# Editing  & Deleting Posts

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-deleting-posts/300437>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [April 21, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-deleting-posts/300437 "2005-04-21T16:27:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![WonK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@WonK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WonK)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-deleting-posts/300437/1 "2005-04-21T16:27:07Z")

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Hi,

I’m spoiled (I moderate other message boards) and am far too used to being able to edit my posts.

Pls. see: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6080672#post6080672](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6080672#post6080672)

I wanted to edit my first post (essentially deleting everything and just saying, “see below”, or “post your reviews here”), as well as delete my second post on this thread. (I’d like to keep the revised third post in place).

Are these functions available to new members? Pls. Advise.

(And my apologies in advance if this issue has been raised ad naseum in the recent past - I’m new to this board, as well as this kind of forum layout, and I don’t know where the functions are…)

WonK

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**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-deleting-posts/300437/2 "2005-04-21T16:57:43Z")

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Yeah, this question does come up with some regularity. The official reason is in the [FAQ](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=103503):

> [@Arnold Winkelried](#):
>
> Q: In particular, why is editing disabled?  
> A: Because of the potential for abuse. After posting something inflammatory that causes hurt feelings a poster could change what they had said originally and confusion would ensue. Even allowing editing for a short period of time could cause this issue due to the short interval between posts in a busy thread.
> 
> Q: Then why is the edit button still there?  
> A: Because staff members (moderators and administrators) need the ability to edit posts to fulfill their board duties.

It’s a question that also comes up in other ATMB threads. For more explanation, take a look at:  
[Help! Newbie question: Why can’t I edit my posts?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=303301)  
[Why can’t I edit my posts?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=291960)  
[Why can’t we edit?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=274915)

Among others.

And welcome aboard.

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**Author:** ![WonK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbce88/32.png) [@WonK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WonK)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/editing-deleting-posts/300437/3 "2005-04-21T19:54:13Z")

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> [@zut](#):
>
> Yeah, this question does come up with some regularity. … And welcome aboard.

Thanks on both counts.