My friend, Sudeep said before in someone's thread. "Put a mask on him. He will speak anything."  Like my friend Suleman said, people who prefer anonymity hurt easily the other's dignity as they don't have it.  Umm..my friends whose name starts with S are very smart. 

Aliph, I find it annoying as well, and perplexing, but some people:

1) aren't able to write a coherent sentence, let alone argument. Their ability to express themselves is limited to button-clicking.

2) are resentful that others are able to discuss more high-brow topics that pasta toppings and the latest Kanye West song.

Let's just say the downvoters aren't people of very high caliber.

Because a "real argument " on Italki  winds up with multiple "flag" pressing, Aliph. People here are not able to stand up to their ideas. Instead, they use this silly "flag" button as children in a kindergarten. I also raised this voting issue and not once.

I absolutely agree with you on this one. 

This is one thread where my posts got immediately and systematically downvoted . Meanwhile someone else upvoted

<a href="https://www.italki.com/discussion/171788">https://www.italki.com/discussion/171788</a>;