There is no more red flag (at least on steemit.com; some other UIs may still use it). Actually there never was, the downvote was always a downvote, where people can express their opinion on payout value (just like upvoting and downvoting on every other site), but some genius decided to change the downvote to a flag, which made it into an attack (you did something wrong! Wave the red flag!).
Downvote simply means one thing, that the voter thought that the payout should be lower. Upvote means the voter thought that payout should be higher. That is all it means.
thank's for your feedback @smooth
But it is appropriate to explain why a downvote is also done on good content that does not have much merit
So it is clear that this is being used incorrectly
I don't agree on expecting explanations. There is a good reason not to expect or demand that downvoters explain everything. Downvoting is not rewarded the way upvoting is. Anyone downvoting is either malicious or doing a public service. Malicious downvoters won't explain and demanding more uncompensated effort and explanations from those doing good by downvoting means that less people will be willing to do it.
Just as others have stated that upvotes don't get explanations, downvotes often won't either. Just accept it as the subjective opinion of the voter (even if you don't agree with it) and go on with life (which could include also making your own, contrary vote, or not).
Hi @smooth
I can't agree when it is malicious, it will ruin the platform
Nothing you can do about it (other than vote differently/better).
I get that you're venting and that's understandable but in the end malicious people are going to be malicious. It is up to the good people to see they don't do too much damage.