Victim of serial down voting? [closed]

Question

Very unusual - within 4 minutes I got 3 down votes:

• Open file with emacs as administrator on windows
• Outlook refuses to send email with non-matching address in cert
• Using a firewall to discriminate items in “Host process for windows services” that abuse metered data

(The last one was candidate for deletion, but I decided instead to convert to Community.)

Can some moderator tell me what happened ?
I am not asking who it was and I'm not asking to have it reversed - I’m just curious about whether this was a coincidence (my first such on this forum in more than 6 years).

Answer 1

The mod tools aren't much help here, and 3 votes isn't really something that's more than a statistical blip here. There's nothing manual or automated to do here, and calling in a CM over three downvotes for a user who's close to 200K rep seems excessive.

As to the why?

Let's talk about "perception". I'd note the following is entirely in a personal capacity as a high-reputation, engaged user and doesn't reflect the views of Stack Exchange/Stack Overflow or the Super User moderation staff.

Well, in your specific case, reputation (as in imaginary Internet points) doesn't mean 'reputation' in terms of what perception is. I've occasionally had to have words with you in the past over low quality answers (though that's not a case here), and there's a certain idea you completely focus on bounties over regular posts, and in most cases answers consist of research (occasionally hasty) over in depth, experience based answers, and what seem to be sourced complete copy pastes of answers elsewhere. Once again, entirely legitimate and not something that should be penalised, but it's plausible this user thinks not. I believe I used the term "Harry tends to powergame on SU," and I'm not the only user who thinks so.

In fact, I'd be certain, except where someone comments on the quality of an answer (something which I do in your case where I feel an answer is not up to the standards we expect), that many of the downvotes you get might be due to this.

In short? Someone might not like you. It's sad. It's not how we do things here. It's probably not due to answer quality.

Changing that perception might be tricky. I notice you love the challenge of bounties (and repwise it has served you well). I'd suggest broadening your scope, and trying to hit the same levels of epic reputation off of regular answers. Clearly when you try you have above average research skills, and with a little bit of understanding your audience, you can probably post pretty impressive answers without relying on the bounty system. In short? Stepping outside your comfort zone might help here.

Better answers would probably build on your sources – I often add screenshots and issues I had with personal experiences solving the problem, not just source and quote. Take a look at the upvotes you get over the bounties.

It's up to you. There's nothing wrong with the bounty hunt, but this would be a heads up to what might be going through the head of someone who does something like this.

Answer 2

Funny how every time I ask a question, my rep points are negatively referred-to, I'm called a bounty-hunter, and advised to change my ways. Why?

I have solved the problems of many hundreds of posters, got heaps of thank-yous, but all that other people see is my rep count. Is having a high rep a reason for being looked-down at? Is it part of the human condition?

Journeyman Geek raised several points which have nothing to do with my post, and all to do with myself as a person. Let me answer them.

"you completely focus on bounties over regular posts"

What can one do whose personal knowledge makes it possible to answer very many questions, except try to answer the most pressing ones?

Bounty posts have the advantage of :

• The poster is likelier to have researched his problem and furnish enough details for us to give an answer which is more than a guess.
• The poster is more motivated to answer our questions and is less likely to abandon his post without indicating the right answer.
• Bounty questions are usually harder and more interesting, for someone who likes challenges.
• There are far fewer bounty posts, for someone who does have a private life.

"in most cases answers consist of research (occasionally hasty) over in depth, experience based answers, and what seem to be sourced complete copy pastes of answers elsewhere"

Sorry, but you miss the point here. Most, if not all, of the problems posted in SU have already been answered elsewhere, by the manufacturer of the equipment, or by knowledgeable people who have run against the same problem. It saves time to quote these articles rather than rewrite everything. But if finding these posts is so easy, why would anyone post questions?

The point you miss is that, in order to find these answering articles, one has to know the answer before-hand. A good knowledge of the subject is also required for tying up the sources into one comprehensive answer and for adding the details and background required for using these facts.

I am not infallible and do make mistakes, but I think it is clear that my good answers far outweigh my bad ones.

Sometimes, when time has passed and no answer was given to the post, I offer what partial knowledge I have. This often rings the bell with someone with better experience in the subject, to come up with the full answer. Is this wrong, or a reason to criticize my partial answer?

"Take a look at the upvotes you get over the bounties."

I do, and they are pretty good, even for answers that were not awarded a bounty. In spite of this handicap of the subject usually being too narrow, as most of the bounties are for pretty specific problems, I do get a large percentage of my rep from upvotes. It's good to know that my past answers are helping other people.

Journeyman Geek (and others), please forget about my reputation, bounties etc. We are all on this forum in order to help people and share our knowledge.

I have been coming here for the last 6 years because this forum is an interesting place to visit and for deepening one's knowledge, helping people while enjoying oneself, in a community of people that have much to teach me and others.