I just deleted 12 years of content. Feels weird

m_talon@beehaw.org to Chat@beehaw.org – 222 points –

I nuked my Reddit accounts today. Deleted all comments and posts, then the accounts themselves. The tool I used showed each comment as it was deleted, and it was bittersweet.

I watched old gaming and movie discussions I barely remember appear and then get flagged as deleted. Communities I once participated in and then moved on as the years past flashed by. I remembered how I felt back then, and then watched them scroll on into oblivion.

Now I feel...I guess it's grief. Sadness for that part that's gone. Sadness that it'll never be there again. Like footprints on a beach wiped away by the tide. It's like it never happened. There is no trace.

And I feel anger. Mad that it came to this. Mad that I let a corporation have so much of my time and thoughts. Mad that they made it clear my life was nothing but a product to them.

It's over now. Time for a new chapter.

Anyone else have strong feelings about losing a part of the past like this?

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I did this earlier this week to my 10yr old account. I used redact to delete my posts and comments as well. I didnt think it was fair since I'm one of those Apollo users.

Could you explain to someone who is not.techy how they might do this? I typically access Reddit by Android phone. Would I need to use a computer?