Downvotes can feel very unwelcoming, even when they aren't intended to be. Especially if they aren't followed with a comment pointing out how to do better. I try to reserve my downvotes for questions that seem hopeless, but I leave a lot of comments. It's funny that Stack Overflow is now attempting to make downvoting more common, after going on recently about how they wanted it to be more welcoming.

Votes to close are worse of course. There's no more direct way to say you don't belong here.