How long does it take from the time of posting to the time it shows up where I can see it?
There have been times when my post has NEVER shown up. I think I'm posting correctly.
Can't imagine what's going on.
Must I 'tag' my posts, and if so, what does that mean?

We can see you now:) No need to tag on this forum. Post away!

HARDDRlVER
How long does it take from the time of posting to the time it shows up where I can see it?
There have been times when my post has NEVER shown up. I think I'm posting correctly.
Can't imagine what's going on.
Must I 'tag' my posts, and if so, what does that mean?

If you are including links that the forum software (not written by Cakewalk) thinks are spam or phishing or malicious in any way the post may never show up.
 
HTH. 

and in recent times even without non kosher links posts have been just disappearing into the void periodically, although hasn't happened to me for a while

Same here today I had 3 post go vanish on me.
the only thing I did different in these posts were use either Bold, Underline Or Italic.
 

chuckebaby
Same here today I had 3 post go vanish on me.
the only thing I did different in these posts were use either Bold, Underline Or Italic.

Well, there ya go. How dare you bold anything or use italics. Underlines, though, nobody cares about. It's just fun to mess with people when they think it's a link.
 
But seriously, the most common reason for a disappearing post is that the automated anti-spam feature (Aksimet) is unreliable. After all, it's Artificial Intelligence, and we know how well that works. If you don't, just ask Siri or Cortana.
 
The good news is that although Aksimet sometimes gets overly-ambitious, it does get rid of 99% of spam. Remember what it used to be like? Fake Nike shoes, astrological love advice, and kitchen remodeling ads would fill entire pages in every subforum. 
 

bitflipper
 
 It's just fun to mess with people when they think it's a link.
 

lol, not fair, even when you have forewarned them about it