Draft Recommendation 4 - aka Social Networking / Social Features needs your help!

I just don't think the benefit outweighs the cost, in this one case. Take "volunteer recognition/rewards" as a counter-example. Yeah, there's a risk that you reward undeserving or even bad editors. But that's a minor problem compared to empowering cabals. Cabals and factions and other battleground behavior might actually be THE problem we're facing (at least, much of the evidence points that way). And social networking makes it possible for those cabals to organize with increased effectiveness.

I don't think this means "axe social features", although it definitely puts it on the chopping block. What would save it? If the proposal also included some checks and balances. Ideas that try to close loopholes and exploits, or at least try to anticipate abusive behaviors and come up with remedies.