Just a meta-question, but is there some kind of flagging/downvoting system on HN that's hidden to newer users? It seems odd that this thread quickly fell off the top page, below older posts with fewer upvotes.
> is there some kind of flagging/downvoting system on HN that's hidden to newer users
yes.
HN is weighted towards preventing an influx of new users having an effect on the voting of comments and articles - precisely to avoid the effect that an new influx of pro-gg or anti-gg users would have on the story or comment score.