Yeah I know that I’m courting downvotes here but that doesn’t disprove my argument.

My argument is that downvoting opinions expressed in a thoughtful way is just uncivil. It degrades the atmosphere. It causes the less thick-skinned to shut up, to self-censor, to leave. The inevitable result will be less civil conversation, less participants, and - to caricature it a bit - just a bunch of guys shouting and snarking and sniping and generally “not giving a shit”.

And let’s be honest, you probably are a guy. I am too BTW.