaining. Though Randy in his role as Barney Fife might be putting on a play gone wrong, he nails his performance and keep the audience laughing.

The performance runs from now until Dec. 31.