downvote or ridicule, which is essentially the worst offense you can perpetrate against another Steemit user
Ridicule is definitely out of line but how is a downvote "the worst offense you can perpetrate against another Steemit user"?
This is a gross exaggeration. Flags are part of the system, just like upvotes. Anyone can rightfully flag you for any reason. That's just how it works.
Nobody owes you anything. Steemit is subjectively meritocratic. You could write the most awesome post in the world but if you didn't get upvoted then the market simply chose not to value your particular contribution at this time.
Try again.
While a user is obviously able to flag at will, it is intended to be used only to mark abuse. We call attention to the fact that users are flagging merely to indicate disagreement.
Disagreements happen, and in a civilized community discussion is more appropriate when it does. The community as a whole is benefited by thoughtful discourse.
Flagging , however, injures the other party in that it damages reputation, limits the reach of a post, and potentially affects earnings. It is one user forcing their will upon another in an attempt to silence and censor them. It is the worst thing one Steemit user can do to another in the reality of this Steem-iverse, and we draw attention to that reality so we may act responsibly with that power. We specifically address the need for discussion in these cases.
On the one hand, it's not a big deal--we know disagreements will happen, and it's seemingly nothing more than the push of one button over another. On the other hand, it is a big deal when we address the values and principles behind the action. We don't want Steemit to be a place where users inflict harm upon one another through their unconscious actions; taking responsibility for the proper use of a downvote will help us build something greater than Facebook when we realize that all actions reflect values. Accountability is vital to the success of a community!
Abuse, a currently fuzzy concept open to wide interpretation. My point remains, anyone can flag anything. That's how the system works.
That's your opinion. But that's not a design principle for the system.
There is no injury. This is hyperbole again. And it only reduces your reputation when done by a user with a higher rep than you, which is, by the current design of the system, that user's right to do. You have no right to any particular reputation number.
Of course it does, because the system was designed for it to have that power.
There is no force involved.
This is a load of horseshit. You got flagged. Get over it and try again. Not everything is a political movement.
It's real simple...you're either posting here...or you're running around looking for people to 'flag'...if I can't get value here then I'm going to make sure nobody else gets any value either...
Except you can't flag away all the rewards in the system.
Flagging is a form of curation that is inherently valued by the system. shrug