Considering that V_V's attempts at circumventing the toll were heavily downvoted, I think it would have been more effective to simply let the community demonstrate that such tactics are unacceptable. The negative karma accrued during this little spat far out weighs the toll, but then without a reserve of positive karma it was impossible - not merely expensive, but *impossible * - to defend his admittedly foolish position. Your actions give the impression that dissenting voices will be vaporized by moderators, which is hardly going to do wonders for our phygish image. I appreciate that our garden needs keeping, but I really think that as far as possible this should be accomplished "naturally" by the community, not "imposed" by moderators, if only for PR reasons.

EDIT: Wait, deleted comments cost karma to reply to?