BS: Do you delete your posts?

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Peace
Date: 16 Mar 05 - 11:48 PM

"Do you delete your posts?"

Sometimes.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: M.Ted
Date: 16 Mar 05 - 11:44 PM

I do it a lot--sometimes because I never really figured out how to say what I meant to say(and generally, forgot what it was, anyway) sometimes because it took me so long to finish that the discussion had moved on, sometimes because I realized that it wasn't really worth getting into a fuss with someone(I had to learn that one the hard way), and sometimes because I wasn't going to be able to get back for a while to reply to anything, anyway--

Never occurred to me that other folks did it , too--

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 16 Mar 05 - 11:07 AM

Insults I've thought of, never meaning to say...
Before they get posted, I delete them away...

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: gnu
Date: 16 Mar 05 - 06:13 AM

Should I poooooost yuouuuu?
Ohhhhh, should I pooost yooou?
Should I poooooost yuouuuu?

Nights on my laptop, never reaching the end
Thoughts that just won't stop, Never clicking the send...

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Mar 05 - 05:06 AM

You know, there could be a song in here somewhere.

Surfs on my monitor, never reaching the end
Posts they are written, never hitting the send...

Not been done before has it?

:D

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 11:09 PM

I also have to agree with those who mention the time it takes to write posts. My speed slows if I have to backspace a lot on typos (some days my typing is better than on others), but I also reread and edit before previewing. Even though posts sometimes take time (and a separate browser screen on the side for searches on citatations or images) there are times when it simply seems like too much time has passed (if I leave the computer and come back to the same screen an hour later, for example) I figure the iron is no longer hot. Etc. There are any number of reasons for not sending what you've written. I'm sure I'm not the first who has allowed a thought to develop, then realized it was too personal or headed in the wrong direction and have then truncated most of it, leaving just a remark or two.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: GUEST,Blind DRunk in Blind River
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 10:41 PM

I would never flippin' deleet a post, eh? I ain't afraid to, like, stand by what I say. NOt this guy, eh? No sir. I am, like, a published auther in at least 3 newspapers now and I don't, like, bow down to pubnic perssure on stuff, like, that might get someone's nose bent out shape, know what I'm sayin'? That ain't the way if yer gonna make yer mark in the world. Ya gotta grab the bull by the mungoberries and go fer the gusto. Like Don Cherry. He is The Man, eh? They oughta put him in charge of the whole flippin' country and get this place straitghened out!

- BDiBR

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: goodbar
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 10:33 PM

i didn't even know you could. but i don't post much anyway and when i do it's almost always pointless and dumb. so i don't have any great reputation to keep so i wouldn't care to go through the trouble of deleting it. that's just my style.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 12:14 PM

I don't delete posts; like Bill D and John in Kansas, it usually takes me a while to compose a post, and takes enough time and effort that I don't feel tempted to even *consider* posting unless I think I have something to say that hasn't been mentioned yet and/or would really add to the discussion. I simply don't have the *time* to post frequently (I sometimes wonder how Mudcat's more frequent posters manage it!), and if I found myself regularly spending a fair amount of time on posts and then deleting them, I'd be beating myself up for wasting precious time. (I'm not saying that discretion ain't the better part of valor – just that it would really bother *me* to spend the kind of time I do writing posts and then end up not actually submitting them.)

As for "previewing" a post – I find it invaluable (unless it's an *extremely* short post). Not only is it helpful to read the post in a different font – but the format is different as well (the longer line length), and that's helpful too. Not only am I more likely to notice typos and mistakes in html, but when I preview my post, I often think of a slightly better/clearer way to word something. Every now & then, I even think of something to add that I wouldn't bother with if I had already submitted...

And yes, I too carefully "select" and "copy" my post before hitting "preview" or "submit" – the dismay at losing a couple of longish
(i.e., took me 10 min or more to compose) posts taught me to do that right quick!

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Ebbie
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 07:30 PM

You know, this thread reminds me that people, et al, by and large, in general, the great mass of them, etc, are good people who have a natural humility and lack of arrogance. I'd like to meet every one of you- I'd learn something.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: gnu
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 04:13 PM

Sure. It appears obvious from above that most "rethink" when they are ready to submit. My problem is that there is no breathelizer... breathalizer.. breathilizer... you know, on my keyboard. And, even my hardcopy "Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary" has blurry font in it by times.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 03:47 PM

Sometimes I wish I could delete a post ;^)

I make a lot of typos ~ I'm a much worse typist than I was when I was younger ~ and so I almost always use "Preview." I can proofread myself more effectively in preview-mode than in the message-writing box. I don't know if it's the font change or what, but it works for me.

As mentioned more than once above, "preview" is also essential to test links, and to make sure you turned italics off after turning them on.

I don't often write a message and then think better of it. Once I write something, it's almost always getting submitted unless the site goes down. I've never regretted a submission because I thought it may have offended someone else; the posts I have regretted are the ones where I've embarrassed myself (e.g., asserted something and then been proved wrong).

Occasionally, I'll write a short one- or two-sentence post and submit without previewing. Invariably, there's a typo. I can't not preview!

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Bill D
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 02:52 PM

I delete occassionally...but like John in Kansas, I type and compose slowly, and usually have all but the lesdexic parts caught before I post.

One interesting thing....using Firefox browser, which is becoming more & more popular, if I submit a post and Mudcat is down for a bit, that post is GONE when I hit 'back', just as if I had deleted it....while my usual browser, Opera, has a different caching algorithm and **KEEPS** what I have typed as part of each page....so no matter how far I go forward & back in the saved history, my post is always there. Just the other day, I forgot I was using Firefox and had a long post go *poof* when Mudcat   didn't respond. I used to carefully copy each post before submitting, but Opera spoiled me!

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 02:28 PM

I do it also. Wish I could delete some things I post also, but those things that do get through, that I wish deleted, must have some significant reason to be out there or else I could have just been drunk at the time!

Thread drift... When people post and instead of swearing use the asterisk like f*ck or sh*t do people read it like fstarck and shstart or do you say the word in your head? I read it as the word so I don't get why search for that star when it's easier for me just to type the word!....End thread drift...
Now should I post this for fear of pis*ing people off?...

(ha!)

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Layah
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 01:53 PM

I never preview before I post, although I do proof read in the text box. Since my posts are usually short anyway it's not difficult, and I don't do anything as complicated as html. I also tend to stay away from threads where people argue so I don't worry about offending people. Normally when I delete my post it's because I decide it isn't relevant or interesting, or it isn't as funny as it was in my head. Mostly it turns out to be not funny. I'm so much wittier in my head than in writing. Forums are places where you actually do have time to think about the perfect comeback, unlike in real time conversations where you have to make do with what you can think of in a few seconds.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Allan C.
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 01:47 PM

Sometimes I get halfway through a post bef

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 12:36 PM

I find it helpful to drop down and click "preview" before I even get started, just in case. . .

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Mooh
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 12:04 PM

Well I'll be darned, I learn something new every day. You see, I just always type and post. Look out world, Mooh's gonna try previewin'! Thanks folks!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 09:40 AM

years ago i got too fed up with being one of natures neurotic perfectionists
who rarely completed anything
..because of the obessive need
for self editing and perpetual over-precise re-drafting..

..eg.. 1 unfinished MA dissertation at a London college
that wisely refused me any more extended deadlines to hand it in..

so after learning that harsh lesson..
and thanks to a self prescribed lengthy rehabilitation regime
of strong european lager and english farmhouse ciders
i eventually managed to loosen up, stop caring about detail,
[or much else for that matter]

and accept that i too could say..


" f*ck it.. thats good enough.. it'll do..
i can't be arsed putting any more efort into it anymore..!!! "

innit great being middle aged and not giving a sh*t about anything
unless its truly life or death' important anymore...


yeah.. and also no more delayed entrances on stage because of
obsessive compulsive pre-gig perfect guitar tuning...

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: GUEST,Former Catter
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 09:18 AM

I used to delete posts all the time, for fear of starting a row, but no matter what I said somebody got sarcastic. That's why I'm no longer a member and seldom post anymore. I find Mudcat to be a very unfriendly place.   I occasionally check the threads but not very often anymore.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: GUEST,The Eraser (d/b/a Rapaire)
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 09:16 AM

Yes. Because sometimes what I'm posting is really, really stupid and/or inane -- or worse.

I use the "Preview" sometimes when I make a clicky.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: John Hardly
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 09:15 AM

that may just be the best reason yet to use that fuction.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 09:01 AM

And in Preview you can biggify the font to prewfreed it reel gud.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 08:49 AM

Plus, since it gives you a different looking font, you can more easily re-read your own writing. It's easier to find and fix mistakes (though I can't really prove that, because plenty still get through).

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 08:22 AM

Ditto to what Jon said. Using preview keeps you from making posts where you only wanted to italicize one word but forgot the slash to turn the italics tag off, which results in something that looks like this post.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 06:40 AM

Mooh, one great advantage with preview comes in when you have used HTML. Sometimes I still fail through backing my ability and not checking but really I consider that bad practice on my part. It's far better to check things like a link using preview.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Mooh
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 06:35 AM

Have never used the preview function. Never understood what it does that proofreading doesn't. Never delete anything either, but probably should.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: John Hardly
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 06:29 AM

Yeah, I delete pretty near half of 'em. The rest I wish I had deleted about half of 'em, and the remaining quarter I sure wish I had proof-read better.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 04:25 AM

These days at Mudcat, I probably delete over 1/2 the posts I write as I've changed my mind as to whether I really want to get involved in a thread. It happens to me eleswhere including the forums I help run but not to the same degree - possibly as there are fewer threads.

I much prefer life on the Annexe or folkinfo because on those, I have the power to delete myself after I've posted. It's not a power we grant to users there although we do allow editing of a post.

The big debate on that sort of thing is possibilities of re-writing history - any editing and someone could say something nasty and then change it to make themselves look lily white. My preference is to allow editing as mostly, especially on our quiet boards, people want to correct a mistake, MC takes the view it shouldn't be allowed (something I have no arguments over - it's just a different policy done in the belief of what is best for the board and perhaps it is best for MC). The one thing we do is timestamp an edit and put it in the post. At least that way, we have a record that something has changed even if we don't know what.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: GUEST,Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 03:24 AM

Yes. In fact, I've deleted this post.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: GUEST,The Shambles
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 02:54 AM

Plese leave any deleting here to the amonymous experts - who know what they are doing and have volunteered to provide this service for you.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 02:20 AM

I fall in with Ebbie on this. ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Ebbie
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 12:19 AM

I delete many more than I used to. Don't know if it shows, though, because I don't delete as many as I should.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 14 Mar 05 - 12:16 AM

As a victim of a very unreliable dial-up connection, I make it a habit to always "select all" and "copy" before I hit the submit. At least that way, if the post doesn't go through I can open Word and "paste" to keep my words of wisdom while I recover the connection.

I've also recently become something of a believer in the preview post. I post links fairly frequently, so I make a habit - especially if I've included links - of doing a preview post, right-click each of the links and open in a new window from the preview, so that I know they all should work.

The problem is that the "preview post" often seems to trigger the break in my dial-up link, so that I really need that saved copy in the annoying times when the preview works but the final post doesn't.

Being among the "slow-witted," it usually takes me plenty of time to compose something to say, so I don't often have to worry much about rash statements; although some have been muddy/muddled enough to look offensive. I don't worry a lot about being boring to people (but probably should.) That comes naturally with me.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Gurney
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 11:37 PM

Yes, usually because my first draft is more waspish than I intended, or because on re-reading, it I decide that I may irritate someone needlessly (I don't mind irritating them if I think it needful), or because I think the written English is poor (I usually try to write in the very best English that I can, much better than my spoken English), or because I decide it is really none of my business (such as American internal politics, for instance).
I can live with pissing people off, I just try not to do it for no reason.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 11:30 PM

Yes. Sometimes something in a thread gets to me and I have to make a statement about it. However, when reading it afterwards I quite often decide that it would be irresponsible to allow it to go onto the thread. Just getting my thoughts out for me to read is sufficient on those occasions.

Other times it is clear to me that I haven't got anything that will add to the thread so I delete the post.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 11:06 PM

Now and then, yes. Sometimes it is better to resist one's latest impulse to post on some contentious issue...

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: John O'L
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 10:35 PM

I am very careful these days. I have made kneejerk posts which upset people I had no wish to upset.

Now I make sure my posts say just what I want them to, and if that upsets someone then I can argue my case, rather than hiding or worse, having to apologise.

(That last bit was a joke. Will it be read as a joke? Should I post this at all? Maybe I'll just delete that last bit. Or perhaps I should rewrite the whole thing. I'm so confused.)

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: CarolC
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 10:15 PM

I meant to say I do it right here in the text box instead of in a word program, just before I hit the submit button, both when I preview as well as when I don't.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 10:14 PM

1. In the middle period of Mudcat, before PREVIEW, there was CLEAR ENTRY. You could compose away and then poof! Your post would vanish and leave the compose window blank, and I think it would close the thread window too. It was right next to SUBMIT, and thus one's choice was always graphically clear! :~)

2. Re: Worries about losing posts-- You can compose, hit CTRL-A and then CTRL-C and then hit PREVIEW. What CTRL-A does is select all the copy in the box your cursor is in-- the compose box. What the CTRL-C does is, it puts a copy of your composed post on your clipboard. If the message is going south, you can CTRL-V it back into place (insert it, AKA "PASTE").

As things are getting maybe-lost I sometimes paste them into an email draft message cuz they save real easy there. Then I can fetch it out if I need to. That's also a good place to put stuff you COULD have posted but didn't (good old restraint), to see it later and see if it's still killingly on-point. Or you can put things there you think you might want to use elsewhere, like on a site of your own, or in a book manuscript.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: CarolC
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 10:13 PM

I just highlight with my mouse, and then hit Ctrl C to copy/paste in case I lose my post in processing.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 10:07 PM

Very seldom. I never use the Preview, and if you are worried about loosing a post, do it in Word, then copy/paste.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: JennyO
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 09:31 PM

I have very occasionally deleted a post that I wasn't too sure about, but it's pretty rare. There was one last week. No matter how I rephrased it - and I did try to, several times - it sounded like I was having a go at someone, so in the end I decided not to bother, and deleted it. Funny thing is, I can't for the life of me even remember what it was now, so it can't have been all that important in the grand scheme of things.

That is pretty rare though. I usually post what I write, and I always preview. It seems easier to spot mistakes looking at it that way.

Azizi has a point about striking while the iron is hot. Sometimes I have looked at threads and thought - I must post to that, but it wouldn't be a one liner, it would take a bit of time to write, so I make a note of it to come back to it later when I have more time - then sometimes the thread has moved on or been forgotten, and I realise later that I never got a round tuit. And that's a shame.

It's like what I always say about my life - I don't regret any of the things I have done - only the things I haven't done.

Jenny

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: CarolC
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 09:19 PM

Yes, I do it quite often. Sometimes it just doesn't look so good after I've viewed it in the preview function. Sometimes I delete it before I even preview it.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Azizi
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 08:52 PM

But on the other hand..

Much of the time I do read what I write and I do make some changes before I push that submit button real fast..

One feature I NEVER use is "Review"..I'm afraid if I use this, I'll lose my post and would have to write it all over again. So I try to proof read, but don't do that very well.

When it comes to writing posts or anything: some people go for it and some people deliberate about going for it and maybe finally do..and some people think about submitting posts and don't..And I guess there are some people who don't think about ever submitting a post.

Different strokes for different folks..

But oftens when it comes to discussion forum posts, if you want to become a part of the converstion, and you hesitate too long, you'll find that the conversation would have taken some interesting turns that make your point less pertinent...

Sure you can still make your point..just to have it on record or in an attempt to return the conversation back to what was being said earlier..

You can even introduce a topic that is different than the title of the thread [Thread Drift]..it's all good as far as I'm oncerned.

But IMO, it's usually better to jump into the water while the conversation you are interested in is 'hot' [or jump in to heat the conversation up some more.."heat" here being used as a positive descriptor].

Or I should say, it's usually better for me..

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 08:46 PM

There will always be some self-righteous so and so to jump on anything you say. Don't worry about it.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 08:44 PM

No, but there's the odd ones that I wish I could rephrase...

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Bobert
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 08:43 PM

Wish I did sometimes...

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Layah
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 08:34 PM

That's why I delete them so much. I reread them before I hit the post button and chicken out and not post at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Azizi
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 08:33 PM

Delete? What's that?!

If I don't push that submit message button real fast, I might chicken out and not post at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 08:12 PM

. . . then some other times I don't.

Subject: RE: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 08:10 PM

Subject: BS: Do you delete your posts?
From: Layah
Date: 13 Mar 05 - 08:08 PM

I bet about half the time I write a post I decide it's no good and delete it. You all are only getting half as much Layah as I attempt to edit myself. And I don't delete and rewrite, I just delete and then move on. Do other people delete before they post?