# Suggestion: Allow us to edit our posts **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 17, 2005, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588 "2005-10-17T13:27:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/21 "2005-10-19T16:18:58Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > The latest version of vbulletin has a post editing feature using AJAX, which allows the edit to happen without refreshing the whole page. Same with their Quick Reply. > > Worth considering, as I think it would greatly reduce hamster power. Yeah, my members are eating that up. I wasn’t sure if it did much for performance though. Seems like it would as it doesn’t have to load a new page as often, but doesn’t the process itself eat up a little more processor power? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/22 "2005-10-19T17:42:50Z")
> [@Duck Duck Goose](#): > > Only the Spelling And Grammar Nazis care about “teh” typos, and TPTB don’t care whether the Spelling And Grammar Nazis are kept happy. Eh, I was just pulling common typos out of thin ear-it could be used for anything. The messed up coding situation would be nice. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/23 "2005-10-19T23:00:18Z")
I post on boards where there are edit features. I have posted on this board where none is available. In general, I prefer to have the edit feature, if for no other reason than to be able to go back and resay something in a less inflammatory way (screw typo edits, they aren’t worth the bother). Content edits are a good thing. But I obviously don’t think it is such a big deal that it would be worth not posting here over it. 😛 ---
**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:** [October 20, 2005, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/24 "2005-10-20T12:52:41Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > The messed up coding situation would be nice. The mods are happy to help with that, any time. OK, so there’s a delay, perhaps a few hours, but it still seems a better approach to us. > [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > I prefer to have the edit feature, if for no other reason than to be able to go back and resay something in a less inflammatory way [del]Well, any jackass can use his/her brain or the preview button to read/edit before typing.[/del]Yeah, that makes a lot of sense, **DS** , but that’s exactly the point: someone types something inflammatory, posts it, someone else sees it and reacts within a minute or so, and then BINGO!, the inflammatory post is gone. > [@](#): > > The moving finger types, and having typed moves on – [sub]Omar Khayyam and the Ruby Yacht[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Arwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Arwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arwin)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/25 "2005-10-20T13:47:38Z")
Since the Straight Dope is the only board I’ve ever posted on that does not allow to Edit your post (and trust me, I’ve been on plenty), I considered if there could be a good reason for this. The only reason I could come up with, was this one: > [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > that’s exactly the point: someone types something inflammatory, posts it, someone else sees it and reacts within a minute or so, and then BINGO!, the inflammatory post is gone. But that, on an opinion forum like this one, is a very good one. Here, everything that adds to making posters think twice before hitting the submit button is a good one. Anywhere else though, the Edit button is my friend. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/26 "2005-10-20T16:09:22Z")
How about a trial? For one month, allow us say, oh, ten to twenty minutes to edit our posts. See if it works out. If it does, that’s great. If not, well, back to the old solution. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/27 "2005-10-20T16:20:40Z")
> [@Arwin](#): > > But that, on an opinion forum like this one, is a very good one. Here, everything that adds to making posters think twice before hitting the submit button is a good one. Anywhere else though, the Edit button is my friend. Thus, the reason for quoting messages. You can edit your message, but you can’t edit my quote of your message. ---
**Author:** ![Arwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Arwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arwin)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/28 "2005-10-20T16:46:56Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Thus, the reason for quoting messages. You can edit your message, but you can’t edit my quote of your message. Yes, but you could edit the quote. I could edit the original. Much angry discussion ensues, and no-one can prove who was right. Not great for moderators, who will have to decide which of the two posted potential suspension or ban-worthy material. ---
**Author:** ![squeekster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/779978/32.png) [@squeekster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeekster)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/29 "2005-10-20T16:47:26Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > …someone types something inflammatory, posts it, someone else sees it and reacts within a minute or so, and then BINGO!, the inflammatory post is gone. If someone reacts within that length of time, they will usually quote whatever they are taking exception to. Even if the person that originally posted the inflammatory remark edits his remark, the quote of it won’t change. It seems that the real reason we can’t edit our own posts is that it slows things down. My suggestion for that problem is a simple one. The next time they upgrade the server (assuming that they do), instead of buying another Yugo, buy a Cadillac. Simply put, they will get what they pay for. If this board is important enough to the Reader to keep it going at all, it should be important enough to upgrade the equipment in a decent manner. If not, shut the damn thing down and be done with it. Just quit trying to patch a gaping crack in Hoover Dam with a band-aid. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/30 "2005-10-20T19:45:11Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > Yeah, that makes a lot of sense, **DS** , but that’s exactly the point: someone types something inflammatory, posts it, someone else sees it and reacts within a minute or so, and then BINGO!, the inflammatory post is gone. Uh, so what? First person retracts, end of issue. I know what you’re running from with the rule, but I think you are filled with some hubris here if you think it isn’t an issue in other boards, and I’ve yet to see that, on those boards, the edit function causes problems. Course, I don’t go to the Pit, so I can’t say anything about that deep dark hole… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/31 "2005-10-22T14:51:42Z")
Point blank, while I personally think that a short-limit edit function would be a good idea, the people who run the boards are fairly certain that it would create more problems than it would solve, and have decided against it – firmly, and seemingly finally. I accept that. I would assume that Jerry or someone has some statistical evidence to indicate why it’s a bad idea. So I’m suggesting that we may be flogging a deceased equid here. > [@squeekster](#): > > It seems that the real reason we can’t edit our own posts is that it slows things down. My suggestion for that problem is a simple one. The next time they upgrade the server (assuming that they do), instead of buying another Yugo, buy a Cadillac. Simply put, they will get what they pay for. If this board is important enough to the Reader to keep it going at all, it should be important enough to upgrade the equipment in a decent manner. If not, shut the damn thing down and be done with it. Just quit trying to patch a gaping crack in Hoover Dam with a band-aid. Based on six years’ experience here, where we **have** gotten substantial server upgrades from the Reader several times, the problem with this answer is the SDMB Corollary to Parkinson’s Law. Whenever additional capacity is provided by a server upgrade, the use of the message board within a few weeks expands to make full use of that additional capacity, and push it to the limit again. Sad, but true. ---
**Author:** ![squeekster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/779978/32.png) [@squeekster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeekster)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/32 "2005-10-22T16:18:31Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Whenever additional capacity is provided by a server upgrade, the use of the message board within a few weeks expands to make full use of that additional capacity, and push it to the limit again. Sad, but true. That’s pretty much what I was getting at. Next time, instead of just getting the newest version of the Yugo they are now using, REALLY upgrade and get the Cadillac of servers. I’m only going by the fact that I simply read at some message boards and post at various others, some of which have as much if not more traffic than this one and yet this board is the only one I have come across where you have to wait, sometimes for over a minute, for a page to load or for your message to post. And most all of the other ones have all the “extras” (PM’s, editing etc.) enabled. When the powers that be here tell us what is going on I just don’t think that they are being totally up front. They are not telling us the WHOLE STORY. Here’s a suggestion for the owners to consider. Just move the board to EZBoard. All the boards there are FREE. And it only costs something like $60 a year to keep the popup adds and all other advertising off the boards. Gee, the Reader wouldn’t even have to charge us for the priviledge of posting. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/33 "2005-10-22T18:10:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Here’s a suggestion for the owners to consider. Just move the board to EZBoard. All the boards there are FREE. All of the boards there are also a heck of a lot smaller than this one. If you start using too much bandwidth, they will expect you to pay considerably more than $60 a year, if they can even support you at all. Basically, what you’re suggesting is that instead of a Cadillac server, that we buy a bus pass. And a Cadillac is _what we already have_. We don’t have the absolute best servers possible, but it’s a big price jump to go from that Cadillac to the Rolls-Royce, much bigger than the jump from Yugo to Cadillac. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/34 "2005-10-22T18:15:47Z")
Oh god no. EZ board is a nightmare-most people I know are moving _away_ from it! ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/35 "2005-10-23T09:17:49Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > Even within one minute, we’d have people posting something and then retracting it… after two or three responses. > > I actually think that, time and three vs two pages aside, there is a positive aspect to not being able to edit your own post: namely, we don’t get anywhere near the number of people being picky about other’s posts. used to be, anyone made a typo, you’d get a slew of “Nyah, nyah, you mean ‘was’ not ‘were’!” kind of posts… rather than substantive comments. We don’t get many of those anymore – everyone makes typos, so there’s a “don’t do unto others what you don’t want done unto you” attitude. And I, for one, think that’s a major plus. > > Any serious typo, and mods are happy to fix 'em, like coding, or “now” for “not” or whatever. I just don’t get this. I’ve been in probably 1/2 a dozen of these types of threads and this is always the reason given out. But heres the thing: **it doesn’t happen**. It never happens, or at least, rarely enough that it might as well be never. I’ve been on 4 different, extremely large message boards that have all allowed unlimited editing and I’ve never, once seen this happen. I challenge a single person to produce an instance of this type of controversy on even an unlimited-edit board within the last 5 years. Setting the edit window to 5 minutes means theres even less chance of this happening. I don’t know where TPTB got it into their head that the boards would erupt into chaos if this were enabled, but a quick perusal around the web would indicate that it’s simply not accurate. And allowing edit _does_ significantly decrease both user waiting time and server load. Lets say a user posts 200 posts within some timeframe. Of those, 10 might have mistakes in them. Under the current scheme, they would require: 1. Type in quick reply window 2. click advanced to preview \<- loads new page 200 times 3. Click post to post \<- loads new page 200 times In total, 400 page loads. With the edit scheme, they would: 1. Type in the quick reply 2. click to post \<- loads new page 200 times 3. If they made a mistake, click edit \<- loads new page 10 times 4. Click post again. \<- loads new page 10 times In total, 220 page loads. Even if editing increased server load by 50%, it would still be worth it because the number of page loads would drop dramatically. > [@Chronos](#): > > What do you mean, it can’t be changed? Of course it can. If a mistake is that serious, you make a new post saying “Sorry, I meant to say 1986, not 1968”, or whatever. > > As for previewing vs. editing, yes, sometimes you notice a mistake after posting but not on preview. And sometimes you notice a mistake after 5 minutes, but not before 5 minutes. And sometimes you notice a mistake two days later. If you make the case for editing with a time limit, why have the time limit at all? It’s not the same. I could be reading a 700 word post and see that halfway through you said it was in 1968 and then spend the rest of the post thinking how everything you said was invalid because you got a key fact wrong. It’s not till I reach the end that I realise you realised your mistake. Yes, you won’t catch all errors within the first 5 minutes, but you can catch 95% of errors which is probably good enough. > [@squeekster](#): > > It seems that the real reason we can’t edit our own posts is that it slows things down. My suggestion for that problem is a simple one. The next time they upgrade the server (assuming that they do), instead of buying another Yugo, buy a Cadillac. Simply put, they will get what they pay for. If this board is important enough to the Reader to keep it going at all, it should be important enough to upgrade the equipment in a decent manner. If not, shut the damn thing down and be done with it. Just quit trying to patch a gaping crack in Hoover Dam with a band-aid. vBulletin requires a _lot_ of grunt. If you extrapolate from other setups running much the same setup, this board is probably running at least dual if not quad 3Ghz+ processors with a few gig of ram and gigabit NICs. Theres not much more up you can go without hitting the ridiculously expensive custom made supercomputers. ---
**Author:** ![squeekster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/779978/32.png) [@squeekster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeekster)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/36 "2005-10-23T13:18:29Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > vBulletin requires a _lot_ of grunt. If you extrapolate from other setups running much the same setup, this board is probably running at least dual if not quad 3Ghz+ processors with a few gig of ram and gigabit NICs. Theres not much more up you can go without hitting the ridiculously expensive custom made supercomputers. Well then, why use vBulletin? Why not get something else that doesn’t use quite so much “grunt”? Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of TPTB post just what kind of a server setup they are running here. Does anybody on this board REALLY know? ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/37 "2005-10-23T14:33:53Z")
Because it’s popular? It has the feature set we need? Because message boards are inherently demanding? Anandtech, a slightly bigger messageboard runs 5 dedicated dual Athlon machines specifically for their servers. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/38 "2005-10-23T14:59:41Z")
Five minutes to edit sounds too short, considering the crawl this board has. I think 10-20 minutes might be better. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588/39 "2005-10-24T01:51:58Z")
We’re not going to allow you to edit your posts. Asked and answered and done already. TubaDiva [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestion-allow-us-to-edit-our-posts/326588.md?page=1)