I don't really think you should have been downvoted, but for those that did, I suspect that your original post was downvoted for the perceived tone of "Really?

I don't really think you should have been downvoted, but for those that did, I suspect that your original post was downvoted for the perceived tone of "Really? You used that? Why would anyone want to do that?" Not everyone would make the connection that you didn't understand the reference, since Calvin and Hobbes is a wildly popular comic, at least in North America. I don't mean to assume you're not North American if you are, but it would explain why you were unfamiliar with the subject matter. As for your second comment - the one I'm replying to now - I still don't think you deserve the downvotes, but some people might perceive it as an attack of sorts, e.g. "How dare they downvote me for such a simple misunderstanding!" This comment (mine, I mean) doesn't really belong on Hacker News as it's a bit meta/behind-the-scenes/inside-baseball, so I suggest we just leave well enough alone, but I wanted to let you know that I understand your perspective and I'm sorry you were downvoted for a misunderstanding like this.