We didnt post the second one. Someone else did because the first one got banned.

I didn't say you did anything. I was talking to this OP... who posted a dupe. This is frowned upon is it not? Also, I don't see anything in the first one to indicate it is banned. It appears to be there and not "dead". It is on page 4 (#110) right now. "Not on Page 1" != "Banned"

No, it didn't get banned. Check your facts - it's still there, currently in position 110 (as I write)

lol, sure. it goes from #1 to #110 in 1min?

It's ok. Don't worry, be happy!

It is current known behavior. If an item gets five or six flags it will plummet. I've done experiments, I know this to be a fact. It doesn't require any intervention by moderators or anything else.

The severity of the hit on ranking was introduced some time ago - I can probably track it down if you like - but I doubt you'd take my word for it.

And if you'd care to check my posting history you'll find that I've spoken out against this several times, but you're clearly not interested in facts or evidence, you're clearly just annoyed that your posting has fallen off the front page.

And yes, this comment is snarky, and no, I'm not going to edit it to be milder. I'm annoyed at your tone when all I'm trying to do is share with you with the knowledge I have accrued over many experiments on the topic.

I don't really see why the distinction matters. Somebody pushed a button and it got shoved multiple pages back, votes [mostly] discarded from consideration. Whether it's 'community' or moderators seems minor.

I think maybe the only distinction that mattered was that being flagged to the point of getting pushed 4 pages in is not the same as being banned.

For all practical reasons it is the same, almost no one goes to the 4 page; most people just check the front page and maybe the "new" page.

heh... I kind of just assumed everyone consumed HN through a feed reader. I almost never go to the home page.

It could have just as easily been one flag. A sufficiently weighty user can wipe a fledgling submission right off the front page with one click. You probably already know that though.

Is there any way to see the number of flags a link has accumulated?

Not that I know of - it requires tracking rankings and making deductions. I know of no way to see the flag count.