<h4>Recently, I wrote an article that criticized the use of flagging by a particular user.  I made several points about what constitutes flagging abuse.  Overall, it was a fantastic conversation, and I thank everyone who was involved.  Now I'd like to provide an example of what justified flagging looks like.</h4>

I've had occasion to use Freezepeach in the past as well as the present, and I thank @r0nd0n for his exceptional work in that area.  As a consequence, I'm now hanging around their Discord server, lest I forget about them again like I did earlier this week (lol).  So it was in hanging around that I came across this gem:

https://steemit.com/steemit/@garudi/i-have-0-reputations-because-blocktrades-thinks-child-pornography-is-risk-free-and-should-simply-be-possessed

At first glance, it seems serious enough, right?  If there are users advocating for child pornography, there should be a public outcry about it.  However, I'd never heard of anything like this from @blocktrades.  Since my curiosity and caution were piqued, I examined that post and the other post that was linked prior to it.

https://steemit.com/ethereum/@titusfrost/ethereum-s-vitalik-buterin-advocates-for-child-porn-eth-try-eos

The user who made the first post I linked had been on the comment thread of the second post prior.  While there, this user made what I, or pretty much anyone else, would argue are defamatory statements without substantiation.  They were based entirely on the conversation in the post, which was likewise defamatory and libelous.  This was pointed out to the user and was plainly evident for anyone who read the comments without immediately jumping into hyper-emotional overdrive.

<center>https://i.imgur.com/riEhlu3h.jpg
<sup>@blocktrades' post explaining his position</sup></center>

<center>https://i.imgur.com/xqHhcT1h.jpg
<sup>The comment referenced in the comment above</sup></center>

<center>https://i.imgur.com/1CgpFx1h.jpg
<sup>And then there's this, which deserves a facepalm by any marginally rational person</sup></center>

The original comment made by Vitalik was a descriptive analysis of a particular issue (heroin use, or drug use more generally) by analogical reasoning (comparing child porn to drug use).  At no point in time could he have been construed to be advocating or endorsing child pornography in any capacity.  Likewise, others made those same comments, and @blocktrades echoed that sentiment as well.  In response, the user above jumped off the deep end and began making what anyone could argue were libelous statements, declaring that @blocktrades "must be a pedophile" and that he "likes" child porn.  **Anyone with even a modicum of reasoning or sense could see this was clearly not the case, and no evidence of any kind was presented to back this assertion.**

**This, I think, provides a clear example of when flagging is eminently justified.**  Libel can carry without legal ramifications.  While I don't think that's going to be the case in this instance, the fact that libel is recognized as entitling the defamed party to compensation suggests the seriousness of the act.  What was described and shown above is arguably that kind of behavior.  Abusive behavior like that can, and I would **strongly** should, be flagged into oblivion.  This isn't a simple difference of opinion, or some disagreement over how well-rewarded a post is.  This is out-and-out abusive behavior, and it should be as derided and mocked as any abusive flag.

<h4>Good on you, @blocktrades.  Thank you for providing me a perfect example of when you should absolutely use a flag. :D</h4>

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