Ok I am wondering why and how I can remove negative reps on ask ubuntu. I know how to search for questions and answers before I ask. Then someone comes along and gives me a down vote because they think it is a duplicate... 

Well what constitutes a duplicate? If this person would have taken the time to read the question then they would have noticed it was useful. The question in question is: "How to safely remove unity and add something cool"

I got a down vote because they said it was a duplicate of the question that someone had already commented on and gave me the link. Although the supposed duplicate question did give me part of what I was looking for it in NO WAY answered the other part of my question as to how to safely remove unity!!!

So my question now is what can I do to get my REPS back? I know I will get - reps at some point the longer I am here but for this it is wrong in my opinion!!!

Otherwise could some one please explain to me how this question is a duplicate?

Thanks, and sorry for the ranting...