# 10 minute edit window? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 8, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103 "2012-10-08T17:19:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/41 "2012-10-10T04:37:54Z")
Sometimes, eh? How often is sometimes? How often do these “sometimes” cause any real problem at all? If you say “a lot” then maybe your honesty should be in question, rather than mine. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/42 "2012-10-10T04:46:56Z")
Good point! ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/43 "2012-10-10T04:56:55Z")
lol. You know, I can understand being just aesthetically displeased with any editing. Also, in a slightly different way, hating seeing someone quoted and then a change in the original. But the real purpose of the admins is to bring about happy/fulfilling discussions here and I don’t think a slight extension to the edit window would harm that. I’m fine either way though. I spent many years under the no edit regime. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/44 "2012-10-10T05:24:48Z")
Before losing any more composure over something that has nothing to do with this, or you CarnalK, want to make clear it’s my opinion lengthening the edit window will cause significantly higher incidents of misquotes and misunderstandings. It’s directly proportional to how fast moving a board this is. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/45 "2012-10-10T06:04:11Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > Before losing any more composure over something that has nothing to do with this You should totally read my sig. 🙂 Anyway, I don’t see a big deal here. If you could point me to a recent incident where late editing caused a kerfuffle, I might change my mind. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/46 "2012-10-10T07:08:19Z")
I’m pretty sure this place would descend into anarchy if we extended the edit window. Just like when the edit window was first introduced. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/47 "2012-10-10T08:12:08Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > I’m pretty sure this place would descend into anarchy if we extended the edit window. Just like when the edit window was first introduced. Really it’s all been downhill since we switched to vBulletin. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/48 "2012-10-10T12:43:21Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > If your phone has an adequate user interface, then congratulations. Then **zweisamkeit** ’s reason for extending the edit window is invalid. I don’t need more time. I don’t need the 5 minutes. In fact having any ability to edit probably maks me sloppyer in my posting. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/49 "2012-10-10T13:24:08Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > The World According To John Mace: > Poster 1 at 12:00 pm: I think kumquats are the silliest of fruits. edited 12:09 pm > Poster 2 at 12:05 pm: “I think kumquats and durians are the silliest of fruits” How outrageous. Here are 12 papers on the severity of durians. > Poster 3 at 12:30 pm: Huh? Bwuh? Durians? Edits? MY BRAIN IS BREAKING _sits in corner and blubs lips._ Actually I’m more concerned with something like this: **Poster A:** (Nevermind. I just realized I’m being unreasonable because my mother recently died.) edited 12:09 pm **Vinyl Turnip:** Oh yeah? Well right back at you, you stupid ass-faced jerk! \*\* Poster B:\*\* My God, **VT** , have you no shame? His _mother_ just died! \*\* Vinyl Turnip:\*\* But I… I mean he… aw, _heck_! ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/50 "2012-10-10T13:24:44Z")
It would be reasonable (which is reason enough that this idea won’t be adopted) to go to a 6 minute window, see if you get a lot of problems with people editing their posts and rendering threads incomprehensible, and then either revert to the five-minute window or try a seven minute window. Keep pushing the length until you do reach a point where there’s a problem, and then set it, more or less permanently, at the previous, non-problematic level. Far too reasonable a policy for the SD. Also, [Maynard G. Krebs] WORK! [/Maynard G. Krebs] for the Mods. IOW, never happen. I’d also suggest a brief (1-minute?] period when you can edit w/o the edit box popping up. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/51 "2012-10-10T15:11:40Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > - want to make clear it’s my opinion lengthening the edit window will cause significantly higher incidents of misquotes and misunderstandings. I misread that as _mosquitos_ and started wondering if we have to worry about West Nile. > [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > It would be reasonable (which is reason enough that this idea won’t be adopted) to go to a 6 minute window, see if you get a lot of problems with people editing their posts and rendering threads incomprehensible, Why, when the 5 minute limit is perfectly adequate? > [@](#): > > I’d also suggest a brief (1-minute?] period when you can edit w/o the edit box popping up. I don’t think vB works that way. You actually have to be in an edit window in order to edit. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/52 "2012-10-10T15:27:34Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > I don’t think vB works that way. You actually have to be in an edit window in order to edit. I mean the little box that asks you your reason for editing. If you post a typo, which do approximately 100% of the time, you should be able to fix it in the first minute without it even showing up that you’ve edited your post. IMO. Tell me if I’m making too much sense here. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/53 "2012-10-10T15:33:20Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > I mean the little box that asks you your reason for editing. If you post a typo, which do approximately 100% of the time, you should be able to fix it in the first minute without it even showing up that you’ve edited your post. > > IMO. > > Tell me if I’m making too much sense here. Well, currently I don’t think the software is capable of telling the difference between a typo change and a malicious change. I believe you when you say that _your_ changes are typos 100% of the time, but the system has to take into account others that may abuse the system, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/54 "2012-10-10T15:35:19Z")
My point is that anything you’re going to change in the first minute is undoubtedly a typo, not a malicious change in policy. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/55 "2012-10-10T15:39:12Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > I mean the little box that asks you your reason for editing. Oh, okay. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Well, currently I don’t think the software is capable of telling the difference between a typo change and a malicious change. I believe you when you say that _your_ changes are typos 100% of the time, but the system has to take into account others that may abuse the system, doesn’t it? Not really. The system could ignore the reason for editing, or not post the edit note if you don’t post a reason in the text. There’s no requirement that the system help identify/prevent abuse. It’s just a good idea that was built in to vB. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/56 "2012-10-10T15:40:05Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > My point is that anything you’re going to change in the first minute is undoubtedly a typo, not a malicious change in policy. Do we know if the software will allow both this “first minute with no notice” and the “five minute with notice” at the same time? If not, would you be willing to sacrifice the latter for the former? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/57 "2012-10-10T15:47:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Do we know if the software will allow both this “first minute with no notice” and the “five minute with notice” at the same time? If not, would you be willing to sacrifice the latter for the former? No idea. BTW, I just noticed that I inadvertently omitted the “I” in my clause “which do approximately 100% of the time,” which I proofread four times. Letting people fix their typos is just a service to people who are willing to correct their errors. Aside from more work the Mods, what would be the downside in allowing people to fix their typos silently, while making it against the rules to re-write posts without acknoledging that your post has been changed materially? Abusing the privilege will get you warned, suspended, banned, the same as any other serious infraction of the rules would, and we’d have a cleaner, more readable board for it. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/58 "2012-10-10T16:14:14Z")
Knowing that there is only a 5 minute opportunity to fix mistakes provides incentive to write a quality post in the first place. It puts a little pressure on to get it right the first time, knowing there’s little time to fix it. In that respect a shorter edit window encourages quality writing. If there was more time to edit, posters would be less careful and less thoughtful in their original post - an incentive lost (or at least lessened) if edit opportunity was lengthened. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/59 "2012-10-10T16:20:33Z")
1.Does vBulletin allow two different types of editing at the same time? 2. If so, does it allow one to be a “one minute no-notice”, while keeping the other “longer with-notice” option? ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103/60 "2012-10-10T16:50:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > 1.Does vBulletin allow two different types of editing at the same time? > 2. If so, does it allow one to be a “one minute no-notice”, while keeping the other “longer with-notice” option? 1. Yes. 2. Yes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minute-edit-window/637103.md?page=4)