mayhaps we only allow members of some of the higher order of monks to down-vote.

Wisdom in one domain doesn't mend folly in another. Higher-order-ness doesn't warrant a more sociable and/or responsible behaviour (specially in hidden actions).

With regard to removing the downvote option: indifference ne express rejection. Removing the downvote option means dropping a helpful corrective.

<update>

That corrective would be much more helpful if downvoters would explain their reasons to the author of the post.

</update>

--shmem

_($_=" "x(1<<5)."?\n".q·/)Oo.  G°\        /
                              /\_¯/(q    /
----------------------------  \__(m.====·.(_("always off the crowd"))."·
");sub _{s./.($e="'Itrs `mnsgdq Gdbj O`qkdq")=~y/"-y/#-z/;$e.e && print}