How come this forum doesn't allow editing?

[ltothev]

I'm known as the typo king and out of all the forum i've been too only this forum doesn't allow editing your own post.. I can understand why this forum doesn't allow you to delete your own post but why editing also?

[Howell]

Consider your understood reason for why deleting posts is not allowed.
Now consider the extreme example of someone editing all text out of a post.

Essentially the reason is to hold people accountable for what they post and to maintain conversation continuity. Don't worry about typos, no one will hold it against you.

[CougTek]

Except perhaps for the OT:Polizei...

[Mercutio]

Editing posts is like changing history. It's something we're pretty loathe to do.

Also, some of our members are perfectionists; turn editing on and we'd all be fixing typos constantly instead of making more posts.

We DO give certain members - moderators - the right to edit posts under some circumstances; however, they are asked to maintain original copies as well.

If you feel strongly enough that you need to change your post, make another. No one will hold that against you, either.

[The JoJo]

:eekers:

Editing of posts....NEVER!

That's the worst thing one can do to threads! I hate reading EDITED posts in a thread 10 pages long! After the fifts post you have no idea what everyone is talking about, because someone just edited their post! Argh, I hate that.

And once again, not saying that might happen here, but....if something is even remotely possible, it will happen.

Call me old fashioned.....:)

[The Grammar Police]

ATTENTION!

WE DO NOT PERMIT TYPOS.

WE DO NOT PERMIT MISTAKES.

WE DO NOT PERMIT ERRORS OF ANY KIND.

ANY MEMBER COMMITTING THESE GROSS VIOLATIONS UPON THE LANGUAGE WILL REPORT TO ME IMMEDIATELY. SWIFT AND SEVERE PUNISHMENT WILL BE PROMPTLY ADMINISTERED.


(PS: By special request of the Storage Forum Administrative Committee, I will now show considerably greater leniency to new members. Members with less than five (5) posts will no longer face the firing squad (for a first offence). Veteran members — defined as members with six (6) or more posts — will, of course, continue to face the usual penalty.)

[Tannin]

Bahhhh .... Providing members with the means to edit their own posts is only a basic courtesy. Any member who abuses that ability is the sort of member we don't want anyway.

If the person is worth spending any time with (as all of you are, gentlemen and friends) then the person will have a sense of honour sufficient to prevent his editing a post in any malicious way. If this doesn't apply, then we are dealing with a dishonest and unpleasant character and are better off without him.

If you can trust a member, there is no problem. If you can't trust a member, throw the bastard out. Simple as that.

[Tea]

Tannin, there is no way you are going to persuade a majority of the decision makers. Why bother trying?

[Tannin]

I know, Tea, I know. But it needed saying.

For some peculiar reason, the powers that be at Storage Forum have this weird fetish against editing posts. I have no idea why.

Hell — you can edit posts at the Bird Forum, edit as often as you like, and BF has over 12,000 members and between 500 and 1000 posts a day. Never causes the slightest trouble. The same applies to hundreds, probably thousands, of other fora around the world.

Unfortunately, the SF decision makers have their heads firmly up their ... er ... bottoms ... on this point. It ain't gonna change. But I'll continue to laugh at the silliness of it all.

(Tannin holds up his left forefinger in a rude gesture to them, uses right hand to reach for wallet.)

[Tea]

Wallet? What do you need your wallet for, Tannin?

[Tannin]

I figure I better shout the next round, Tea.

Otherwise they will all hate me.

Now excuse me a moment....

Bartender!

[Fushigi]

We have Preview & Spelcheck(TM). Why do we need Edit? Preview your post, read it, run Spelcheck(TM) if you're in doubt about something. Make sure your post contains what you want it to contain before clicking on Submit.

[The JoJo]

Thanks for the drink! ;)

You continue to have excellent sigs, Tony!

[Tea]

Ahh, but they are diffrent, Fushigi. Nearly all of my postz are competelt perfect in every way when I preview them. But when when I hit "save", all sorts of bugz suddenly sneak inn!

[P5-133XL]

No the bugs have always been there. Have you had your flea dip recently? They also say that frontline or Advantage helps enormusly if used on an ongoing basis.

[Fushigi]

I was figuring it was because Tea types on a banana and not an Apple.

[Will Rickards WT]

:roll:

I think we could safely enable editing on this board.

[ltothev]

lol, even Bill Gates uses the Edit button in his forum, and even Bill Clinton uses the Edit button when he's surfing on the porno forum :D

[ltothev]

well to get to the main point, the main reason that i think the edit function should be allow is to prevent Double Posting, say like after i hit the save button and like a few minutes later i want to add something to my same post that no one has yet reply to it, i have to make another post right under it making it looks like i did a double post..

[blakerwry]

someone may not ahve yet replied, however several people may have read the post or are possibly replying to it and have not his submit...

I think if no one has read the post then you should be free to edit the post anyway you see fit.

If someone has seen it then the post is off limits for editing or deleting.

[Fushigi]

There are still consistency problems with that approach. A sequence like:

1. I make a post.
2. I start to edit that post to change the content.
3. You open the thread/post to view.
4. I submit my edited post.

would have you viewing the unedited post. And if you responded to that content...

I still think it's better to do a post, preview (and read/edit it), then submit. No after-the-post (post-post if you will) edit capability is needed. I personally have no problem with multiple posts from the same person all in a row.

[blakerwry]

That's easily fixable with the following logic:
submittal of an edit is not allowed if the post has been viewed... tough titties.

[Fushigi]

But then you really annoy the person who just spent 20 minutes editing their post. Imagine one of Tannin's longer posts being denied because it's an edit of a shorter post. I don't think the aggravation is worth it.

Type, Preview, read, edit if necessary, then Submit. It's not a difficult concept nor is it a difficult process. You did it for term papers; you can do it here.

[Will Rickards WT]

You did it for term papers; you can do it here.

Posts are much quicker than writing term papers. But I agree in theory that the effort should be of that level. But often you don't have time to do all that. You have something you can post quickly now or wait to do it later. Often forgetting if it gets pushed to later.

Consider people new to this forum but not other forums (which is where I will guess most of our new people come from). I'm going to make a huge general statement here so forgive me if it is incorrect. Most other forums out there allow editing. Why don't we?

Do we have a less mature community that can't handle that editing power? I don't think so. I'll assume that it will result in the possibility of too much time spent doing moderation. But then consider the population of the community and I don't think that assumption will pan out in reality.

So there is a lot of debate over ruining the flow of the posts. I don't think it matters in actual practice. It doesn't happen that often, does it?

Another advantage to editable posts is those posts which lend themselves to editing. The summary in the first post threads. We don't have many here but I could see them being useful in news or toolbox posts.

I don't mind not being able to edit posts. I just haven't been convinced by any of the arguments against it.

[Fushigi]

I don't mind not being able to edit posts. I just haven't been convinced by any of the arguments against it.And I haven't been convinced by any of the arguments for it. :)

<rant>
If a post is worth making at all it is worth taking the time to ensure that post reflects what you are trying to say. "Posting in haste" is an excuse for being lazy and not checking your work. Either take the time to ensure you're saying what you truly want to say or shut up.
</rant>

Normally, the above rant wouldn't survive one of my Preview sessions as I strongly prefer to not post emotional outbursts. I'm leaving it in this time as an example of what I would normally edit out.

BTW, I stay 'shut up' most of the time. On numerous occasions I've spent considerable time composing a message only to, by the time I'm almost satisfied with it, just back out and not post anything at all. It happens for various reasons, but usually boils down to considering and re-considering the words I want to say and the value of my contribution WRT the thread in question.

This is a public forum. Anyone from your boss to your spouse (synonymous with 'boss'?) to the FBI/CIA/NSA/British Secret Service/etc. might see your post the moment you make it. Don't think they wouldn't be listening, either. There have been political discussions here about the US and other nations so it is entirely possible that the site has been flagged as one to be monitored by Los Federales.

It boils down to this: When you make a post you're shouting your words for all the world to see/hear. You should consider that before clicking Submit.

[Will Rickards WT]

Fushigi:
I do the same thing, which is why my post count is so low ;)

[Mercutio]

Be free! Post often! Ignore your spelling errors and omitted words (the crime I am most guilty of), and have a clear conscience knowing that no one here thinks you are an idiot.

[Tannin]

I'm going to make a huge general statement here ..... Most other forums out there allow editing. Why don't we?

Exactly.

[miksmi]

Most other forums out there allow editing. Why don't we?Here, here!

Do we have a less mature community that can't handle that editing power? I don't think so. I don't think the mature, polite, and civilized SF community would abuse editing power. I haven't seen any posts requiring moderation.

Another advantage to editable posts is those posts which lend themselves to editing. The summary in the first post threads.A quite valid reason for editing posts.

My 0.02 USD of "me too".

[blakerwry]

i'd rather not allow editing.

[timwhit]

I am not a fan of editing. Make a double post with corrections if it matters that much.

[P5-133XL]

Lets end this arguement here and now.

The real reason that editing is not allowed is because I told them that I didn't want it and I am all powerful. All other explanations are simply others making excuses for their submitting to my demands. :lol:

[Buck]

Off with his head! :cursin: :compress: :clown:

[CityK]

I'm going to make a huge general statement here ..... Most other forums out there allow editing. Why don't we?

Exactly.

"Exactly" as in why don't we allow editing too? Or, "Exactly" as in we're not like all the other forums?

[Mercutio]

I'm going to make a huge general statement here ..... Most other forums out there allow editing. Why don't we?

Exactly.

"Exactly" as in why don't we allow editing too? Or, "Exactly" as in we're not like all the other forums?

Exactly.

[Buck]

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

[Will Rickards WT]

I'm going to make a huge general statement here ..... Most other forums out there allow editing. Why don't we?

Exactly.

"Exactly" as in why don't we allow editing too? Or, "Exactly" as in we're not like all the other forums?

Judging by Tannin's previous posts in this thread it would be the former.
Thus in favor of editing as a 'basic courtesy'.

[Howell]

Do we have a less mature community that can't handle that editing power? I don't think so.

I think you are right. We have a mature community that can handle not having editing power.

Is the continuation of this thread really necessary?

[Tea]

Juzt lie down, Howell, and I'll take care of everything.

[The JoJo]

Juzt lie down, Howell, and I'll take care of everything.

Hmmmm, got to do something about my dirty imagination..... :mrgrn:

[The JoJo]

And about this editing thing, all those fancy places with editing enabled, boy do they look immature! Every secod thread you start to read has answers and comments about things not in the thread anymore...very infuriating.

No for editing!

And about typos and so on, so what?!?!?!??! As long as others understand what you mean, it's ok by me.

On the other hand, with this group of people, I'd say it might be possible to try it.