Fair enough, I don't agree with the bid bots myself.
I just felt the reasoning given of "you should improve your content" doesn't seem very fair, since it wasn't a one word post or stolen content. I think not thinking content is that good, when the content isn't harmful either, is justifiable reasoning for not upvoting, but not for downvoting. It wasn't a one word post or stolen content, and it appears the person is not a native English writer either, possibly.
I would be quite upset if someone came onto one of my posts and said "I think you should improve your content" with no constructive criticism attached to it and then downvoted my post. I understand why you did it but I don't agree with the way it was done. I will be blunt with people who are stealing content etc but not people who just made content I didn't see as upvote worthy. I wouldn't take your comment either. At the very least I'd ask you how or why. I wouldn't take it lying down.
As for his history, I can see what you are saying overall. However, this post wasn't that much worse than other things that relate to simply opening packs / loot boxes etc. It was lower quality than some but it was still actual content. Content showing what is inside stuff like packs of digital or real life cards, or lootboxes in video games is an actual genre. Fair enough you are annoyed at his past behaviour (the joining contests and begging sounds annoying and sounds like something that should be dealt with then and there) but I feel that should have been responded to then, not on a post that wasn't a template or anything, but was an actual post that was showing off his cards. Knowing the full story makes a difference in regards to feeling a need to downvote at all, but you punished him on something that was better "behaviour" because it was okay content and it was done in a rude way.
Just so you know though, without the full story, it just looks like you are being judgemental in a bad way and going too overboard on policing content, and other people see posts each of us comment on so it's probably better to do things a bit more tactfully. Going by this post alone, I didn't think the content was bad enough to deserve a downvote and that's all I could go by. I don't disagree with downvoting in general - its good for dealing with content theft and people being abusive - but I didn't feel the post was that bad it deserved a downvote. With more context I understand why you did that though.
As for the bit about him taking value away from this chain, I have invested no money in Steem either as I don't have the luxury of being able to make that choice. I've powered up stuff I've earned rather than pulling it out but not put money in. I really think treating it that not investing equals taking value away from the chain is kinda cruel because not everyone can afford to invest. Idk if you would consider not investing money as being okay if you also thought he made good content and added value that way, or not, but investing money can't be the judgement standard, because that's not fair.
One last thing though: Have you actually said anything to this person before about their behaviour (the actually problematic behaviour of begging etc)?
If this is the first time talking to them, I think it was definitely done poorly. It's a bit different if you have continually told this person not to beg etc.
I understand your reasoning (now) but the I think the execution was flawed.
I just hope you never see my content as being junk. I wouldn't change it to meet anyone's standards but my own though if someone did see mine as being junk, because I have more artistic integrity than that, regardless of whether I'm making great complex posts or simply shitposting or anything in between. I'd take on constructive criticism but decide myself whether to use said criticism or not.
What you are saying makes sense. I actually wrote a reason in my first response but changed it because of the discussion I was having.
I think people are way too sensitive about downvotes. If I disagree with someone's post reward being too high, I can downvote it. It is certainly controversial for some but remember your post can't be valued at payout time lower than 0, so I cannot actually take anything away.
I don't always have to be kind. Sometimes I want to be a jerk. Go look through my downvote history. It's is rare and a small fraction of my activity. People who know me know this.
I don't think I need to explain myself to upvote, why should I have to to explain myself to downvote?
Don't hate the player hate the game. Plenty of platforms don't have downvoting.
Do I like reward opening posts or whatever he was doing? Well not really. Do I downvote whenever I see that? Nope.
The post was crap considering a bid was placed on it. He said it was his 2nd day bidding, but he bid on a similar post two months ago. He lied.
I downvoted to get his attention. It worked. If I just commented, he would have probably said, okay sorry.
I can actually still remove the downvote, and I would have, but he was super annoying about it and even lied. So I won't.
However feel free to buy him a 0.045 SBD replacement upvote.
I don't mind people who can't invest outside money, but I definitely think they just have one less type of stake.