The “Reply” to topic is easily confused with the “Reply” to the last comment. I do it all the time.
If you post a comment and realise you posted it as a subcomment instead of a comment on the topic and delete the subcomment and try then to post it on the main topic, it won’t let you since it is considered similar to the one you had just posted, even though that was deleted.
Recommendation:
- Deleted comments should not be used as a basis to block similar comments.
- In terms of the wider issue causing it, to present the Reply to topic so it’s not confused with the the reply to last comment. I think this could involve putting ABOVE the “This topic will close 2 months after the last reply.” and stats because by having it below it’s typically off the screen and if you’re not posting too often you’ll easily click what seems to be the last reply button. I also think for a comment there shouldn’t be a space between the end of the comment and its reply button line, as it makes it feel like the reply button is disconnected from the comment. The comments not appearing as a tree fuel the problem for me as it makes it feel like a single linear thread. Hopefully that explains something about why I always seem to click the wrong one; I’m sure many others don’t but equally I dare say I’ll be far from unique :)