I’d say that around 75% of posts that I start writing a reply to, I then decide it’s probably not worth the hassle to reply, and delete it. Typing it just gets it out of my system. Anyone else do that?
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On Bluesky, I'll realize it's not simple enough to make sense in a short post. And, if it's on Facebook, where comments are not limited, I realize no one is going to read that long response. It does get the need to voice something, out of your system.
Yes. But occasionally I see something that I think about for a while after deleting an answer, then go back and find it and repost with my cogitations.
Sometimes I need to organize my thoughts and compose myself.
Often. Sometimes not worth the bother. Others, I feel motivated but can’t make it work, so cut and paste as a note ‘to work on’ - then never return to it. Invective & smartarse comments festering away after I’ve forgotten what the original topic was.
Yes. Not so much here but certainly at the other place. I'd start typing and then think "Nope. Doesn't have to be me who says it." Sometimes it's just not worth the hassle.
On occasion. Old Latvian saying (lots of sayings, et al. that arise from a history of homesteads keeping their own livestock, chickens,...) says:
"When you stomp on s**t it only spreads and stinks."
Oh yes, I do that every single day. I write out my rant of a reply. Think about it. Delete part of it change it delete the other part change it then delete the whole thing altogether deciding I don’t wanna be called a C word or fat or any other Trope they have out there for lesbians or women
Yes! Although I have found that an anonymous account on my local news page provides the platform to hit “send comment” on all my intrusive thoughts. 🤷♀️
Yes. ✋🏻 showing my age here, Dear Abby gave the advice that when we’re angry, write a letter, read it & throw it away.
Seems it works on social media even if we’re not angry.
College prof. told me to write my worries on a piece of paper, light them on fire and poof! they are gone. Friend and I joked about it for years. Then, I heard this is a military practice. After a particularly rough experience they’d write down the really troublesome details and throw them in a fire
I would write them and put them in a drawer. Read it the next day. Make edits. Back in the drawer. Repeat a few times and then burn it. That method really show you how emotions work.
Every day. Especially you have to watch words you use. There are bad actors on Bsky creating Mod Lists after doing keyword searches and putting everyone who shows up on search on list. A simple word out of context gets you on a naughty list and people who use Mod Lists without vetting block you.
sorta, I've probably deleted hundreds of replies immediately after posting them because I realized I was gonna just get dragged into something even stupider because of my reply
Yup, been doing that for years. Sometimes, on FB, I post them with "only me" as the audience and then I decide if I want to change the audience or not.
99.5% probably. For every post there were about 100+ I didn’t make (but typed something out before I was like “nope not going to risk it”) even if it was a “frozen grapes are delicious” innocent post
Only about 15 times already today! About 50/50 because my reply ends up getting off topic, or because I decide it's not worth getting into an argument.
And I rewrite posts so many times to cram as much as possible into the character limit.
Yes, and personally, the inverse also occurs. "I don't really need to communicate this, and I'm probably just pleasing myself, I'm not getting much from this" (quickly hits enter/send)
I do it when I feel baited into temptation to over-reply. But I stop when I realised the other side of the argument are not debating... they are demanding so my reply would be a waste.
My percentage isn't that high, but I definitely do that every once in a while, especially when the reply could provoke argument. I don't have the bandwidth to argue with people online any more.
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Sometimes I need to organize my thoughts and compose myself.
but it’s been over ten years that I’ve been furious on the internet and I’m tired.
"When you stomp on s**t it only spreads and stinks."
(And I had to force myself to follow through on my impulse to reply to you. 😂)
I will also make entire posts/comments- actually post them- and then immediately delete them. Because I'm just weird like that 😂
Seems it works on social media even if we’re not angry.
Works! Especially if you set it on fire :)
Was watching a period mystery and a person had a beautiful brass bowl that seemed made to hold papers set on fire and was like, ooh I need that
It's sickening to see all Blue MAGA BS posts who are not much better than the red MAGA back there.
I learned to mute and block words, but still 2/3rd of my stream is total American garbage
Might honestly start thanking people for the writing prompt. It feels good to be inspired to type (even if it’s not the best of circumstances).
Although I tend to save them in a file, just in case.
Call it my "electronic rants piggy bank"
(This is also quite useful in case of instant regret: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/textarea-cache/ )
And I rewrite posts so many times to cram as much as possible into the character limit.
I also used to do that with emails. Just be sure you don't put in the email address.
You know why...
Here, not so much.
(Bluesky: More intelligent users. More lessons learned. Better experiences.)
Thanks to all of you!