But the first sensible step is to all agree that there is a problem.

I would love to see this topic move to where I see is a more productive area, but I have a tendency to end up with quite long posts opening posts so i understand if someone feels too exhausted at the idea of reading it all. At least initially, i find it saves time if not having 10 back and forth replies just filling in the gaps I left out..

I totally agree with you that the first step is recognise there's a problem but the next step makes the first step meaningful and without this part it can go from being something useful to harmful.

If you take away haejin's self voting and most of the significant complaints will stay standing because everyone is caught up in this idea that haejin represents "the problem" and since the problem is also that poor quality content gets heavily rewarded and haejin's case involves something he DOES have control over, they get this idea that it's all caused by something people have have control over.

This idea that he is "abusing" steemit so that without this exploit that would solve the problem. You know they see it this way because otherwise there's no way to see flagging as being effective to punish those who "abuse the reward pool" until they stop. They don't seem to realise that what they really don't like, the idea that post rewards don't fit quality, is a problem, not caused by people you can get angry at it's something that is a fundamental flaw in Steemit and that all this aggressive flagging and trolling campaigns are just damaging Steemit with no hope of success.