There is currently no way of knowing for sure. However, a little detective work and observation of certain people's rankings and the time they post in conjuction with your down rates, may offer you some clues. Clear as mud? Good.

-1s are difficult normally just accounts opened just to troll, as you rise up the list it is easier to assume but you can never really know for sure, we do have some -3s-4s and even one maybe two -5s, which is a shame, but a fact. They are the ones that should be ashamed Simple answer is we do not know and until people are made to leave a comment for a down rate we will never really know

Watching is how I've learned and sharing with other AB'ers

Well, I've just had a troll DR me on quite a few of my answers all -2... I had a run-in with someone on one particular topic, and since several of the answers they have downrated are in the same section, I know who he is. I was rude to him, because I got something wrong in my answer when I was tired and he downrated me and left a sarky comment. I had previously noted that he was extremely rude to everyone who disagreed with him on this particular pet subject (and downrates them all) and I wasn't up for him being offensive and argumentative with me, so I told him where to go. The next morning I revised my answer with the correct information and apologised - but I know he is not the type to be interested - he is completely fanatical about his pet hobbyhorse - so I have ignored him since. He has actually gone to the trouble of DR'ing me on completely unrelated questions though, such as "Why do you like roses?"!! I think that is absolutely pathetic. I have had a couple of disagreements on here, but I would never stoop as low as to downrate people on answers in unrelated subjects that were perfectly harmless. How do I know it was him? Easy, because the first DRs were in his subject area, because he is at level 20 which I know is -2, and because he actually left me a comment on one of my answers immediately after doing the last DR!

You don't. You just stop bitching about it and go on with your life.

Well, I know who rates me down, and it's someone who vindictively rates people down. She insults and abuses. she will not listen to reason, or admit she may be wrong. She sucks up to the moderators and whines about her manipulatively perceived treatment that she has instigated. Then she reports them when they do it back to her, and they get p'bed.

POETICALLY WE KNOW AS HOW LADIES KNOW IT AS TO KNOWING THOSE WHO RATED US DOWN IT IS EASY:THINK A BIT....

There are a few users who are "enemies" of mine who seem to like to DR my answers. I could care, if I wasn't so amused that I clearly get inside their heads. My actions have a far more lasting effect, as my answers are good and will get re-uprated. Furthermore, DRing doesn't take away overall points, so I really couldn't care less.