You seem to think that downvotes deal with disagreement, or that you should even downvote soemthing you disagree with. Instead, downvoting should exist for comments that provide no value to the discussion of the topic. If you're getting downvoted with no discuss on it, maybe you should reconsider the value of the comment, and see if it really helps spur discussion.
The way a comment is phrased is part of this. Coming off like a rude jerk isn't going to help your cause any. I don't downvote things I disagree with, but I will vote down people who aren't helping create a worthwhile discussion.
Should I respond to these? No, I don't think so. What am I going to say? "You're being a jerk, down vote!" doesn't add anything to the conversation either and would deserve a downvote as well.
You can disagree with this approach, but if you downvote someone and then respond, your saying one of two things:
Your comment instigated further discussion on my part, but I don't want other people to read it, so I will downvote simply because I disagree.
Or...
Your comment isn't helping to further the discussion of this topic, but I'm going to respond anyways by telling and as a result create a comment that also doesn't advance the discussion.
I understand what you're saying, but the problem is that a vast and growing majority of downvotes cannot possibly be interpreted as "this doesn't contribute anything". Votes are being used like they would be used in an election. I'm for or against this. And that's just not good enough in my view.
The way a comment is phrased is part of this. Coming off like a rude jerk isn't going to help your cause any. I don't downvote things I disagree with, but I will vote down people who aren't helping create a worthwhile discussion.
Should I respond to these? No, I don't think so. What am I going to say? "You're being a jerk, down vote!" doesn't add anything to the conversation either and would deserve a downvote as well.
You can disagree with this approach, but if you downvote someone and then respond, your saying one of two things:
Your comment instigated further discussion on my part, but I don't want other people to read it, so I will downvote simply because I disagree.
Or...
Your comment isn't helping to further the discussion of this topic, but I'm going to respond anyways by telling and as a result create a comment that also doesn't advance the discussion.