Not always but yes I suppose sometimes that is the reason. Sometimes it is someone who you spoke to before and they now just hate you and out to ruin your day. Sometimes it is just someone who is mad at the world and expressing it in a cowardly manner. My point is there are just as many reasons to down-rate as to up-rate.

It's definitely possible. If it keeps happening you have offended them on a greater scale.

???What was the question??? Hard to answer without knowing that. I defended someone on here that was all offended and I found out too late that the question he asked was really offensive. But in real time, you are probably right, someone was gunning for you. The spiteful DR people usually get offended by more than one person on here and get a reputation after awhile. I think if you don't like someone's answer or question, you just need to skip it and go to the next. If you DR, you should say why and be accountable.

That could definitely be a reason, particularly in fields of politics and religion where some people base their identities but don't admit to themselves that they've done it (!)

Sometimes the question is really offensive to someone. I might even DR that and I have a 100% positive rating. Right or wrong, you do have to use fineness in how you phrase your questions.

Oh, it could be. Could be someone just watching for anything from you - You argued with them earlier, you told them a question or answer sucked, you defended a friend, you were nice to someone THEY don't like, you... Could be someone having a bad day - Saw one like this a couple of years ago, going around downrating everyone... when they felt better, they went back and uprated everyone they DRed... Could be simply a "drive-by" downrater... Could be your question espoused one side of a religion, political thought, race relation, simple argument... Could be someone playing games with the leaderboard, trying to move up (best questions, best answers)... It could also be that the person doesn't think you question is "helpful" (which is the main reason for using the ratings - helpful and unhelpful)... It could be someone who just LOVES to see their "work" in "lights" as this question just did... Could be... You get the idea? Could be anything. You don't mention how MUCH it was DRed, so we don't know if it was a low-level jerk/troll, or high-level one. There's not much you can do about it. Ignore it, comment on it (IN YOUR question/answer), or allow yourself to get all upset about it. Many long-time members turn off their ratings... They don't even know when they are TROLLED, let alone single DRs. DRs don't could against your points for levels. They ONLY count against your "+%". They only count against your question in the list inside of categories (IF AB changes that sort). They only could against your answer inside the question. If you are TROLLED (a batch of your questions and/or answers are DRed the same), then screenshot it (turn off the comments and answers on your feedback page, leaving only the list of things DRed), and send it to admin@answerbag.com. Not reporting a troll allows them to keep on going, hitting people until they find vulnerable ones to hit hard. Most of those are new, and will not understand and leave, thinking they're not wanted here.