You're probably right - I just imagined those posts and they didn't really happen.
I just thought any time a post was deleted, it would have a note that *said* Post #46 or (whatever) was deleted.
I mean, can I make my own posts just *poof* into the ether without a note at the placemark?

Only if you are granted special powers.
Really special people can make other people's posts go *poof* into the ether. Just wait 'til I've earned that power.
I still have a couple of levels of difficult testing to get through before I can do that, though.