> The more likely explanation is that Google fans and Microsoft haters are doign the flagging.
As a Google employee: yes. We don't like this any more than anyone else does. We want to _earn_ positive feedback. The idea of Google employees flagging (or being told to flag!) stories about Google they don't like is laughable to me.
Agreed, I also think its just overzealous fans acting on their own. By the way, Microsoft's response is stuck on the 2nd page despite getting a ton of upvotes
Note that the complaint is not about lack of upvotes, it's about people going out of their way to use their flagging powers which is meant only for spam links.
Even the other story about Microsoft's response is getting flagged and is far down the front page for its points.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5715889
What's your explanation for this constant flagging of Microsoft related stories or anti-Google ones?
Read through this thread for examples for many more stories getting flagged off the front page.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5716010
HN rankings graph showing abnormal and sudden dips.
http://hnrankings.info/5715168/
HN rankings graph showing low rank for a long time inspite of a lot of upvotes.
http://hnrankings.info/5715889/