RE: Let's Make Downvoting Great Again!
Yes, I believe any solution has to protect the platform from censorhip as a key priority. The censorship on Facebook is getting ridiculous. I rarely use FB any more, but when I went on for a quick update yesterday, for example, one of my Syrian FB friends was announcing that she was now back on after being banned (just for expressing her support for own country). Another FB friend Jay Dyer has a large following on his website, Youtube channel etc, he appears regularly on many popular podcasts and has his own show on Gaia TV called Hollywood Decoded. He received a warning from FB recently that he may soon be banned for life.
It's these people who should be welcomed on Steemit. Jay Dyer, for example, puts a lot of work into his writings and Youtube lectures and would be a great asset to this platform. He is extremly knowledgeable on a wide range of topics from religion to geopolitics and movies.
Yes, debate is healthy, and I know Jay for one would welcome the opportunity to debate his ideas in the comments section of his posts. But will these talents come if any income they can earn for all their knowledge and hard work can be wiped out by someone, or a group, who does not agree with their point of view.
While possibly flying under the radar now, Steemit will eventually receive the attention of professional lobby groups, PR campaigners, political groups and even governments. all with very deep pockets. They will be able to invest in the platform and possibly wipe out all dissenting voices.
If that day comes, we will just have another heavily censored platform where the free expression of ideas is not tolerated.
Yes, that's the problem with flagging. The 'weaker' one often doesn't dare to contradict the 'stronger' one.