One of the problems with SO, though is that frequently, once you get one ranty idiot tearing a hole into you for being so stupid as to ask a question they have

One of the problems with SO, though is that frequently, once you get one ranty idiot tearing a hole into you for being so stupid as to ask a question they have personal problems with, you're stuffed. Because once it receives one downvote, you'll get pile-on downvotes, particularly if it's an entertainingly abusive rant; which means that nobody will ever see it again. And you can't change the wording and repost, because you know that there will be people who will notice that it's a repost, and then it gets even worse. You will never get help with that question, because of one ranty idiot. And if you try to complain, the official response from the moderators is to suck it up and deal [paraphrased slightly]. Not that I'm bitter, or anything.