Upvoted for discussion.

I agree that this is a problem right now, and there are many options for fixing it. Some options are at a blockchain level, and others are at an interface level.

I think the next hardfork will do some things to help this issue:

• More linear payout curve.

I hate to throw out numbers without doing the math, but @karenmckersie's post may have had a potential payout of $35 instead of $50 under this new curve. The whale's downvote may have only brought it down from $35 to $28 instead of $50 to $25. If these numbers are anywhere close to correct, she would have experienced a much less severe drop in potential payout.

• Extending the payout window to one week.

I don't think this will effect payout variances for downvotes, but it will smooth out other variances. Right now, it's not uncommon for the payout of your post to drop by 10-20% because other posts were highly upvoted. When the payout period is changed to a week, these payout swings will still exist, but I think they'll be >5%.