Yes, I agree.

I agree on that.

this question has been asked and explained in great detail on why points are given anonymously....A great AB war was the result +5

I am afraid I will have to respectfully disagree. Although no one likes to be downrated and even worse not being told why. The staff, when designing the site, could see how those who were trying to downrate for the reason it was intended, could be a victim of spiteful downrates from those that didn't feel their post were unhelpful. Many say that they would not downrate those that downrate them out of spite but many others would, if they knew who was downrating their post. This is also why the staff made it so that downrates would not remove any points at all and only lower the post in the database. We must understand that although it hurts our pride when we are told that our words are unhelpful it is all part of this site. I know it is a tool that trolls can use to upset good members but a troll is only as strong as you allow them to be. If you do not show your bothered by their actions they get bored and go somewhere else.

Wholeheartedly.

I have mixed feelings about it. I rarely downrate anyone, and if I do I tell them why I did it and often offer to up rate them if they reconsider their answer. I downrate for excessively hateful malicious attacks and for suggesting someone do something I feel could be dangerous or abusive in some manner. On occasion I've managed to piss someone off enough that they will TROLL THROUGH a bunch of my answers and downrate every single one of them...really crazy stuff too, stuff that might be purely just opinion (as everything really is after all, or even something like "What color are your eyes?" Down rated for having green eyes? come on now! roflmao) I sometimes feel pissed off if the Troll doesn't even offer a reason for their downrate, but not enough to turn around and go after THEM...it's not like they have a real profound effect on my life after all, even my AB "life" Enough people here have liked my answers and are kindly supportive, even some that have not agreed with me, have no beef. They honor my right to an opinion, just as I honor theirs. Really Trolls are only little chickenshits anyway, unless they are so convicted of their feelings as to share WHY they are downrating someone. THEN, they give ME a chance to reconsider my answer and consider THEIR point of view!