For example, this one is obviously a joke, and is barely tolerable as a comment. Should it be flagged? (as what?) Should it just be down-voted?

New troll or change in Modus Operandi, spam answers instead of spam questions. I flagged all four of his answers as spam, I imagine others did as well now that you have called attention to this.

I see, as when somebody else (not me) posts an answer, thinks better of it, and deletes the answer, on the "recently active" choice for sorting questions, I still see that user as having "modified" the question, but then upon opening the question I see nothing, and now I see nothing on that user's individual profile page. If I delete my own answer it goes all pink and I can choose to undelete it later, useful if only a little bit needs to be edited to make it an acceptable answer.