You flagged several comments that were only worth a few cents. Were those overvalued too? I took the time to try to help you, since you are new and may not know how things work here. You flagged my comnent too. Your comment to the author comes off as rude, but most people on Steemit will not flag a rude comment. However, many WILL flag a rude comment if you have also flagged their comments or posts.
If I were to have taken offense at you, my single downvote is powerful enough to bring your reputation down to zero or less.
This is one reason that most people play nice on Steemit. If you have no interest in playing nice, than that is your choice and I am not telling you what you have to do -- just warning you of the likely consequences of your actions. It is totally your choice.
So -- if you want to have a real dialogue, than let's dialogue.
But I will not continue to dialogue with someone who continues to abuse flags.
Ok ... back to the original conversation. I see that you are a nurse in training.
The woman who wrote this post has been a nurse for many, many years, and is a friend of mine. She is VERY educated on this topic.
She’s not putting that education to very good use if she considers peddling junk science and conspiracy theories a good idea.
The fact that she was a nurse practitioner means people will treat the idea that you shouldn’t get vaccinated with an authority it doesn’t deserve.
Personally, I don’t feel I’ve a abused flagging here. You are perfectly free to see it differently.
Telling me in ominous tones that you can retaliate to my posts by flagging me and bringing down my reputation isn’t a good way to convince anyone not to flag material they find untrue, damaging to public health, and not worth one red cent.
I do not threaten to flag people for stating opinions that I disagree with. YOU are the one who used the flag. When you do that first, other people will flag you back -- but I have not -- because I like to have discussion and not flag wars when possible.
I simply warned you what a flag war would look like. But you do not appreciate my help, so I will end this discussion with you.
I’m sorry you feel that way. The anti-vax community is tight-knit and vocal. I’m sure your posts will still get votes.
This comment is in response to:
I’m sorry you feel that way. The anti-vax community is tight-knit and vocal. I’m sure your posts will still get votes.
Other than my comment to you about flags I had decided to refrain from getting involved in this. However. I am not from the "anti-vax community", I may think that vaccinations can be very dangerous, but I abhor labels. And I don't run a political blog, very rarely do I post my viewpoints as I am primarily here as a writer of fiction, and secondarily photography and some blogging.
The reason I am responding to this is to make you aware that this is a very poor way to begin on this platform. I have an extremely close friend here who is actually pro-vaccination, but he would still A: Flag you for improper use of your own flag, and B: tell you that as a social media platform and more importantly one that is largely dictated by reputation, it would be wise and prudent for you to spend some time here before commenting anything that could potentially create enemies.
We are a global and diverse community and many of us are friends despite disagreeing on some 'political' points of view, meaning that you could inadvertently find yourself alienated by far more than just what you refer to as the 'anti-vax community'. Simply for being rude to people that are cared about by many others.
I sincerely hope you heed my words.
Well, the honest truth is that I feel what I flagged is over valued, and pretty misleading.
That’s what flags are for, really. If people would like to flag me in a retaliatory manner, rather than on the substance of what I write, that is their choice. Although, I think you would agree doing so is a poor use of that function.
It sounds like you’re saying I better not flag a post, or a bunch of people might gang up on my account. Fine, that can happen. I’m a big boy and I’ll survive.
Flags serve a function. I’m not using flags inappropriately, and I certainly don’t use them often. I have articulated some pretty clear reasons why this post and some of the comments should be downvoted. If that results in vengeance flagging, then this platform isn’t that great a place anyhow.
Did you read my first comment? Because I already stated that this had nothing to do with you flagging the post. I'll reiterate, that it's acceptable to flag a post if you feel it's overvalued. Even though I disagree with you, I don't flag people because I disagree with them. So no, I'm not saying anything at all like "It sounds like you’re saying I better not flag a post, or a bunch of people might gang up on my account. Fine, that can happen." That's a really big extrapolation. Is that normal for you, to take things completely out of context? If so, then I'm probably wasting my time in replying again, but for anyone else who might read this I'll make it clear.
Flags do serve a function, but they are not like the thumbs down function on youtube. They are not a 'dislike' button. The incentive to increase reputation generally keeps people from using them in any way that doesn't serve the proper functions.
This platform is an awesome place actually, and the reason for that is most people tend to discuss their differences, not use the flag for it.
I asked you to remove the flag from the comments, because in those instances you are using the flag as a dislike button. Since I dislike every comment you've written on here, since I feel that what you're saying is misleading, do you think that it's perfectly fine for me to flag you for it? And I'm not asking that question so that you can come back at me with "Do your worst" crap, I'm being perfectly serious.
Once again, please remove the flags from the comments.
If you don't think people should be able voice their opinions, believe in freedom of speech, or if you're an advocate for censorship, than truly you have come to the wrong place. But if that's not actually the case and you just misunderstood the function of the flag, then please remove your flags from the comments.
Again, I’ve flagged material I think is overvalued. You don’t have to agree that that’s the case.
I’m not going to remove them just because you feel that they are not overvalued.
The platform allows you to flag me, and you can. You aren’t even required to explain why you did it.
I disagree that I’m extrapolating too much from the constant “advice” that I better not use the flag or else friends of that person will get mad and start flagging me.
Im not sure who I’ve prevented from voicing an opinion. Certainly not anyone anywhere in this post.
At this point, I’m not exactly sure what your purpose is with this conversation. I mean I’ll keep replying when people write me stuff, but at the end of the day I think my presence here is just grating on some people, and that’s kinda it.
It's not up to you.
This is nonsense @dreamit . Improper use of flags? Flags do not have to be justified.
I think this guy is probably making the wrong move by going back and forth on whether this was cool or not, being belligerent doesn't usually win friends.
But you guys are making it seem like this is out of the ordinary or against some code of conduct. That's just false.
Rather I advice you @americaurusrex to just leave it for another post, you're not getting anything out of this long threaded exchange as far as I can see.
We did leave it....this was two days ago. It ended with me questioning his "disagreement on rewards" of thirty cents lol. Seriously...whatever. I'm tired. And now a bit sad to be honest. Maybe abuse is the wrong word, but it's shitty, how about that? It's very shitty to use flags instead of words to get a point across. And I don't really understand where this is coming from with you. I didn't flag him as you can see.
Perhaps it is shitty, but this is not a disagreement over which song is better, or whether or not you should drink bottled water or not. It's over the very hot button issue of vaccinations and whether or not they are safe.
People's lives hang in the balance and lots of people have personal experience with it, one side or the other. I'm not a bit surprised that someone wanted to flag emotionally charged posts against vaccinations.
What I am surprised at though is you guys browbeating this guy with bogus rules on how to flag and a requirement for dialogue (which he has done). So I stepped in. I don't really agree with his tone but I'm not the tone police.
I'm sure you're tired, it's a lot of argument over nothing really. But I hope you guys will take future flags in a better spirit, especially super tiny ones.
Those threats are pretty bad form I have to say, saying you can make his rep zero. This guy is flagging because of disagreement but you are saying you will make it personal.
@americaurusrex there isn't a consensus here on "playing nice" etc. etc.
I never said that I would flag him, and I haven't.
I was explaining a possible scenario if someone like me had actually taken offense. I don't offend that easily.
I think that the only time that I flagged somebody that offended me was when noganoo wrote a post with my name in the title, and his #1 tag was "Satanists."
... so unless you write a post calling me out as a Satanist, you probably won't receive a flag from me ... lol ...
I do not easily throw flags around. It is this poster who throws his flags around. I disagreed with his original comment too -- but I did not flag it -- because I don't think that flagging for disagreement is acceptable.
If I had the same way of thinking as he does, I would have gone ahead and flagged it though.
That's the great thing about using an implication, you can always say you didn't say it directly and it was hypothetical. But the intent is clear to any reader.
You have your flag standards and he has his. Really it's a mountain out of mole hill, did you check his account? He has barely 28 SP. So it's really just about manners.
I think you guys all made your points anyhow.
Do you know why this statement is false? I mean the whole "intent is clear to any reader"...because you wouldn't feel comfortable saying this to her if you thought it was true. You want to argue that? What if Bernie was an anti vaxxer? You know damn well he would have no problem flagging this guy, and then potentially flagging you for this comment. The message this sends to @canadian-coconut is that she should be more like him, then she would deal with less resistance, at least from those whose accounts she could nuke, because people would be afraid.
Either way I don't agree that it's 'clear that she's threatening anyone', considering how much time she took to explain her position to this guy. It's quite obvious that she is not into using her flags to make a point. Of course, as you say, it would be within her right to do that....which is why I find your entire argument with all of us here confusing. You want to make sure this new guy knows he can go ahead and flag whomever he wants, I was hoping to warn him off doing that before he does actually get his account tanked to zero. You also want to tell us that we shouldn't be saying what we're saying, seriously I am just confused by you. What is it that you believe exactly? Or are you just playing devil's advocate here?
Obviously he can flag to disagree, no one is standing behind him that's going to twist his arm back when he goes to click it. If your argument is that we don't have a right to feel that someone shouldn't, we can agree to disagree on that point. I've actually agreed with a lot of the flags bernie has given out in his time here, but I happen to disagree with them being used to express an opinion. I would feel that way even if I shared his opinion on whatever subject it was. That's my personal feelings. You're entitled to yours.
I don't know if it's my computer or steemit itself, but I don't get taken directly to people's comments anymore, I get taken to the beginning of the article and have to scroll through until I find the comment. Which is super annoying and the reason I'm not going to go to all of the comments you left me and why I chose to respond to this one.
edit: I also should add that she would not have even made that statement if he was just expressing himself throughout without flagging.
I completely agree with what you have said here.
THIS!!! I hate this. It's not just you, and I am glad, and sad, to find out it's not just me.
Stinc, fix this!!!!
I agree, it's pretty annoying that if the thread gets to deep then links don't work and you have to go to a separate page to view the comments, they should fix that.
I'm not sure why you're confused, I thought I was clear. My argument is not that you don't have the right to feel something, that absurd.
I simply wanted to back him up on his choice to use flags. I didn't want him to be mislead into thinking that it's not the way things are done here. Sure, many people don't like it, but you know why that is? Because new people keep coming here and "old hands" keep telling them not to use them, that there's a culture of using them with massive restraint, but there need not be.
I'm not playing devils advocate. My position is (1) use flags if you want and (2) be wary of people who tell you what to do. You do not represent a flag consensus.
Finally I'm willing to concede that my interpretation of the follow sentence as a threat may not have been the intention of the author.
It's hard to tell without human speech. But if I'm wrong it was a very poor choice of words because that interpretation, coupled with the other heavy handed speech (from you too, asking for flags to be removed, etc.) constitutes browbeating. Just because you couch it in more or less polite tones does not mask it.
Interpret it as you will.
I don't know how she could have more carefully expressed her point, which is quite true.
I suppose I can understand your getting his back, and I admire that of you, BTW, as you felt he was being browbeaten and threatened.
I think he ignored the voluminous evidence they provided - he simply brushed it aside - and used flags, which no one did to him. My own interjection wasn't a threat, but considering how being piled on by multiple voices might be intimidating in itself, I can concede how you might interpret that as browbeating.
I disagree with that interpretation, and took offense at his characterization of their concerns as dangers to the public. Plus, he was flagging, and I consider that rude, as well as foolish, given he flagged a whale, because downvotes on Steemit take money from the victims, rather than simply express opinion, like on Fakebook.
Sure, it was a bit of ganging up. Everyone took offense, it's a contentious topic with a lot at stake. You know where I stand on flagging, I think I've been clear. I'm glad you did interject, good to have another non-clique opinion.
Then you take responsibility when this guy or anyone new that you give this advice to, pisses off the wrong person with their flag and finds their account useless. And that's up to you.
As for myself, I will continue to tell people that it's a terrible way to make friends, that it's actually a great way to make enemies. If you don't think that people should use restraint when it comes to flags, then either you haven't been paying attention to what happens when people don't, or you enjoy the warzone. Flagging leads to more flagging and bad feelings on all sides. Maybe it shouldn't, but that's just the way it is.
We have different views on flagging. I see them as downvotes, which is consistent with how the appear on the blockchain. It's the fault of Steemit Inc. for showing them as flags in the UI many moons ago.
I totally get it that it's contentious, I've seen the so-called flag wars. Flagging only leads to more flagging when people are juvenile. But this guy is free to make his own mind up and listen to whomever he wishes, hopefully himself.
I appreciate you taking the time to debate this with me in this sometimes bristling exchange of opinion.
I was trying to help him. It is obvious that he wasn't a threat to me, but I thought that he was a threat to himself and his brand-new Steemit account.
But you are right that it was not worth it to point it out to him. I wasted too much of my own time. I somehow have to better diagnose when people might actually appreciate my help. So many people can not accept constructive and helpful criticism.
Believe it or not, I even want to help people here on Steemit who do not agree with me on my favorite topics. I hate to see any account destroyed because of ignorance of the landscape here at Steemit. Steemit is not like Facebook, but new people don't always realize that.
Of course he was not a threat to you, but you proposed one to him.
Regardless, I do believe that you are acting in good faith for the most part, but that does not mean that I think you are correct. It was browbeating
I am just opposing that.
Commom many big accounts use the flag to remind people to play nice and many big accounts go around flagging post they disagree with.... that’s the Steemit reality