I can’t say I never downvote anyone but I get into these comment chains from time to time where really no matter what I post whoever I’m talking to downvotes every response but I generally shy away from downvoting even things I dislike. I don’t want to fall into an echo chamber where all I see are only the things I agree with.
Retaliatory downvoting is a lame thing to get caught up in. A certain type of reddit person will downvote every reply you make to them. Most often I think I’ll be ‘the bigger person’ and ignore their pettiness.