Maybe I’m oversensitive? We all know our votes here are public record, but to me it seems like weird, obsessive, and unhealthy behavior.
It definitely is a red flag for me to the point where I wonder if I shouldn’t just outright block people who go around making it known it’s something the participate in.
There are some valid use cases. If I’m having a discussion with someone, and they’re downvoting all my comments, it’s pretty obvious that they’re not really replying in good faith. At that point, they’re usually here to “win” or troll rather than have a meaningful interaction. It gives insight into their intent and attitude.
But just as often, it turns out to be a random bystander doing it, so it’s important to check rather than assume.