If someone is concerned about likes or bitch-slaps on an otherwise friendly forum, perhaps it is the wrong place to be hanging around. Honestly never look at mine and think it is a silly social construct. IIRC, the V-Bulletin software program that runs this place has the +/- as a default.
Joined a message board this spring completely unrelated to politics on a forum with a similar "ranking" system, and quickly learned that it is akin to fraternity/sorority hazing to get the bitch slaps early on. Still have far more negatives yet people still appreciate the contributions that I make.
My advice to our new Massachusetts member: Make interesting posts that our little rag-tag group of conservatives interested in, and your + thing will increase. Whining about it will only make it plummet.