Kos urges trusted users to view the hidden comments and uptick those unfairly down-graded.  From my experience checking them out the system is not being abused, these are content free "I know you are but what am I" posts and I have only upgraded one - to marginal.  In my opinion the post was stupid but not malicious.

While on the topic, don't reply directly with any substantive argument to an obvious troll.  Your well reasoned argument risks going right into never-never land with the offending post.  Reply over their head to whatever they were responding to, not only will it safeguard your argument but it cuts back on the nesting.

In trying to hush Roastbeef I was trying to avoid this incredible outpouring of discussion about Melanie pro-and-con.  It's not that I think this discussion is irrelevent, misguided or unproductive--I actually think it's a worthy thing for the Kos folks to pursue.  My fear, however, is that in placing Melanie and her front-page offerings on such a brightly-lit pedestal, that she would be objectified to such a degree that it would be much harder for her to slip back into the discussions without a lot of embarrasing attention and fanfare.  I liked much of what Melanie wrote, and I hoped she would write a diary and continue to contribute to the boards.  I hope she eventually does.  

As for censorship, I don't think that's really the issue.  If the Jason Blair thing had never occurred, there would still have been good cause for Howell Raines to be relieved as Managing Editor of the NYT over editorial decisions like cluttering the front page with stories about Brittany Spears, botox, and the umpteenth piece about Augusta National.  I'm not equating Melanie's pieces with frivolities like Brittany Spears.  But from his post above, it appears that Kos was concerned about editorial choices that filled his front page with too many pieces that strayed from what he sees as the editorial focus of his site.  

Finally, if somebody reading this board is still unsatisfied with Kos' explanation and thinks he committed an injustice, please remember something.  The guy just became a father a couple days ago.  I carry no portfolio for him, and I am not charged with his defense.  But while I have yet to experience the elation and numbing exhaustion of new parenthood, I know that I would not want to try tactfully dealing with a situation that could lead to embarrassment to at least one of the involved parties a few days after becoming a father.  

I hope I suceeded in expressing my thoughts with the generosity with which they are meant.