The problem with saying hey that guy didn't use his downvotes right... is that downvotes and upvotes are subjective stuff. Steemit Inc. have even pointed out that the long-term goal for Steem is not to be a crypto Medium, its to be a reward platform that spans lots of stuff that might have nothing to do with long form content.

You're making the argument that downvotes are good, but people need to use them right. There is no right and wrong here, just power. When you buy STEEM and turn it into Steem Power, you bought power.

I get so puzzled how people that are pro-flagging don't get their hypocritical thinking. They believe their judgement is righteousness and so flagging needs to exist so that they can police the Steem ecosystem. But, inevitably someone uses their flagging powers in a way that the pro-flaggers dislike and it frustrates them.

Please read this while thinking of a high pitched, squeaky voice:

Oh, if everyone just understood that I'm right about the world and my ideas would make everything perfect!

That is never going to happen. Flagging is a personal decision made by people with biases, favoritisms, and subjective judgments. What you think is right is not necessarily right, it just is right according to you.

This is why I would rather people only had positive voting powers. When you vote for someone to receive rewards you are essentially voting against everyone else, but its done in a not conflict-invoking manner.

But hey, no one will listen, we're going to have a retaliation-filled Steem, and that's how things are going to be...