Ah sounds like you were server muted. If you were behaving out of norm that is sort of like a timeout. I'm sure it was frustrating for you.

The downvotes were always downvotes and have existed ever since the Steem started. People started calling them flags likely due to Steem using a flag to signal a post had been downvoted. Sort of like them using curate when it really is an upvoting action.

Downvotes and upvotes create the ying and the yang of the system. They are needed for balance. The only thing new is that instead of someone having to use the voting power for either action they are able to do 2.5 downvotes a day without using their VP.

I have some concerns that some will misuse that option but so far, there doesn't seem to be much of that. I have no doubt it will come though. The question is, when it comes, will the larger stakeholders address it.

As much as I'm no fan of Reddit, they do use up and downvoting. There just isn't rewards attached to it. Reddit is a popular platform so, people do get it.

!SHADE 2