Even those with opinions that match the mainstream (the vote was valid) are getting threatened:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/03/us/election-officials-thr...

Downvotes are scary?

Ok, why don't you tell us what you think? No one is going to attack your home.

> No one is going to attack your home.

Not OP, but one possible explanation, people see which comments are downvoted.

I don’t really care about these 4 bytes in the SQL DB on the other end of the world, with no connection to real life. But I think some people care.

That you have to offer that sort of reassurance makes my point.

No it doesn't at all. You're just worried that people will think less of you. Which if you have abhorrent views, is fair enough right?

Tell that to senator Hawley

Right, a senator and some random person on the internet who's existent barely matters are the same vis-a-vis risk.