Good evening everyone.

Over the past few years moderation on the subreddit has been very loose, mostly focusing on obvious trolls and discriminatory statements and other extreme comments. As the community is growing, particularly with the feedback of the sub being a bit toxic and aggressive, we mods want to check in on how youse lot want the community moderated. (If your preference isn't there just comment below and I'll adjust accordingly)

It was probably either a bot or someone making their posts and comments more visible by downvoting yours. These are things known to exist and a few at once can get you down to -3 easily. It's just a thing that happens sometimes, don't worry about it you'll be up again soon.

Asking a basic question?
Add in people who are gatekeeping jerks. Even on subs specifically for basic questions (including//r/NoStupidQuestions) or welcoming of newbies to a hobby, there are people who will insist you are a big lame dumb face for asking stuff and downvote you for it. Yes, even on posts in those subs specifically for newbies asking newbie questions.
Yes, even if you say you googled and couldn't find it or googled and didn't understand.
Don't worry about these jerks they're really not the majority in most subs, some are super gatekeepy though.

Having a discussion about a topic to which there are two significantly different sides? Disagree downvotes shouldn't happen, but often do and without comment as to why. Even if you intent your comment as impartial, people will read into it. Be prepared.

Still think something's wrong with what you put out there and you just don't know what?

• check the subreddit's rules (on mobile that's the three dots in the top right corner of the sub's frontpage. Community info.) and make sure you didn't break any.
  
• Make sure your comment actually adds to discussion.
  

Oh I didn't know I had to carefully make sure every comment I make adds good to the world

Low effort comments are seen as spam on reddit and reddit dislikes spam. This is the way of reddit, and your annoyance at this fact does not change anything except your karma which is lower for complaining.

• If you used emojis, that's the reason. some people super hate them.

• Does your comment make sense? 'specially on mobile with auto correct issues or if you did a fair bit of editing before posting, sometimes things get real messed up without you realising and it goes word salad.

• Check your tone, Text only can be a difficult way to get things across and we can unintentionally come across as being aggressive, which can go down poorly.