LavenderAlice Posted June 9, 2015 #1 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Just wondered. On most other forums I use, you can edit or delete your own posts forever, unless a thread has been closed. On some, users can forever edit their thread titles, too. Why the restrictions here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron_Lotus Posted June 9, 2015 #2 Share Posted June 9, 2015 (edited) so you can live with your shame! think its more along the lines of debates if you can go back and edit posts you made 2 or 3 days ago it's just a pain in the ass for people to go back and forth and reread or change what they quoted from you and so on Edited June 9, 2015 by Iron_Lotus 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daughter of the Nine Moons Posted June 9, 2015 #3 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Why the restrictions here? Many subjects discussed are in a debate format, it prevents users from changing their arguments after the fact. I believe there is a 30 minute window where you can edit your post. After that you can request a moderator to edit your post. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keel M. Posted June 9, 2015 #4 Share Posted June 9, 2015 so you can live with your shame! This. Lol Seriously, though, I'm on another forum and they have the same limitations. You shouldn't be able to go back forever and change your words. Even if you feel differently now than you might've on your first response. If you do, start a new thread to convey this change of heart and talk about that instead. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Hammerclaw Posted June 9, 2015 #5 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Limits the opportunity for one to claim: I never said that! I've been in forums with open-ended editing, where one party used inflammatory language, inciting a similar response, went back and edited it out of their posts and leaving their opponent holding the bag, soley, for community standards violations. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acute Posted June 9, 2015 #6 Share Posted June 9, 2015 It is designed to prevent you from rewriting history. Otherwise, we would end up with a typical time-traveling paradox. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waspie_Dwarf Posted June 9, 2015 #7 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Many subjects discussed are in a debate format, it prevents users from changing their arguments after the fact. As well as this I have seen forums where an upset member has deleted all their past posts ruining dozens of debates. One bad tempered member should not be allowed to ruin the fun of so many others. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrLzs Posted June 10, 2015 #8 Share Posted June 10, 2015 (edited) Just wondered. On most other forums I use, you can edit or delete your own posts forever, unless a thread has been closed. On some, users can forever edit their thread titles, too. Why the restrictions here? What they said - I think UM has the balance just right. As for these other forums you frequent, you might need to get out more - most of the forums I hang out on (mostly science, technical and hobby ones) have similar limitations. Given that this is a discussion forum, surely the things you say at a particular time *and were responded to in good faith* should not be subject to your later whims. I too have seen some discussions ruined by revisionism or post deletions, so I very strongly agree with the policy. I think the Interwebz are already badly tainted by anonymity giving people the 'freedom' to say things they would not normally say in a real life discussion.. - surely you have to be responsible for what you have said in the past.. plus it is only by being able to admit errors that some people can be forced to learn or listen! Edited to correct a missing word, not to substantially revise the content... Edited June 10, 2015 by ChrLzs 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daughter of the Nine Moons Posted June 10, 2015 #9 Share Posted June 10, 2015 Edited to correct a missing word, not to substantially revise the content... Likely story... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likely Guy Posted June 10, 2015 #10 Share Posted June 10, 2015 (edited) Likely story... I resemble that statement! But, someone mentioned "a half hour" to edit. It is actually one hour to edit. By that time someone's already quoted you or the "hallmark" edit time has been posted. Either way, you're busted! Edit: I believe that one hour is a good time limit to realize, "...what I said was just, dumbass! ...and I should fix/clarify that." Edited June 10, 2015 by Likely Guy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Occult1 Posted June 10, 2015 #11 Share Posted June 10, 2015 (edited) I am the kind who edit a lot because my english isn't always very good (I am a native french speaker) and often need to revise phrase structures, grammatical errors ect. I find it easier to visualize them when posted on the board. Or I might have a better idea and come back 5 mins later to modify, if no one replied yet. But 30 mins is sufficient for my needs. I don't see the point of coming back days, weeks or even months later to change what was once said. Seriously, though, I'm on another forum and they have the same limitations. You shouldn't be able to go back forever and change your words. Even if you feel differently now than you might've on your first response. If you do, start a new thread to convey this change of heart and talk about that instead. There's one forum I'm on that has no restriction in time for the edit function. I guess it depends on the software used by the forum provider or something like that. Edited June 10, 2015 by Phenix20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keel M. Posted June 10, 2015 #12 Share Posted June 10, 2015 As well as this I have seen forums where an upset member has deleted all their past posts ruining dozens of debates. One bad tempered member should not be allowed to ruin the fun of so many others. I think this is the bigger issue. I mean every time we edit our own posts, or they get edited by a moderator, you can see the date/time stamp that appears at the bottom of the post in question. This would largely prove someone's tinkering with their own words. But to suddenly have portions of conversations missing because of someone's petty spite is akin to grabbing a book at the library and randomly tearing out pages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LavenderAlice Posted June 10, 2015 Author #13 Share Posted June 10, 2015 (edited) Please don't tell me to "Get out more", what's that got to do with the topic? One of the three forums I use at all frequently is about books and uses (ancient) phpBB2. The only restriction there is that users can't delete their posts/threads after someone's replied, though the admin tries to discourage blank editing. The former is actually a phpBB feature to discourage discussions breaking up that admins can only change by code hacking. I'd rather not say what the other two sites are about (it's nothing illegal or anything!). But they both use vBulletin (never used an IPB forum before, it all feels very alien) and allow open-ended editing and deletion of posts in all non-closed threads. Unlike the latter two, the first one is very debate-focussed as well, but it's very small and friendly. Whereas of the others, one is mid-sized and the latter is about the size of UM. It has a lively debating section too. The editing policy never really seems to do any kind of harm on all three boards. As for anoynmity, I couldn't disagree more but that's going off-topic. What they said - I think UM has the balance just right. As for these other forums you frequent, you might need to get out more - most of the forums I hang out on (mostly science, technical and hobby ones) have similar limitations. Given that this is a discussion forum, surely the things you say at a particular time *and were responded to in good faith* should not be subject to your later whims. I too have seen some discussions ruined by revisionism or post deletions, so I very strongly agree with the policy. I think the Interwebz are already badly tainted by anonymity giving people the 'freedom' to say things they would not normally say in a real life discussion.. - surely you have to be responsible for what you have said in the past.. plus it is only by being able to admit errors that some people can be forced to learn or listen! Edited to correct a missing word, not to substantially revise the content... Edited June 10, 2015 by DaughterOfTheRains Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Still Waters Posted June 10, 2015 #14 Share Posted June 10, 2015 I think we can close this now. *Closed* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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