This isn't to say Steemit can't be that utopia where free speech and expression reign supreme. But don't look for those two things and an absence of force and a lot of personal responsibility. ... The right to defense will need to exist because there will always be attempts at suppression and centralization of power and resources by others.
I had dreams of Steem changing the world. But then I saw how concentrated power can be used for abuse, as I suffered flags for month at the hand of one power player. I was woken up to the flaws. I left Steem to do other things twice, and came back to more flagging (except this last time, so far...). Self-defense doesn't work when you aren't operating in the physical world to be able to defend yourself. As is demonstrated again in this case you are involved in. Only the powerful can act against the powerful here. It's all about the Benjamin's (SP = money = power). That's the only force that counts on Steem to stop people from doing harm to others :/