[AirlineComplaints.org]

Originally Posted by PHXFlyer

"We label him "Airline Sympathizer" (instead of "Airline Employee") so that new users know where he is coming from."

I think this stems from the notion that I am an airline employee. Short of turning in copies of my income tax returns I can see no way of either denying or confirming this. This whole thing started when my MSN e-mail address was inadvertently revealed due to the actions of a certain member of this community. I guess he Googled my MSN userid (fair enough since I Googled his Yahoo ID - however I must make the distinction that he publicly posted his Yahoo ID in his profile while my MSN e-mail address was supposed to be private until he posted it in this thread) and found a similar Yahoo ID. The rest, as they say, is history.

We have already given you the benefit of the doubt that you are not an Airline Employee. However, as anyone reading through your post history will know, your posts at AirlineComplaints.org are by and large in defense of the airlines, which is why we have labeled you an Airline Sympathizer so that new members know where you are coming from.

"He publicly apologizes to the AirlineComplaints.org staff for his legal threat."

My "legal threat" was related to the above mentioned post. I reported that personal information, namely my e-mail address, had been posted by another member of this forum. When my requests had been ignored I finally decided to contact my attorney. I did this only because several attempts to advise the moderators of this board were ignored. I knew my inquiries were being ignored because I saw the userid "airlinecomplaints.org" was logged into the board after each request was made yet no action was taken. As a webmaster, the owners of AirlineComplaints.org are obliged by law to protect the personal information of those who register. When I merely reminded the moderator of this fact and that I had been in contact with my attorney over the unedited post I was banned for making a "threat." It seems to me that at least in the USA I have a right to seek legal advice when I feel my rights have been violated and to advise those who have done so that I am seeking such advice.

Don't undermine what occurred. Your request was not complied with immediately because we do not make rash decisions when editing members' posts (and thereby affecting their Freedom of Speech), and this was no exception. Your personal information was promptly removed a couple of days after your request after we had a chance to assess the situation. Let us not forget that you threatened another member directly via e-mail and that that is why that member posted your personal information in the first place.

As for your threat to the AirlineComplaints.org staff, it was

"Please correct this infraction against my privacy immediately or I will be contacting my attorney today @3PM MST to see what can be done further if you do not comply"

So there is no need to sugar coat it for our other members. That is a legal threat and not even a subtle one at that.

Also, you have not yet apologized to the staff for this legal threat, so this term has not yet been fulfilled.

"He refrains from using sarcasm, personal attacks, and foul language in his posts."

I can completely agree to personal attacks and foul language. Sarcasm is completely subjective.

Sarcasm does not help our new members who do not know you and is off-putting and never helpful.

"He sticks to facts and writes constructive and helpful posts (he can still obviously disagree with other users, but his posts have to be constructive, not destructive)."

I have always "stuck to the facts" with the exception of when I was rebuffing a personal attack. But enough said. I can live with this. Just expect my posts to be boring and without humor!

This is a serious website with a serious purpose, not an outlet for personal quarrels or comedy. Real people come on here to report real complaints. Let us not forget that.

"He does not get into pointless arguments with other users."

I have to laugh at this one. Here's what was in the e-mail sent to me:

"* You do not get into pointless arguments with Butch (we will be keeping an eye on him as well) or any other member."

What is humorous about that? Your pointless arguments with other members do not help out the member base nor contribute any productive information. It is no laughing matter and this shows that you do not take this site - or its members - very seriously.

Anyway - it's good to be back folks! Advocate free speech! Don't acept "labels."

How does your label impede your Freedom of Speech? It doesn't, it simply helps new members understand why you go on an automatic defense of the airlines so they can put your posts into context.


PHXFlyer, your walking on thin ice here. Your new introductory post above was defiant and not in the same spirit as your reinstatement. We will be keeping an eye on you for the sake of this community and based on your post above, we would not be surprised if you get banned again.