I think you're mostly jumping at shadows, I see a small number of comments claiming dowsing rods work (and they're downvoted for it) but far more comments that

I think you're mostly jumping at shadows, I see a small number of comments claiming dowsing rods work (and they're downvoted for it) but far more comments that amount to saying that dowsing rods don't work but experienced dowsers can make reasonable guesses as to where water may be found. These are very different claims. My comment claiming the latter was initially downvoted, I think by people who thought I was saying that dowsing rods work. They don't, obviously. But that doesn't mean hiring a dowser is categorically irrational.