I don't agree with the framing of downvotes as a "stick". Downvotes and upvotes are voting where stakeholders want the rewards to go. Where stakeholders agree, the rewards flow, where stakeholders don't, the rewards don't. Sometimes, as with all decision making processes, this can be a bit messy and some people will sometimes get upset when the outcomes don't match what they would most prefer. This is unavoidable when there is any sort of collaborative decision making, but any stresses shouldn't be extreme in most cases, or alternately, adults generally learn not to be overly stressed when they don't always get their way.

Also, as voting is a method of identifying and reaching agreement, we don't need to determine or suggest any labeling of intention. A downvote does not imply bad intention, only disagreement. A lack of downvote may indicate agreement, or perhaps just neutrality. Any of these is okay, people are entitled to have different opinions or similar opinions or no opinion.

Best to you James, glad you decided to stop by after all this time.