From Wikipedia:
Strikethrough (also called strikeout) is a typographical presentation of words with a horizontal line through the center of them. Here is an example.
It signifies one of two meanings. In ink-written, typewritten, or other non-erasable text, the words are a mistake and not meant for inclusion. When used on a computer screen, however, it indicates recently-deleted information. (The difference is that in the latter situation, the struck-through text previously was a legitimate part of the document.) It can also be used for humorous purposes, such as something that normally shouldn’t be shown is shown anyway, but with the striketrough put on, rather than the text being deleted.
I admit, using strikethrough is nice, once in a while. The new version of Blogger in draft allows one to publish using the typographic element of strikethrough. In life I hardly ever use a pencil, I prefer pen. When taking notes, if I make a mistake I simply mark it out with a pen. I have no problem with this. When it comes to typing a letter, email, or posting, I try to give as much of a finished product as possible.
When it come to Yiddishkeit and mitzvah performance, I’m not so sure where I stand on strikethrough. One one hand, it’s important to show ourselves and others that we make mistakes, think before we speak, and attempt to even take back things that we say (this can also be done with the DELETE or BACKSPACE key).
On the other hand, there is much to be said for a “finished product”‘ that represents hard work, rough drafts, editing, and spellcheck (currently missing in “Blogger in draft”). There are stuggles that one may have and accomplishments that one may have made that result in the “finished product”. These struggle and accomplishments might be of a private nature that only a close friend may know about. It may be that only Hashem was privy to know of these things.
When it comes to giving chizuk, showing that I made a mistake in a certain area, and thus, exercised a strikethough on a particular thought, action, or word has merit. However, showing the process involved in correcting something or doing teshuva seems to have even more merit, in my mind, as the total end result should be shelaymus (perfection).
