How we handle your answers

What we store

When you rate a question on the conviction thermometer, we store a random browser identifier in a signed cookie (mol_identity), your likelihood number before and after reading (0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, or 100 %), and the timestamp. No name, email address, or IP address is attached to your vote.

To prevent abuse, we keep a short-lived, hashed key derived from your network address for rate limiting, stored separately from answers. Like any website, our hosting provider's request logs also record IP addresses for security and operations.

If you choose to sign in with Google, your account is linked to that browser identifier so your saved answers and reflections carry over across devices.

What we show publicly

We only display aggregate distributions per question, and only once at least 10 readers have answered. We never display individual votes.

Analytics

When you answer or share on the thermometer, our analytics record only the question identifier and the phase (before or after reading) — never the number you picked.

Sharing is voluntary

Your number is private unless you explicitly choose to share it. If you use the “Share my number” button, the public share link and preview card will display the number you selected.

Deletion

Use the delete my answers control below to erase every thermometer answer stored for this browser identifier; they are also removed from the aggregates. Clearing your cookies disconnects a browser that is not signed in from its random identifier.