I didn't downvote that comment, but only because I can't. I obviously can't speak for those that did, but I'd downvote your reply because it seems more an ill-formulated rationalization than an actual answer.

Posting a link just because it "would be posted anyways"? That, to me, is an admission of sorts to gaming the system; that you're "sharing" those links only for the karma, not because you're genuinely interested in the content you're linking to.

I didn't downvote you, but i guess that they don't agree on the fact that those links would have been posted anyway...