I don't think smiting has anything to do with cyber-bullying. I do smite people I see who whine a lot, though. I think the general forum members should understand those smitten often display consistent patterns of ignorance and/or just cannot handle posting an opinion in a well-thought out, well stated way.
I think smiting, in most cases on NWR, has been consistent with this. Yes, some members do fit into niches, and admittedly, there are cliques that are more likely to applaud each other regularly, but it isn't bullying.
If I smite someone, it's because this person, in essence, is acting childish or has recently acted childish. That is why I've made this thread. Not to bully, but to expose that there's a reason behind why someone would be smited, but that those who complain about smites often have too narrow a mindset to realize this.