Do distaste votes effect reputation, or is it isolated to a post or comment?
It doesn't affect reputation. The only reputation we track right now is how well you upvote so this is unrelated and not reflected in that.
Edit: you express a concern of mine by calling it 'distaste'. I want it to mean 'flag' so perhaps that's what I should be calling it rather than 'I don't like this' or 'downvote'.
reply
There are three types of downvotes: spam flagging, downvoting vacuous or illogical posts, and distaste or disagreement. The third type should be somehow made expensive. I am afraid that the distinction between the downvote types without manual dang is impossible
reply
Also, is the author aware of how many palates he has offended?
reply
No, not as it is now.
reply
I don't see it being used purely as a spam/troll control system and it will also be used as an ostracism tool. I don't have an opinion either way whether that's bad. I'm sure there are plenty users that would like to see some types of opinion obscured from view. I do like this idea of crowdfunded moderation and lowering the bar to participants who don't have any sats to start out.
reply
it will also be used as an ostracism tool
This is also my worry, that it could potentially be used to silence people from all users' feeds (unless you actively enable wild west mode), rather than only filter out messages (not individuals) that are unconstructive. I understand if you mute someone who you don't like, but muting people globally (by downvoting all their posts regardless of content) from all users' feeds is worse. But I don't know if this feature would be used in this way.
reply
Haha, I was wondering why I haven't been seeing quest77's comments lately.
@koob Here's an example of someone being a racist dickhole, but not necessarily spamming or being a bot. Is antisemitism against policy, or is it better to just let the community stifle comments like this?
Posts and comments with calls for violence seem like they should explicitly be banned from a liability point of view, but maybe not?
reply
We need to add flagging rules to the FAQ but off the top of my head, these are the valid reasons to flag:
  • spam
  • scam
  • racism/bigotry
  • threats of violence
  • excessive and unnecessary meanness
  • unwelcome nudity
  • encouraging self-harm
A lot of these are subjective, which is why it's optional to see the consequence of flagging.
There is no "policy." Just suggestions, votes, payments, and algorithms.
reply
It might be abused, but how much your 'flag' counts depends on your, as you say, reputation. We don't want it to be used when people merely disagree so we'll keep an eye on it and adjust accordingly.
reply
People do easily become temporarily irrational when their assumptions are challenged. It might be wise to allow people to 'reverse' their flag by upvoting.
reply
Good point
reply
I think much like in HN, downvoting requires a certain karma threshold, here downvoting should be expensive, but powerful.