I've done okay from Steem through a lot of effort and engagement. Some people expect to earn for no real work and it cannot function like that. It does help if you know the right people, but anyone can earn something here, unlike just about anywhere else. You seem to make a consistent amount in each post. That may be worth more eventually.
Downvotes are part of life here. They have a function, but there are people who just do it because they can, often to no real effect. It's part of the freedom we have on Steem that I would not want to lose. I've had dollars taken off posts before, but it's just potential rewards.
I now sometimes edit what I have written to make sure I don't offend any entities that could wipe out my earnings with a 1% downvote - I fear retribution. I actually have seen two of my friends abuse the downvotes on each other! Very disturbing.
I know that many people are using downvotes to some benefit, and that communities can use them to guide acceptable content.
I don't have a nature that would ever downvote anything. Who am I to judge? Except for those two 100% downvotes between two minnows, I've never seen anything really offensive on steem. I keep hearing about it, but it seems to not happen much in the lower echelons, thankfully.
I tend to shy away from downvoting too. Unless it's blatant spam, or abuse of the system I generally look the other way. I've never downvoted based on a difference of opinion. The voting system definitely has its pros and cons.
It is a personal choice what you do, but there is so much blatant abuse, e.g. buying votes on junk comments and posts. This platform is too precious to let people wreck it like that. They do not deserve to profit and they reduce what others can make. Of course there are some I would be nervous to take on, but I am not relying on my Steem income and so will not be too upset if I lose some. You cannot stop someone making use of their SP, but some previous abusers have been persuaded to change their ways by campaigns of downvotes as well as actually talking to them. Some do not even seem to realise that what they were doing was considered wrong, but I find that hard to believe really.
Absolutely. I've seen those campaigns. For the most part they seem to work too.