Flags also require a minimum karma, and members with yet higher karma can also undead posts, if needed.
HN is actually surprisingly good about this, so I disagree with your assertion.
HN is actually surprisingly good about this, so I disagree with your assertion.
Thus, you build reputation by acquiring karma.
It isn’t perfect, but the fact that folks with higher karma can “fix” the emotional flags of folks with lower karma, it helps.
Also, I’d recommend re-reading the guidelines: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html