my comments, because I didn't like what I had said, once I calmed down. I understand your argument that one shouldn't comment at all, if one is not sure that one like ones own comment "the morning after".

I was expecting your reaction and I am glad you spelled out your opinion about it clearly.

As you know I have difficulties NOT to comment. I banned myself from dailykos for that reason, so that I have a straight jacket put over my mouth. I am glad I did. I realize that it's my personal problem and the same situation occurs now here as well. You know what I asked you to do with me in our private message.

I think for me this is a bigger issue than just being too spontaneous and too under-informed about facts, which would make my comments more substantive.

I apologize to have abused the right to redact my whole comments about certain issues. On the other hand the fact that it is possible to do so on this site, is one of the reason why I came here. I appreciate that this site gives one the freedom to delete ones comments, because there is a lot to be said about the fact that as Robert Sheer says so nicely "They know everything about you". I am opposed to have every word that appear in my comments to be saved for eternity on servers to be used by people for purposes I have no control over. In fact for me it's not only a personal issue, but a political one.

But I will try hard to not do it again and to comment less. As you know people can't live without communicating with each other. In real life this is no problem to communicate the way we do. Nothing gets a decade long trail of "proofs" which follow you like shadows through your life.

But online it's different, and I reject that part of the internet technology. As we are so dependent on communicating with each other, it's something that should never be abused by a technology that takes away our own control over our words. The audience is world wide, the words archived for eternity, a clear recipe for abuse and potential personal destruction. You can see what it does to "political debates and fights". I see no reason to change my mind about this lack of control we as commentators have over our own words.

Ok, JtC, it will not go out of control. I am going to beat this beast of online communication on blogs. No worries. Glad it was taken out in the open by you.
BTW, what I think the comment thread would look like when half of the comments were redacted, is probably how real comments in conversations would look like. People who talk have enough clues in real life when and to whom to shut up about what. Online this barrier is missing. Some people have more difficulties than others to handle that lack of inhibiting factors online conversations present. I am one of them. Guilty as accused.

So at least people know it was edited.

I usually try to post Edit: and my new addition. Though I don't think I've ever posted "spelling correction" or anything at all if I corrected errors.

TOS has a helpdesk thread where they are apparently deleting Phoenix Woman's comments as they come in, because I saw one they hadn't deleted yet. VERY CONFUSING regarding the flow of the thread. People are obviously responding to her, but nothing they're responding to is there.

I COMPLETELY understand why you don't want them redacted/deleted.

Note to self - formatting buttons on c99% are actually usable while posting from yer phone! No more need to use all caps as an alternative.

of providing a reason for editing/retracting: "Edited to correct link" for example, or "Retracted for TMI" or "Retracted for being an asshole".