I don't want to make you paranoid or anything, but negative votes appearring here, may, or may not, have anything to do with what you have posted.

I have noticed this myself on occaision, and have never mentioned it, but since you have brought up the issue, I will state an observation.

On occaision, I have posted nntp articles which are "critical" of the government. And when doing so, when I log onto perlmonks, I get the "Eek! You have lost 2 points !!" or something similar.

So I have come to realize that "government behavior-modification specialists" have account names on perlmonks ( and thus can vote ). When they get displeased with what you are doing or saying, they may signal that to you, thru downvotes. Maybe you were "ranting and raving about the military-industrial complex, were rude to your girlfriend, or smoked a joint. "

It's all part of life in the "Brave New World", where we are all spied upon, and there is "instant communication" between the spies. So sit back, and enjoy the fact that you are being "noticed". :-)

They do the same thing with spam. If "they" don't like what you are doing or saying, you will start getting spam with threatening subject lines, like "WARNING...before it's too late", or "Do you have enough health insurance?"

P.S. It all seems better, when you take you Soma pill.