A while back, I asked the question [Leading zeros in IPv4 address; is that a no-no by convention or standard?][1], which in hindsight could possibly have gone on another Stack Exchange, maybe Networking.  However, it was not downvoted, moved, and ultimately received answers, themselves getting upvotes.

Some time later, I posted [an answer][2] to a [similar question][3].  I don't recall why I posted that answer, but I just noticed that I received negative reputation for the answer.

Why would that answer receive downvotes?  I'm sure I would have preferred to list it as a comment, but I still don't have the comment privilege here on SuperUser.

Why downvotes with no comments to explain why it was downvoted?

I just went through the tour (potentially again), and looked at the [on topic][4] and [off topic][5] pages and don't understand.

**Edit**

I found [this article][6] and the [page on down votes.][7]  These confirm what I expected.

**Edit 2**

Apparently this question generated more traffic and more downvotes.  I've since edited the answer for clarity.


  [1]: http://superuser.com/questions/929153/leading-zeros-in-ipv4-address-is-that-a-no-no-by-convention-or-standard/929180?noredirect=1#comment1258496_929180
  [2]: http://superuser.com/questions/857603/are-ip-addresses-with-and-without-leading-zeroes-the-same/938940#938940
  [3]: http://superuser.com/questions/857603/are-ip-addresses-with-and-without-leading-zeroes-the-same
  [4]: http://superuser.com/help/on-topic
  [5]: http://superuser.com/help/dont-ask
  [6]: http://meta.superuser.com/questions/4124/the-purpose-of-voting-teaching-users-the-basics?rq=1
  [7]: http://superuser.com/help/privileges/vote-down