Hey @michelle.gent! Since you participated in Steemfest² you may have been at the developers' panel (day 1 - room 1).
There was one steemian asking the developers about their take on downvotes. @sneak gave a very wise and valuable response here that may help you to better understand the dynamic of the system and somehow learn to deal with situations like the one you mentioned:
Downvotes don't take anything away from you that you don't have. Voting is not completed until all votes have been cast.
If you want to watch the corresponding sequence:
Sometimes we just need to do one step back and realize that everything we have achieved and that we will ever accomplish here is a huge gift...:-)
Steem on!
Hey @surfermarly, I was there and I heard that. I've already taken that step back after discussing things with @ats-david to be honest.
I was looking at the flag as disapproval of my work when it has since become plain that it's not what this is about at all.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and help clarify things. I do appreciate it.
We shouldn't ever do that :-)
Steem on, Michelle!