What is the purpose of this part on each thread, Riot?

http://gyazo.com/64624dad5e60aad40bb600cc40068ce2 Preview: http://gyazo.com/cdf504b873d351a969c55dbb030d6823

I'm trying to understand but I just can't. The paragraphs are halved and that free space does nothing. The only thing I can come up with is that it could be a signature place, but having it on the right might be extremely awkward. Two questions arise in the case of this thing.

1. Why not just extend the letters so they go across the whole thread? In the preview they do. Why is this not the case for when it is actually posted?;
2. Why not just remove that half if it serves no purpose? Surely you don't need it for anything.. do you?

I know that this is extremely unnecessary and weird to talk about, but I'm just curious what it's for.