Why downvote? I honestly do not get it. 
jrockway: Ask the submitter: Why don't you get a blog?Edit: OK, I will answer the question.  People downmod to get people to convince themselves to go away.  Imagine I don't like your viewpoint, and you place value on imaginary points I can take from you.  I take those points, you get upset, and you stop posting stuff I disagree with.That's all there is to it; reinforcing groupthink.Similarly upmods encourage people to keep submitting.  Knowing that people like your work encourages you to make more.