AB'ers with power does that.

Ive also seen this. I do not really care about points myself, there's no prize that I'm aware of. I think people who ask certain question are looking for validation of their opinion, not answers. When they don't receive that acceptance they think it is an attack on them personally. By diminishing your answer, they think it will raise their own opinion, that's why words like "closed minded" and "ignorant" and "hater" are tossed back. Everyone should be comfortable enough with their own views that they can listen to the views of others.

Ehh happens all the time with answers that offend people. Don't let it get you down, answer with your true feelings and you'll almost surely get positive points.

some people are actually unaware that they have been offensive. then, of course there are the trolls who are intentionally who deserve to have points subbed. either way, you can't take it too personally.

1) I assume you mean the *answer* is not meant to be offensive (not the question) 2) Officially, negative points should be given for not useful submissions. I am sure that some people still use this rule. However, some people - like me - find negative points harmful to be received. So they usually don't give them either, or reserve them for offensive content. I rather flag really offensive content. And ignore small offenses. 3) I checked you answers with negative points and corrected what I found not OK. As I said, some people give negative points because they find a particular answer not useful. I am sure that was the reason in those cases. For instance: - to tell someone they have to look at the answer for their question in the Guiness, could be funny for everyone, but probably not for the asker. Maybe they don't have an easy possibility to consult the Guiness, maybe the information is not there. - if someone is asking if you would open a particular kind of shop in particular conditions, I suppose they would like to know if you would do it, yes or no. Not your saying that these shops already exist. It does not answer the question. 4) Usually, not so many people are reading most answers, as I experienced. The asker is reading them (mostly), and probably people who also answered the question. But not many more. This explains that there could only be one or maybe two people who will eventually rate an answer. So if you get a negative rating, it could often not be corrected.

Buddy and I get them all the time when we give our opinion on Hillary Clinton, mostly...sometimes on the religion questions, but mostly political ones...and the ones that take points away, have a yellow stripe down their back and won't comment as to why...we're getting pretty used to it and find it somewhat amusing now...lol