Replying to a message that the mods have deleted . . .

[pburn]

From time to time, I've been in the process of composing a reply to a post that, in the meantime, has been deleted by a moderator. I've had this happen a bunch of times, and it just coincidentally happened to me again a few minutes ago. In my experience, when I try to submit a reply to a post that has been deleted, I get this error message:

A member recently stated (and I'm paraphrasing and sanitizing here for reasons of privacy):

"The post I was responding to was removed because [someone] flagged it. So when that happens, my post was edited to look as if I was responding to someone I was not."

And a second post in the same thread:

"I will explain what happens again when a mod deletes a post. I was responding to [another member]. But [someone] flagged his comment and mod removed it. So the comment I responded to was gone. This community being as advanced as it is, it defaults to the post above it."

So, this member is suggesting that when s/he starts a reply to message #13 (for example), and that message is removed before s/he can submit the reply, that comment will automatically appear as a reply to #12. The member's reply to pburn (or whoever) will then show up as a reply to a completely different member who posted the previous message.

Has anything like this ever happened to anyone else? Have you ever tried to reply to a post that has subsequently been removed? If so, what kind of a result have any of you seen? Have you received a similar error message, or has your reply ended up being posted to a completely different member?

Thanks for your input and observations . . .

[pburn]

Thanks for your input, @*madison! I'm not sure that's the same scenario I was describing, though.

• Person #1 posts.
• You post.
• As I'm composing a reply to your post, your post gets removed. 
• When I submit my reply to YOU, it posts as a reply to Person #1.

I'm saying it does not happen that way. If I try to post to you, and your post has been removed, I get an error message. 

So:

• Person #1 posts.
• You post.
• As I'm composing a reply to your post, your post gets removed. 
• When I submit my reply to YOU, I get an error message.

I've certainly had a whole string of posts/replies removed when the initial post that started that line of conversation is removed. I think that's what you're referring to?

1. You post smack.
2. I reply to you with something sweet and complimentary.
3. Someone replies to my Message #2.
4. You post some more smack aimed at me.
5. Someone else replies to you.
6. I continue to respond to you with supportive, nurturing comments, and you carry on with the smack aimed at me.

If your original post (#1) is deleted, all the following posts will USUALLY get deleted right along with it, or, you're right--none of the other posts make any sense.

I think that's what you're describing? If so, yes--that's been my experience as well.

[*madison]

After I posted, I realised I had misunderstood what you were talking about.

What you are talking about has happened to me too..

But usually if I'm typing a post, and the post or the thread I'm replying to gets removed while I'm still typing, I am not able to post my post, the system won't let me. I get that red banner message.

[ittybitnot]

@pburn 

Any time I get a red banner of any sort I copy my text and just start over from scratch so to speak.  Choice to  use a saved post or discard.....DISCARD and start again.   Phony html warning?...post to notepad,  copy/paste to a new "reply" box. There won't be a "reply" box if the post you were going to reply to has been deleted.   It may not be the best way but is the path of least aggravation for me.. cuts down on the POST FLOODING.