I have a question for the DU family here.

[OldBaldy1701E]

Last edited Thu Dec 4, 2025, 11:21 AM - Edit history (1)

(Just an estimate, mind you...)

How many posts/replies do you write and then erase on this site?

Irregardless of the reasons, is this a normal thing for most on here?

These days, I find myself at around 50% discarded posts/replies.

[Clouds Passing]

1. Maybe 35-45% reread and rethink

[lark]

2. Maybe about 1 in 10?

I've gotten a couple of hides because of hot headed replies so try not to do that anymore.

[markodochartaigh]

3. Probably 25%.

Either my reply was too cynical (salty in today's lingo), didn’t really add anything, somebody already posted what I was going to say while I was replying, or was too derogatory towards someone who is generally "on our side" (looking at you Senator Schumer not supporting the Democratic candidate, while giving tacit support to the Trump supported candidate). Also I delete posts which I feel simply won't resonate because the soapbox I'm standing on is too high.

[MiHale]

5. If I posted every post I commented on...

Or the OP’s I’ve started then trashed…my post count would be in the multiple hundreds of thousands.

For various reasons…

[WmChris]

6. 25%

My alligator mind overwhelms my hummingbird commonsense and I fall victim to rage posting. When I read what in the heat of the moment I was pissed about I'm able to rethink and respond more appropriately (most of the time ).

[OldBaldy1701E]

11. I hear that!

If I had posted every time I thought about it.... my count would be around the same.

As far as actually starting a post before changing my mind, or creating a post, but then erasing it for various reasons...

I would have to go look at the post numbers, but I still say around half never see the light of day.

[Emile]

7. Approximately 1 in 5 maybe 🤔.

[quaint]

8. Maybe half.

Regardless of merit, my technical difficulties eat half of those.

[Aristus]

9. Maybe one out of fifty or so.

n/t

[question everything]

10. Regardless!

[OldBaldy1701E]

13. Huh. So I did. (n/t)

[JoseBalow]

12. I've only ever deleted 2 posts here

after mistakenly attributing comments to the wrong person, based on an inaccurate article.

If I ever edit a post, it's only to correct a spelling or grammar error, or to add additional relevant information.

[True Dough]

14. Probably around 2%

But, if I had exercised more discretion, it should be closer to 25%. Usually, I just let it fly!