Yeah. It started yesterday for me.
Read something, I think, on another thread about Ernest, the admin, being away with family for the holiday. Might be somewhat limited functionality for a little bit. But, he's been pretty on top of things over the last few months. I'm sure he'll get it sorted out when he gets back.
Have noticed that, too. Most haven't been consistent or repeatable enough to report, but these seemed like they were. Hopefully, Ernest has time to take a look at them soon enough.
try to explain your downvotes, or, better yet, voice your disagreement and have a discussion without relying on downvotes to express yourself. Use your words.
when you feel it necessary and that using your words isn't working, upvote/boost everyone but the person in question. Realize downvotes don't really do what you'd hoped and are a poor crutch and means of expression. Elevate what you do agree with. Worry less about what you don't.
just don't care about internet points. As others have said and covered extensively.
Hopefully, what remains is that conversations are important. Having an outlet for undescribed/unformed/ambiguous disagreement/dissent really doesn't add anything to anything for anyone. Making a point or saying something correct is more valuable than shooting down those you find to be incorrect. And, ultimately, it's not just what you think that matters. The consensus of the group and the conversation that gets them there, the experience and the interchange and the community itself are all much more valuable than the destination of a single conversation.
Edit: (And, for the record, while I disagree with your assessment, I've boosted and upvoted your thread, because I think the conversations being had here are valuable and worth seeing by more people.)
I don't upvote/boost my own content on principle. What I've started doing instead when I notice it is boost every other top level comment in the thread to restore parity. That's the only way to make it make sense.