Do the requests remain downvoted? In my experience, they may be downvoted for a while, but then get voted back up.
It depends a bit on why the original post was downvoted. Asking for explanation when the problem is obvious, or on a forbidden topic tends not to get back to neutral.
Obvious to regular users != obvious to new user
Monkeymind knew why he was being downvoted.
Edit: But, I agree with your point that many community norms that will get one downvoted are not accessible to new members.
Do the requests remain downvoted? In my experience, they may be downvoted for a while, but then get voted back up.
It depends a bit on why the original post was downvoted. Asking for explanation when the problem is obvious, or on a forbidden topic tends not to get back to neutral.
Obvious to regular users != obvious to new user
Monkeymind knew why he was being downvoted.
Edit: But, I agree with your point that many community norms that will get one downvoted are not accessible to new members.