How often do you write a reply but don't post it because the argument just isn't worth it?

Probably 95% of the time, honestly.

Almost every time, even when it's something I'm a SME about. I just don't want to play the popularity/karma game and deal with nonsense.

Consider that your target audience for this question might inherently have difficulty answering this.

50% of th...ah, fuck it.

I’ve been on the internet long enough I can have the entire argument with myself at this point. I’ve taken to just posting what I want and forgetting about it. They can’t all be bangers.

I almost didn't even post this response.

I just deleted four paragraphs about Batman and the ethics of murder because I realized I didn't actually want to argue with anyone, I was just soapboxing. And it would definitely start an argument.

Would have been great if no one replied to this post.

All. The. Fucking. Time.

3 out of 4 times?

Find myself reiterating something that was already said. Arguing a point nobody cares about. Entering a discussion that I know will not go my way regardless of what info I provide, because even Lemmy has a Hive Mind sometimes and doesn’t like dissent. Realizing half way through writing it that I don’t really know enough about the subject and should just shut up. Or maybe I just think my comment won’t offer anything that contributes to the discussion.

I often type and then realize I'm not really adding anything to the discussion. Then I just discard it.

So. Often. At least twice a day.

Less here, way more often on Reddit. Here is nicer to have conversations.

I post about 1/20th of the replies i write.

A lot. I start typing then stop, physically remove my hands from the keyboard and remind myself that A) arguing on the internet never convinced anyone of anything and B) it will make me feel worse, not better.

You're lucky I'm even responding to this. That's how often.

All the time. I just did it right now because I don't want to fight about what I was going to say. Sigh. Tl;Dr lemmy isn't that different than reddit... still lots of jerks.

The older I get, the fewer fucks I give. I still give fucks, just not as much.

(furiously clicks to delete the partially written answer)

I have done this for years starting with emails. I find typing out the reply helps me more than actually sending it.

I think of this as like reddit ptsd. People on lemmy have generally been unexpectedly level headed when disagreeing on things.