I am trying to be a productive member of this website and I'm having a problem with the reputation system.

Now I don't have a problem with the reputation system as a whole, I find that it works well. I am familiar with it as I am also a member at StackOverflow.

My problem is this: Twice now I've wanted to comment on an answer or vote it up because it didn't seem to be getting the votes or recognition that it needed. But, since I didn't have enough reputation I have no real choice but to leave another answer with a nod to the previous answer. Both times I was voted down, leaving me that much further from being able to vote up or leave comments.

Here are the two questions and answers:

How can I locate my Android device around the house?

http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/2935/best-screen-protector-htc-desire-z/2942#2942

In the second one I was very explicit in my answer about why I was posting an answer, but I was still down-voted.

So, what am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to help the community find the right answers when I can't steer them towards them? I post as much as I feel is necessary and no more. I'm not going to go around posting in every question I find just to get lucky and get an up-vote. That's not helpful to the community.

In Al Everett's post about voting, he lists reasons to vote down an answer. It does not say anything about a duplicate answers.

So, what to do besides posting the odd answer and hope that it is up-voted?

It is really discouraging me from trying to participate.

My thoughts: Perhaps any answer should give the poster one or two reputation points in order to encourage participation. Otherwise, I don't quite see the point.