I often enough DO consider downvotes that I receive are a bad thing and I often enough do take them personally. If a person says who they are and why they downvoted I'm much happier - even if I disagree with them - as I more often than not do :-). I note that in instances where I recognise a valid point has been made and I modify my response accordingly, that the downvote is seldom if ever removed. 

I have learned a few things from downvotes on occasion - but no more than I would have learned from a comment. 

I don't mind anonymous upvoting, and I arguably am less concerned than some whether I get upvotes or not (I'm getting increasingly choosy over what I answer - I could always easily enough answer a few more questions on any given day if I really wanted more). My main concern with upvotes is when I get few or none for an answer which I seriously consider is technically good while others which I consider far less good or just plain wrong get voted on for some obscure reason. [That sounds arrogant I know :-) - I think I'm reasonably capable of assessing technical merit in most cases - which also sounds arrogant, but I believe is reasonably soundly based, (which sounds ... :-) )]

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But I'd like to see downvotes made identifiable as they seem to be very poorly managed at present. I've seen a number of what seem to be revenge downvotes, a number of what seem to be random driveby shooting downvotes, and  have received a number of downvotes (anonymous or other) for reasons that I consider are invalid enough that eg I would be confident of winning my point if it was argued openly in a debate or in a small claims court. 


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[Here](http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/31233/square-ac-to-sinusoidal-ac/31237#31237) I got -1 overall for an answer which WAS somewhat off beam in places but had some very good positive comment. Whatever.

[Here](http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/29244/soldering-nichrome-wire/29253#29253) I got +2 / -1 - with the downvote from Kevin Vermeer (whos reasoning was invalid :-)). I went back and read my answer and his answer again and his comment - which he had the decency to make public.
So I've just downvoted his +2 accepted answer to add some heat to this discussion. I think my downvoting his answer is reasonable in this case in part because of his REASON for downvoting mine - which means his must be measured against similar standards. I think he and I can stand some occasional mutual downvoting :-) - but this should help make the discussion more relevant.   

 @Kevin Vermeer ? - comment