you break the rules, you get warned or what ever form of punishment, simple. I really don't see any other acceptance for breaking or not following the rules appropriately
I see your side of the argument Allen, but even if not much people realise what your avater was doesn't mean there isn't someone in here that does. and even if you don't mean it to offend which i know you didin't, it doesn't matter as it still might have offend. I know this is a little different equivelant but it's similar to if I had a swastika avatar (or the hinduism swastika symbol), I wouldn't mean offence because it originally meant peace in japan or india (one of those places) BUT I would simply have it as a historical symbol of the past, the past can never be forgotten, but it would obviously be removed because it is derogative and offends many people