Thing is, most who are whales have things to fear as well. Let's assume an example where you suddenly start shittalking me in my posts or insinuate certain things, I can choose to ignore them if I find them baseless and maybe judge you but if I were to act upon it as retaliation with downvotes, etc, it may cost my reputation. This is important because even if not many may act up initially on countering my downvotes with upvotes, they will be judging my actions as well and if overdone they will/should eventually as a community step in and ask me not to act in such a way and start countering my downvotes or downvote me back if I am posting actively as well as an opinion that my downvotes are an overreaction/unfair.
I'm not saying go out and start antagonizing whales, just pointing out that every action can have their own consequences. There's many on Hive who have disagreed with my use of downvotes in the past and there's many who agreed with them, it's not always black and white and no matter what you do you won't get everyone to agree with you.
It is like chain reaction right?
but maybe you are right sir, it will cost the reputation and building up the reputation is not easy either. But yeah, i hope i am not insulted whale too. Still i am respecting they and want to be part of whale too even though i am still build step by step. Maybe if whale can guide and make it train like pay it forward train, it will make the community on hive will be better.