I ignored for long enough, and I condemned @berniesanders for all his flagging. But if you are too lenient, people start to take liberties, and my first comment received on this post is testimony to how relevant the post, and the need for flags is becoming.
The only way to stop the spam is to show spammers that it does not work, and at the moment, it is clearly working for them..
I'd suggest you use them, as I'm sure spam was one of the reasons the flag was implemented in the first place..
I read a lot of the articles here on the rights and wrongs of flagging, I know you're likely correct and still, I can't bring myself to do it. I guess I'll just have to toughen up and maybe have a '3 strikes and you're out' system.
I understand. I tried to use mine as little as possible for months. Probably only used it like 3 times in my first 4 or 5 months, that I can remember at least. But I have watched this place slowly become more and more about self-service, and less and less about community support and succeeding together. I need to make some sort of effort to counter this shit, because it's hard to watch a place I once loved become... this.