Yep, plenty of times. Why cancel the post? Because I always reread what I've written, and sometimes the post is written in the heat of passion. Looking it over, I'll say to myself "This is just going to go nowhere good" and delete it.

And to be honest, while I enjoy discussion, I grow weary of much internet 'discourse', as it very often tends to be just one side trying to outshout another. In fact, it's come to the point where many times I'll just say my piece (if I decide to say anything at all) and move on, never checking the thread again.

Ping Coelocanth.

I couldn't resist trying your statement. :)

Absolutely. Maybe because I didn't have anything new to add to the discussion or just stop caring towards the end of my writing. :P

EDIT: Or ticking people off. That happened not too long ago with a troll post, and wasn't worth it.

I tend to write walls of text that take waay too much time for a forum post. The things is that I usually do take the time to think before I write, and when it comes to certain topics I get a bit passionate.

There is a reason why I'm staying out of political topics more because what is the freaking point. No one is likely to change their minds, like going on a merry-go-round. While I do actually find debate about philosophy and politics fascinating, but online is not the best place to do so. Like the communism topic, I thought about posting but then I decided that this would be as productive as debating with my cat.

Dude, happens all the time. Especially when I notice that my post is as long as the person I'm responding to stubborn and posting it would only result in another response that would demand another long response for me - which is just not worth it. :P

Well, actually almost nothing one can do or post on the internet is worth the time. Even while writing this post I could have saved a bunch of starving kids but transferring money to some charity. Oh my God... that's actually true... I have to act! NOW! Don't expect any more posts from me on the forums - EVER!
You mean like raising your hand, opening your mouth and then just lowering your hand hoping that nobody saw you raise it in the first place? Dang, reminds me of university.
True. Even I try to avoid these topics as much as I can by now. Also, what's the point in arguing if you can't unleash the anger by shouting right in someone's face? And pressing the keys very hard while writing a post just won't cut it.

yeee when thats happend to me i say lets go boozing

more doing that, but starting the sentence and then stopping! heheh

I understand your point on that. It explains why I personally am more of a forum lurker over a poster. I have around 50-60 posts on GOG which is actually kind of high for me but this community is also better than most of what is found on the internet (where the majority of public forums are just a cesspool of garbage.)

I always chuckle a little when I see that little comic every so often where the guy is ignoring his wife/girlfriend for something more important and the tagline is something like "not now honey, somebody is wrong on the internet!" That guy always thinks his point needs to be heard and is sadly too much of a reality these days.

In my personal opinion, the internet has made the world a much much smaller place and the anger, hatred, very opinionated reactions are just a microcosm of what the real world is becoming. Perhaps it was always like that but it just flows around a LOT faster now. Kids are exposed to it a lot younger now and the cycle goes on.

See, now I'm already thinking about cancelling this comment and moving on. It has literally been on my screen for around 10 minutes now while I decide what to do.
Well, lets see....consider it a social experiment.

I do that a lot too, for the reasons stated here and two that haven't been said yet:

a) sometimes I attempt to write something funny, but because of the limitations of written communications I see it didn't even come close so I scrap the whole post.

b) other times, before I hit "post my message" I read it back and I get self-conscious that it looks like I'm just trying to chime in without anything useful to say. It feels like I'm trying to conquer forum rep the "whore" way..So I decide that since I can't add to the thread I won't post it.

It makes me wonder.

[insert 3 paragraphs that expanded, and sidetracked, but thought "what's the point?". Just me ranting and asking questions that are opinions, not necessarily fact- not upset or anything]

I'm glad you posted though. I enjoyed your post :)

Yes. Mostly on youtube. Someone says something idiotic and I start posting my reaction when I think: Do I really want to start this? Do I really want the guy who said THIS to turn his sights on me? Could anything good come out of it? And the answer to all these questions is always no. So I stop.

My obligary dilbert posts about internet debate:
http://www.dilbert.com/strips/comic/2011-06-03/
The guy does bring up a good point, how can you compare outsourcing to our restrooms? Racists, nazi, hitler, trolls, skritt for brains

http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2006-10-27/
http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2006-10-28/

Hilarious links, Thunderstone. I don't throw out LOL's gratuitously but the links you provided genuinely made me lol. Thanks!

yw ^^

Haha... So true!