Those are great points. As well as backing up facts with references, I would add, don't state an opinion without facts and reasoning to back it up. And I agree

Those are great points. As well as backing up facts with references, I would add, don't state an opinion without facts and reasoning to back it up. And I agree that without doing these things, some opinions are more likely to draw down-votes than others. TBH I indeed probably am more likely to down-vote a badly made point if it's one with which I disagree. But really, everyone should be doing these things, regardless of karma concerns.