Yes, if you have gained temporary influence over others one of the ways you can put that to further use is by trading that influence into an environment that accords with your preferences.
What exactly is spent here? It looks like this is someone with enough status in the group can do “for free”.
I don’t think it’s ever free to use your influence over a group. Do it too often, and you come across as a despot.
As a local example, Eliezer’s insistence on the use of ROT13 for spoilerish comments carried through at some status “cost” when a few dissenters objected.
What exactly is spent here? It looks like this is someone with enough status in the group can do “for free”.
I don’t think it’s ever free to use your influence over a group. Do it too often, and you come across as a despot.
As a local example, Eliezer’s insistence on the use of ROT13 for spoilerish comments carried through at some status “cost” when a few dissenters objected.