Downvotes can just mean 'I disagree'. It's stupid and wrong and confuses everyone new since it ghosts the comment, but it's the sanctioned action of HN since time immemorial. The argument has been had many times before, but it's acceptable HN behaviour. If you look in my profile, you'll see a screed against the moderation system that was written about four years ago...
Basically just suck it up and don't read too much into the "I disagree"s.
Basically just suck it up and don't read too much into the "I disagree"s.