As for your first thing, I try to leave go some things that ppl post. Especially the redundant stuff (Dead Horse), they usually fall down pretty quickly & soon enough are off the first page. Just try and let it go, sometimes I'll have a post all typed up and ready to hit "Post", and just erase it and hit the back arrow. It feels just as good for me to have spelled it out.
I'm gonna have to try that I think. It just gets SO irritating to page down through the average "...it's because there's no Slash" etc etc without striking back. I'll take your approach next time and see if that helps!