Editing posts...

[BoringTales]

What is the policy on editing posts?

I find it very confusing to start reading a thread just to find the OP has completely edited out the original post that all the other comments are based on. How long is the editing window? What's the reason for this policy?

[JessicaS]

We do ask that people not remove the content of their posts because this makes threads really confusing. If someone has deleted all of their posts from a thread please report the post so we can look at that.

Thanks.

[sharon.gmc]

hi abi, thanks for sharing the information.

[BoringTales]

Yes, thanks very much. I've seen this happen several times recently and I hate it! Is there a way to make editing only an option for a certain amount of time? Like 15 minutes or so? That way if you see mistakes you can get to them in a reasonable amount of time, but you can't just go and edit out an entire post because people are telling you something you don't want to hear.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by BoringTales

Yes, thanks very much. I've seen this happen several times recently and I hate it! Is there a way to make editing only an option for a certain amount of time? Like 15 minutes or so? That way if you see mistakes you can get to them in a reasonable amount of time, but you can't just go and edit out an entire post because people are telling you something you don't want to hear.

There is a way we can do that but we have generally allowed people to just edit when they need to.

I can ask about changing it but I don't know if that is something we will do.

[tinybutterfly]

I LIKE being able to edit whenever I need to.

Sometimes I have edited in order to clarify what I said. I tend to ramble and sometimes editing is a good thing.

Also, if I share something personal, I will generally go back later and edit because it may be something I don't want out there, hanging around in cyberland when I am 75 years old.

I don't know. I think sometimes people change the OP because they are sorry they even opened that can of worms. I suppose if editing is no longer an option in a case like that, could they request a thread they started be closed?

Oh, and also, I have gotten snippy on here a few times in the past five years, and later thought better of it, and gone back and been more civil.

And what about typos? If you don't get back in 15 minutes, your typos will be there FOREVER!

[BoringTales]

Originally Posted by tinybutterfly

I LIKE being able to edit whenever I need to.

Sometimes I have edited in order to clarify what I said. I tend to ramble and sometimes editing is a good thing.

Also, if I share something personal, I will generally go back later and edit because it may be something I don't want out there, hanging around in cyberland when I am 75 years old.

I don't know. I think sometimes people change the OP because they are sorry they even opened that can of worms. I suppose if editing is no longer an option in a case like that, could they request a thread they started be closed?

Oh, and also, I have gotten snippy on here a few times in the past five years, and later thought better of it, and gone back and been more civil.

And what about typos? If you don't get back in 15 minutes, your typos will be there FOREVER!

People should probably think a bit more before they type then. Even after editing, if someone quoted you, its out there. People have seen it, likely commented on it. In the real world, you can't just take back things you say and make them disappear...unless you are alone and no one heard you. Why should it be so different here? You can't un-ring a bell, so the saying goes.

[Theoretica]

Originally Posted by tinybutterfly

I LIKE being able to edit whenever I need to.

Sometimes I have edited in order to clarify what I said. I tend to ramble and sometimes editing is a good thing.

Also, if I share something personal, I will generally go back later and edit because it may be something I don't want out there, hanging around in cyberland when I am 75 years old.

I don't know. I think sometimes people change the OP because they are sorry they even opened that can of worms. I suppose if editing is no longer an option in a case like that, could they request a thread they started be closed?

Oh, and also, I have gotten snippy on here a few times in the past five years, and later thought better of it, and gone back and been more civil.

And what about typos? If you don't get back in 15 minutes, your typos will be there FOREVER!

:

Originally Posted by BoringTales

People should probably think a bit more before they type then. Even after editing, if someone quoted you, its out there. People have seen it, likely commented on it. In the real world, you can't just take back things you say and make them disappear...unless you are alone and no one heard you. Why should it be so different here? You can't un-ring a bell, so the saying goes.

Umm 'cause it's the 'net, not the real world, and it has an edit button :

[La Sombra]

Originally Posted by Theoretica

:



Umm 'cause it's the 'net, not the real world, and it has an edit button :

I agree! As frustrating as it might be when people edit the context right out of their posts and thus make non-sensical the whole thread...there are a number of great applications of the editing feature and I would hate to limit it such that those were no longer available.

[Mama~Love]

Originally Posted by tinybutterfly

I LIKE being able to edit whenever I need to.

Sometimes I have edited in order to clarify what I said. I tend to ramble and sometimes editing is a good thing.

Also, if I share something personal, I will generally go back later and edit because it may be something I don't want out there, hanging around in cyberland when I am 75 years old.

I don't know. I think sometimes people change the OP because they are sorry they even opened that can of worms. I suppose if editing is no longer an option in a case like that, could they request a thread they started be closed?

Oh, and also, I have gotten snippy on here a few times in the past five years, and later thought better of it, and gone back and been more civil.

And what about typos? If you don't get back in 15 minutes, your typos will be there FOREVER!

Yes, me too! I'll admit I've edited out all my posts before .

Originally Posted by BoringTales

People should probably think a bit more before they type then. Even after editing, if someone quoted you, its out there. People have seen it, likely commented on it. In the real world, you can't just take back things you say and make them disappear...unless you are alone and no one heard you. Why should it be so different here? You can't un-ring a bell, so the saying goes.

That's what the edit button is FOR.

I like that we can edit anytime for selling things on the Trading Post, otherwise people would think it's for sale a year later or something.

[hrsmom]

Sometimes I think of something I want to say differently, or add to what I said, without creating another post, but I don't always get back to the computer within a certain time frame! (Being the mother of a baby, and all!) If too much time has passed or there are additional comments, I usually go ahead an do a new post.

[tinybutterfly]

Originally Posted by BoringTales

People should probably think a bit more before they type then. Even after editing, if someone quoted you, its out there. People have seen it, likely commented on it. In the real world, you can't just take back things you say and make them disappear...unless you are alone and no one heard you. Why should it be so different here? You can't un-ring a bell, so the saying goes.

I will usually request that people not quote me if I am sharing something particularly personal. Everyone has been very kind and honored my request.

I don't put anything out there that is like a deep dark secret.

In real life, I have told friends things and requested they not repeat it. As far as I know, no one has betrayed my trust.

I do agree if it's something you don't want anyone to ever know, better to not say it at all.

I like the option to edit here.

I suppose in real life, asking for forgiveness for the things we say is as close as we get to an edit button.

[Nature]

If the edit button were removed, I might never post again. It rather important to me to be able to delete what I deem necessary.

[poiyt]

I think editing your posts, generally, is one thing - like for grammar or clarification.

I think if you start a thread seeking guidance, and people disagree with you, and you delete your post (and replies) thats a whole different situation.

What if there was a penalty for doing some forms of editing? Like the point system or whatever we have now - if you edited illegaly you get so many points, and so many points is a suspension right? That might deter people from deleting posts.

I understand if you change your mind, calm down, or have come to a new realization - but then post an update in the original post underneath your initial inquiry....then people will know where you stand, how you feel, and where you have changed.

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

Currently point #10 of the user agreement says

# Posts are an integral part of the discussion threads of mothering.com and you may not delete your posts. Though you are free to edit your posts, we do not allow members to delete large numbers of their posts.

So deleting posts already falls under the current alert system. If you see deleted posts, please report them like any other UAV.

[tinybutterfly]

Originally Posted by Rhiannon Feimorgan

Currently point #10 of the user agreement says So deleting posts already falls under the current alert system. If you see deleted posts, please report them like any other UAV.

That would be if an entire post is deleted, right?

[BoringTales]

Originally Posted by tinybutterfly

That would be if an entire post is deleted, right?

Good question. Does that include the threads where people post something, like for example, that airplane safety thread, and then go back and edit out ALL the important information and say, 'Sorry I started this, just forget it.' or something along those lines?

[Liquesce]

Originally Posted by Rhiannon Feimorgan

Currently point #10 of the user agreement says So deleting posts already falls under the current alert system. If you see deleted posts, please report them like any other UAV.

So, if someone posts a UA violation, thinks the better of it, and removes it ... it's still a UA violation? Something seems not quite right about that.

[Mama~Love]

What about if you sell something on the TP? You can't delete the content of those?

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

Originally Posted by Liquesce

So, if someone posts a UA violation, thinks the better of it, and removes it ... it's still a UA violation? Something seems not quite right about that.

It's unlikely that someone would be alerted for that. We always appreciate cooler heads. The better course of action though would be to edit your post to remove the UAV while maintaining the conversation flow as much as possible