My first link used the dropdown menu. Fwiw, discuss.online says it is using "BE: 0.19.3". So if I type e.g. exclamation-mark then start typing "newtolemmy...." it will fill in to [!newtolemmy@lemmy.ca](https://lemmy.ca/c/newtolemmy), and then iirc someone told me to remove the exclamation mark and... omg, it looks like *I* am the one messing these up!? Removing the exclamation mark results in newtolemmy@lemmy.ca, which takes me away from my instance, but leaving it in allows it to work properly.
Regardless, that is still NOT intuitive, like AT ALL, b/c the URL makes it visually look like clicking it should go to "https://lemmy.ca/c/newtolemmy", so what difference should the click-here text make - whether I call it "I am the very model of a major general" or [!newtolemmy@lemmy.ca](/c/newtolemmy@lemmy.ca), the URL is what governs where a link goes, literally everywhere I've ever seen in the entire internet? (and the [whatever text here](URL goes here) format definitely presents itself as a "link", not "code that will change the URL endpoint later")
Even so, it seems I have been spreading a bit of misinformation, and I apologize for that.
Most especially for this reason and for so many others, I appreciate you so much, for taking the time to think about and correct me on this score - that is so very helpful, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!