You shouldn't lose it - you get a message at the top saying it is too long - press the back button on your toolbar and click answer again, and your long reply will still be there (at least it is for me). You can then highlight and cut the second part of your answer, just submit the uncut part, then do a second post and paste the second part into it.
As Boxtops suggests, simply reloading the page should bring your original answer back. Then, again as Boxtops states, a simple 'cut' and 'paste' is all that is needed to post a two-part reply.
Thank you Chris, it works for me, nice to know that it should for others, too - although I must admit it floored me, the first time the post was rejected.
And another thing about long replies, I sometimes get the message that my post is too long and there's a, what, 2000 character limit I think it is. A real-time counter would be really helpful, Eds, so you know when you're approaching that limit.
Would you care to let me know how I can get to the point when, for example, explaining how to setup a wireless router, Sqad?
the manufacturers tend to use several pages of manual to do this, I'm sure if you can suggest a way they can do it in under 2000words they would appreciate your advice too as it would save them a fortune in paper.
you could C&P a link to a site which tells you how to do it Chuck?
Kinda agree with sqad on his one (there's a shock!) I've the attention span of a gnat, and looooooooooooong answers make my eyes glaze over with boredom.
I know I give very long answers sometimes, I drone on a bit I know and I actually don't bother to read long answers unless I have a particular interest in that question.
If I know that I'm going to need to write a long drawn out question or answer, I do it in MS Word and then copy and paste to be on the safe side. :-)
some of the more emotional question go on a bit too....but still don't give enough info to provide a sensible reply.but I suspect they are more about venting feelings and here is as safe space....