Plus there are a lot of subs that lend themselves to people who believe they're mega informed experts in a given topic. Being challenged on that topic triggers them and they're already online where they can quickly start googling random articles and shit that support their arguments
Upvotes and downvotes put you into a competitive mode of interaction, I think.
Downvotes are extra harsh on this, because it's a miniature equivalent of being booed on stage.
Plus there are a lot of subs that lend themselves to people who believe they're mega informed experts in a given topic. Being challenged on that topic triggers them and they're already online where they can quickly start googling random articles and shit that support their arguments