Either because they think that you are incorrect or they do nopt agree with your point of view. They will usually explain if they do this. Or they are scumball trolls who are too chicken to stand up for their downratings and get their jollies by rating people down.

Oh yes, some people are only capable of accepting validation even though they ask for honest opinions. They take it personally and get upset about it and DR people. Sigh. Honestly, why bother asking if you already "know" the answer :) I agree people can be silly that way.

There are some vindictive DR abusers on AB who cannot fathom the difference between an "unhelpful" question/answer [what the DR button is for], and one that may not agree with their opinion. It's best to ignore them. (FYI the DRs don't actually subtract points from you, unless it's a penalty from the staff.)

Keep in mind these same people wouldn't 'DR' someone's opinion out in public. On here, all you have to do is click a button.

True, I've noticed that as well. You can usually spot these people when they ask a statement/personal opinion in the form of a question or when all their questions seem to be attacking not a start for intellectual debate or actually advise. Personally, I've found that these people can't hold their own in conversation about the issue and generally resort to downrating. It's like a perosnal insult: "You don't agree with me, so I'll kick sand in your face"...only it leaves the person just as they were before...but with sand in their eyes. But hey, if thats what they want to waste their engergy, more power to them.

You already know the answer to this. People are sensitive and want to hear only what they want to hear, what they should hear, or what's politically correct. It is pathetic, but it doesn't matter. Once you realize that people suck, you'll be okay with whatever they deal to you because you'll already know that it's coming---due to the fact that they suck. Just say, "oh well."

Some people here are only into hearing one side and will not learn from any other viewpoint. It's like they have a wall around their brain and anything different will make them strike out at you.

Many will DR if they disagree with you. But be of good cheer... the DR only applies to the question to which it was given. it does not transfer to your total. Some times I put out questions or answers expecting to get DRs but it doesn't seem to work too well. And don't assume logic in DRs. Some people just go round and give DRs at random.

people are extremely closed minded so if they dont like your take on things you will get DR sad but true. great avatar!

Yes they are that pathetic. See I will show you an example..I bet I can put 3 things that I believe and my answer will get DRed. 1. I believe in Jesus Christ and God. The only one, the one that is spoke of in the Holy Bible and I believe every word in the bible to be the word of God. 2.I believe in Heaven and Hell 3. I am a Republican and I am voting for John McCain and I think that Obama shouldn't even be allowed to run for President of the US. Now this is my beliefs, I am not asking that you believe them, but I am sure my answer will get DRed by people that don't agree with me. This is a test.lol

good question:...answer: because some people are negative and others have pms!...no one should take off points just because they don't agree.

Most of the people on here are DR-happy.

Cause their arse holes.

In most cases, people will give a negative rating purely for the fact that they don't like your answer because it disagrees with their own views. You may also get the odd occasion (as I did recently) where, if you dare to voice a view that they don't like they will track every question and answer that you have made and give negative ratings to all your views, no matter what they are, purely to try and get revenge for you daring to disagree with them. In the main though, people down grade an answer because they are feeling petty and think that anyone cares if their response scores +100 or -100 (it doesn't), the important thing is that you make your point, whether others like it or not. If someone dislikes or disagrees with your point of view, then their job is to put forward a reasoned argument explain why and trying to convince you through debate that you are wrong, rather than just trying to "take their ball back home and sulk" because you said something they disagreed with. I have asked many questions that I, personally, don't agree with. Purely because I honestly want to see if there is anyone out there that really still believes in those ideas (and it scary to see how many do!). I will also ask questions that I don't agree with because I genuinely wish to try and understand why people believe those things (I believe in questioning everything, all the time, and constantly learning and updating your beliefs, so in order to do so, you have to hear the opposing arguments than what you already believe). A good example of this is that I posted a question asking if people believe that one race or nationality is better than another. Now I have travelled all over the world, and have learned from experience that there is absolutely no difference between people, wherever you are, there are idiots, bigots, good people, caring people and so on in every country, of every race and nationality, but I find it interesting that so many people responding to that question seem to really believe that certain people are automatically better than others, purely determined by an accident of birth.