I just wanted to go over some stuff real quick. Please don't draw any conclusions about the timing, as it's got nothing to do with anything particularly recent.
The "Flag this post for moderation" button isn't a downvote alternative. Clicking it should mean that our very (veeeerry) relaxed moderation rules are being explicitly violated, and you want to bring the fact to our attention.
It's not there to signal that you don't like someone, or that you disapprove something that someone said; that's what the reply button is for.
This is more important if it's in the Hog Pit that you think something is inappropriate based on people being mean, unless they are also being blatantly racist, sexist etc at the same time; folks, it gets rude in there. If you can't handle that, please stay out. That forum category is opt-in only for a reason.
Finally, sometimes posts do go pretty... well, wrong, and it's easy to see why as soon as we look at them. However other times it's not as easy, not at a glance, and we don't always have the time to wade through those last eight pages of pissy back-and-forth to decide what the actionable problem is! So please send all three Moderators (myself, @Auspice and @Ganymede) a message at that time telling us in a concise way.
Thanks!
-The Management.