Does anyone else write posts and then delete?

[Thisisthelaststraw]

I’ve been here on and off since 2006 but my confidence to post has never improved.

I find myself writing a reply, re reading to review it then thinking “no, no, you’re a gobshite. People will tut or laugh or argue with you etc” so I delete and just read other comments.

I’ve wanted to post a few threads too but always delete when I’ve composed them as I’m sure I just come across as an idiot.

In rl I’m riddled with anxiety but I can be full of banter and witty retorts and genuinely make people laugh or listen to my point of view but on MN I get the jitters!

I kill threads all over the place too.

So am I just a weirdo with zero confidence or do other normally articulate and confident people shy away from commenting too?

It's not a bad trait. I do it pretty frequently. Tbh, some posters could definitely do with pressing delete a bit more often!

If I re-read it and think it sounds goady or stupid, I delete it.

Yep, about 75% of mine are deleted.

Sometimes I feel I'm not adding anything to the debate.
Sometimes I'm too slow & long winded.

Often I'm promoted to respond to people being sanctimonious nob heads. And then I think, I'm not going to change anything, why get into an argument?

I think the writing and deleting thing is a sign of critical thought, and that's a good thing IMO

You should definitely write more - your second post made me chuckle

I do it all the time. I also get paranoid I've revealed too much when I do post something, so name change constantly.

I am always doing. I type it and then think, no one is going to want to read that. Am even thinking that now.

All the time. I type it out then think, "Is this a useful contribution?" Pretty much any time it contains advice, I'll decide it isn't and delete it again.

Lots. My opinions may not be welcome & they certainly aren't important.

Also tend to waffle on or reveal too much.

Am in awe of others who say the right things in few words.

I do sometimes. Sometimes I think it’s easier to be harsher online and occasionally I am guilty of that, so quite often delete so I’m not an arse. Well, I’m probably still an arse but perhaps a little less than if I didn’t self edit!

Yep do it all the time lots of reasons why, mainly grammar as I know mine isn’t great at times so it can take me ages to craft a reply trying to avoid mistakes, other times because lots of posters have already basically said the same thing & sometimes because I would quite like to be a bit arsey or really blunt, I’m not like that in RL so I feel as though I shouldn’t be like it because it’s a relatively anonymous forum.

I write a lot of threads then delete before posting because most of the time it's a rant rather than needing help or advice so writing in down helps me just get it all out then I delete and forget about it. I occasionally delete comments if I feel I'm just repeating what others have said or if I'm offering an anecdote to relate and it appears too outing.

I do, sometimes it's because I'm asking for opinions on things when I start a thread but by writing it out actually helps me decide anyway.
Other times it's just waffle or pointless pointing out for the umpteenth time to cancel the cheque 😁

Yes. Regularly.

To many nasty mums on here puts me off saying anything so often i dont press post . 3x so far ive had the trolls on here say something to me which isnt alot but still im not on here to put up with that , its a shame as alot of lovely people on here.

I wish I had done this last night because my post was quite self pitying but fuck it. Sometimes people upset you and they deserve to know. I can't be measured all the time

I do it often. Sometimes because someone else has made the same point, sometimes because I can’t say what I really think and Toni g it down makes it anodyne and sometimes because I come over all pedantic and want to judge.

no, never do I write paragraphs of well thought out prose, only to think who gives a fuck about my view, and click the back button to delete it all.

I thought I was the only one. I've gotten slammed a few times over very minor posts, two recent ones about food

It makes me tired that people can be nasty anyway, but when it's about such minor comments it just makes me want to avoid posting.

Also feel that others give better advice, so I leave them to it and just wish there was a like button for some comments

Total missed opportunity!!! I am so gutted there wasn't zero responses, as everyone had deleted their comments!!😂😂😂

But yes. I do. Sometimes. Just not this one😆

Am in awe of others who say the right things in few words

^^ This. Too many times I look at my posts in a thread and see that I've written 3 paragraphs and everyone else has written 2 short lines

But sometimes I just CBA finessing my post to make it completely unambiguious, 100% on the nail with the SPaG and both concise and at the same time including every possible caveat etc to meet the unwritten Mumsnet posting standards requirements.

Yes! Then think “better not”

All the time!

Yes, as typing out responses take too much effort to whittle out what I can and can't say as I don't like retaliation.

Also delete texts and emails (both mainly to colleagues)

Yes me!
I also excel at thread killing too

Really hope I'm not the one to kill this one!

Yes, I regularly delete because I think the vipers might shoot me down or it’s too outing. I’ve written some extremely personal posts, stuff I’ve never told anyone or some epically stupid thing that’s annoyed me but shouldn’t. It’s very cathartic to do it, quite helpful sometimes.

Yep, constantly