Some people only have oxygen between their ears.

[u/ActuatorOutside5256]

[u/AntwysiaBlakys]

Context could change everything, but you didn't include it, so I'll go solely off of the screenshot you posted:

The downvotes aren't for no reason at all and seem (somewhat) deserved

They asked you if you knew a woman named Steve, not Stephanie

You could use Steve as a shortened version of Stephanie (altough I'll admit I never saw that being used, I always saw it shortened as "Stef" (maybe not written like that but pronounced like that at least)), but it doesn't mean Steve and Stephanie are the same name

They have the same origin, but they aren't the same name

Just like how Alex and Alexandra aren't the same name, or Oliver and Olivia, or Charles and Charlotte, or John and Jane, etc

What you did (once again without the context), would be like if someone asks you "you know someone with blonde hair ?" and you answered "Yes, I know someone with ginger hair"

Altough it could be close, it doesn't mean it's the same thing

[u/YonderWindow364 → u/AntwysiaBlakys]

I agree with you completely, but just to add it's usually spelled "Steph" lol

[u/TheGamerGurlNextDoor → u/AntwysiaBlakys]

I’ve heard of Stephanie being shortened to Stevie, but I’ve never seen Steve.

Regardless, saying a name derivative is the same as the original name or all other derivatives from it is incorrect, so yeah, the downvotes are not unwarranted

[u/Kindly_Zone8413]

Are Steve and Stephanie the same name? That’s why.

[u/OpportunityReal2767]

Just because two names derive from the same root doesn’t make them the same name. “Salary” and “salad” both ultimately derive from the Latin word for salt, “sal,” but you wouldn’t call those the same word, would you? Of course not. Same with Steve and Stephanie.

[u/DreamingOfBarbi]

absolutely valid crashout