Some time ago (one year? a couple? don’t remember any more) I happened to notice that a mod had modified their post well past the cut-off time. This was an instance where the mod was posting as a poster, so the edit must have been some sort of grammar or content modification.
Most recently today I happened to notice a mod edit their post around half an hour after making it. The edit was to remove the content entirely, and the thread is in ATMB so there is a chance they might have posted as a mod (it was a rather strange OP) and then changed their mind as it became more clear what the post was about.
I don’t want to call anyone out, that is why I am not naming the second mod (no idea any more who the first one was), but I was wondering if mods get a pass on the 5 minute restriction when it comes to editing their own posts regardless of if they are posting as a mod or a poster.
I doubt I happened to catch the only two instances of this that have ever happened.
Mods, what is your opinion on this/ is there a rule?
We will sometimes, on request, edit an ordinary poster’s post after the five-minute window. Under the same sorts of circumstances, we will edit our own posts after that window. The only difference is that the request is slightly easier to make when it consists of a single person talking to themself.
If it was up to me, I’d give them a pass on it. Hell, other boards I’m on allow anyone to edit their posts indefinitely, and they don’t descend into anarchy. How much less so when it’s just a handful of trusted individuals who in any case have the ability to do much worse than edit their posts. And, in general, face scrutiny for their every action, so aren’t going to get away with abusing this awesome power.
Give ‘em a break. They don’t get all that many perks.
Although I understand that Chronos is currently under investigation for throwing lavish dinners at the Straight Dope mansion in order to court his billionaire donors for a 2024 run for Adminstrator. You didn’t hear that from me, by the way.
You’re referring to a post I made as a mod in the “Corona forum” thread. I admit I didn’t initially recognize what the poster was referring to. A poster helpfully reminded me of what it was about by PM. I had closed the thread, but reopened it and edited the post to “nm” since my comment wasn’t relevant based on the information. I made the change as soon as I realized my error, since I didn’t think leaving it in was fair to the OP. My apologies if it caused any confusion.
We don’t have formal rules about editing past the five-minute window. However, I avoid it except for fixing typos of the kind I would correct for a poster who requested it. And I don’t do it once my post has been quoted.
Maybe there should be one. It would be a jerk move if a mod altered what he said beyond the same window we all get. Not including comments made as a moderator, obviously.