See, the whole problem here is that you think what jamesbrown said was true, but it isnt. Its a vote. Nothing more or less. Steem rewards are based on a consensus algorithm and bernie didnt consent. So you got less rewards.

Ned, DTM, smooth, and all of the whales do and have done exactly what bernie did -- downvote material that they feel is overvalued, overexposed, or potentially harmful to the platform.

The problem is that you look at it, and you see the UI's ill-thought-out, poorly designed interpretation of it as a big red flag, and you think youre being attacked. Youre not.

The myth that a downvote is anything but a vote is one of the most harmful steem misconceptions out there. it creates a culture of negativity and is a large cpontributing factor in the huge reward disparity.