The downvote system means unpopular or dissenting opinions get hidden - this isn't conducive to actual discussion and leads to a "circlejerk" where people post not what they believe, but what would get them the most internet brownie points. Sure, posts here get criticised, but that's a natural consequence of posting something people disagree with. If you actually believe what you post, you should be prepared to explain or defend your statements when they are questioned. The moderation here tends to be pretty trigger happy, so you can rest assured that if someone says some actual mean words to you, those mean words won't stay posted for long. If you want dissenting opinions or legitimate criticism hidden, perhaps reddit is where you should stay.