# edit/delete button is non-functional **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 9, 2000, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edit-delete-button-is-non-functional/36213 "2000-10-09T02:14:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dragonfly98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7bcc69/32.png) [@dragonfly98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonfly98)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edit-delete-button-is-non-functional/36213/1 "2000-10-09T02:14:21Z")
At least the first few times that I have tried it. Any reasonable explanations and/or help? ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edit-delete-button-is-non-functional/36213/2 "2000-10-09T02:43:31Z")
It’s disabled on this board. If you want something edited, drop a line to one of the mods who is in charge of the board and they’ll take care of it. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edit-delete-button-is-non-functional/36213/3 "2000-10-09T03:56:02Z")
Yep. **andygirl** ’s right. If you look at the bottom of each thread and at the top of each reply page, in the Forum Rules list, you’ll see: “Changes: Messages CANNOT be edited by their author. Messages CANNOT be deleted by their author.” ---
**Author:** ![Kyberneticist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kyberneticist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyberneticist)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2000, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edit-delete-button-is-non-functional/36213/4 "2000-10-09T15:10:17Z")
It would cut down on the number of posts where I end up writing a second one, just to clarify the first. Oh wait, that would drive my post count down. Never mind. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Soupy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Soupy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soupy)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edit-delete-button-is-non-functional/36213/5 "2000-10-10T01:51:01Z")
I like it a lot at sites that have it. Since sites like that have a lot of people editing, nobody is upset or confused. It’s just normal. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edit-delete-button-is-non-functional/36213/6 "2000-10-10T03:09:53Z")
**Soupy** : The sad thing is, trolls have abused the function to the point where it’s untenable. They would post something obscene and then once a number of replies had been gotten, they would edit their post and make it innocuous, then flame us for making thing up and unfairly attacking him. It got to be a hassle. ---
**Author:** ![Kyberneticist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kyberneticist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyberneticist)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edit-delete-button-is-non-functional/36213/7 "2000-10-10T05:25:28Z")
Keep track of old versions of a post for a set period of time (small click here to view changes link). To avoid overwhelming the db, have them expire after a while. ---
**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2000, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edit-delete-button-is-non-functional/36213/8 "2000-10-10T06:02:47Z")
The board is getting closer to overload with every day and every member that goes by. We need less functions or yet another ( expensive ) server to keep up.