# 10 Minutes for Edits? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 5, 2007, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minutes-for-edits/406810 "2007-06-05T08:30:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minutes-for-edits/406810/1 "2007-06-05T08:30:46Z")
First of all, thanks for introducing the edit feature. IMO it has brought a welcome improvement to the board. My only issue (and I know this was probably discussed thoroughly before it was implemented) is that 5 minutes is a rather short window to make corrections. I’ve already experienced several occasions where I thought of something I meant to add or correct in a post _just after_ the 5 minute limit has expired. I think now that the editing feature has had its trial run and it doesn’t seem to be being grossly misused it might be time to extend the allowed period, just a little bit, to 10 minutes. This would allow users to not be in such a frantic rush to edit, while still disallowing anyone from changing posts long after the fact when any significant discourse has ensued (and how much thought-filled posting to a thread really goes on within a 10-minute span?) Just wanted to throw this out here and see what the members and moderators think. I swear it’s not a slippery slope, and we would not be on the path to anarchy by allowing 10 minutes for edits. Just in case you were thinking that. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minutes-for-edits/406810/2 "2007-06-05T09:59:33Z")
I think the five-minute window is perfect. It allows correction of errors and small additions, and anything you think of after five minutes is probably suited for another post anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minutes-for-edits/406810/3 "2007-06-05T11:59:59Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] I’ve already experienced several occasions where I thought of something I meant to add or correct in a post _just after_ the 5 minute limit has expired. [/QUOTE] If it were moved to a 10 minute limit, you’d think of something _just after_ the 10 minute limit has expired. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minutes-for-edits/406810/4 "2007-06-05T13:00:45Z")
I’d like mine to go to eleven. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minutes-for-edits/406810/5 "2007-06-05T13:11:35Z")
[QUOTE=Priceguy] I think the five-minute window is perfect. It allows correction of errors and small additions, and anything you think of after five minutes is probably suited for another post anyway. [/QUOTE] Exactly, 10 minutes would give too many posters the chance to sneak in a response to your yet unedited post only then to have you jump in and edit out the portion that they were responding to. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minutes-for-edits/406810/6 "2007-06-05T13:22:15Z")
My feeling as poster: I think that there are plenty of threads where you’ll get half a dozen responses within ten minutes. Most corrections and typos are noticed right away: the whole purpose of edit was to allow people to make such minor corrections. General re-writes to say something better: well, there’s still preview. Adding more thoughts: those belong in a new post, especially if someone has already responded. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minutes-for-edits/406810/7 "2007-06-05T13:31:16Z")
[QUOTE=Uncommon Sense] Exactly, 10 minutes would give too many posters the chance to sneak in a response to your yet unedited post only then to have you jump in and edit out the portion that they were responding to. [/QUOTE] Yes, even without any malicious after-response editing, it still makes quite an ample space for responses that would be rendered irrelevant by the editing. The edit window is a great way to fix typos but isn’t (and shouldn’t ever be, IMO) a substitute for thinking through your post before submitting it. If you omit something important, or change your mind, you can post again saying so. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minutes-for-edits/406810/8 "2007-06-05T14:59:15Z")
\ We’re supposed to think about these posts before we hit the post button? \ \ Supposed to **think** about the post first… supposed to think _about_ the post first … supposed to think about the post first … supposed to think about the post _ **first** _ … ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minutes-for-edits/406810/9 "2007-06-05T15:16:37Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] If it were moved to a 10 minute limit, you’d think of something _just after_ the 10 minute limit has expired. [/QUOTE] Zeno’s Paradox for the modern age"? [QUOTE=Mangetout] I’d like mine to go to eleven. [/QUOTE] “We do not strive for perfection, because ‘perfection is the destination, imperfection is the journey.’” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2007, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-minutes-for-edits/406810/10 "2007-06-05T16:09:59Z")
It doesn’t matter how many times you preview, or how long the edit window is when the coding ninja come for you.