# Time limit for editing posts
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-limit-for-editing-posts/849532
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [March 15, 2020, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-limit-for-editing-posts/849532 "2020-03-15T12:55:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Fiveroptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveroptic)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2020, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-limit-for-editing-posts/849532/1 "2020-03-15T12:55:30Z")
It’s currently five minutes which has been just fine in the past. But after making a post this morning while still half asleep I found a dumb mistake that I wanted to correct. Unfortunately, I kept getting a server error. By the time the system stopped hiccuping it told me I was past my five minute limit to edit.
It’s not a huge deal, it doesn’t happen every time, and there are way more important things to worry about these days. But if it’s even possible, it wouldn’t be a horrible idea to increase the edit time by a few minutes, like from five minutes to eight minutes or something. I mean, if the server problem can’t be easily fixed, maybe we can mitigate the symptoms somewhat.
Also, I should proofread my posts more thoroughly before hitting SUBMIT. 🙂
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2020, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-limit-for-editing-posts/849532/2 "2020-03-15T14:46:10Z")
I would love a larger window for editing also, especially in these days of timeouts. But I too should proofread a lot more before I hit submit.
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### Author:  [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-limit-for-editing-posts/849532/3 "2020-03-15T15:10:22Z")
If you get bit by server errors, just report the post and we’ll fix it for you. Make sure you include the exact text that you want.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2020, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-limit-for-editing-posts/849532/4 "2020-03-15T17:49:48Z")
Also note that the server errors usually just stop you from seeing the post (or edit) that you made, but it’s still actually updated. I won’t swear that it always works that way, because who knows, but usually.
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### Author:  [@Fiveroptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveroptic)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-limit-for-editing-posts/849532/5 "2020-03-15T18:50:33Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#):
>
> If you get bit by server errors, just report the post and we’ll fix it for you. Make sure you include the exact text that you want.
Oh hey, thanks! But then I’d have to admit that I used the same word three times in one sentence, making my ninth grade writing teacher roll in her grave. She was kind of a bitch to me back in 1978 so she can roll all the way to Hell for all I care. 🙂
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> Also note that the server errors usually just stop you from seeing the post (or edit) that you made, but it’s still actually updated. I won’t swear that it always works that way, because who knows, but usually.
Good to know. This morning it didn’t work that way but if I posted more often I probably wouldn’t even notice it.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2020, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-limit-for-editing-posts/849532/6 "2020-03-15T21:16:33Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> Also note that the server errors usually just stop you from seeing the post (or edit) that you made, but it’s still actually updated. I won’t swear that it always works that way, because who knows, but usually.
There have been times when I’ve hit the edit button and the page won’t load, so while that can be true if you submit an edit, it doesn’t help if you aren’t able to make the edit at all. ☹
Luckily there haven’t been any catastrophes yet. 🙂
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### Author:  [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2020, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-limit-for-editing-posts/849532/7 "2020-03-16T04:23:07Z")
What is the _ **compelling** _ reason for the 5-minute limit, that militates against even giving consideration to relaxing it?
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### Author:  [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2020, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-limit-for-editing-posts/849532/8 "2020-03-16T04:26:50Z")
> [@jtur88](#):
>
> What is the _ **compelling** _ reason for the 5-minute limit, that militates against even giving consideration to relaxing it?
Often people will have already responded to the first version.
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### Author:  [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2020, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-limit-for-editing-posts/849532/9 "2020-03-16T07:15:10Z")
> [@jtur88](#):
>
> What is the _ **compelling** _ reason for the 5-minute limit, that militates against even giving consideration to relaxing it?
Questions for you:
What is the _ **compelling** _ reason for allowing editing at all?
What is the _ **compelling** _ reason for extending the 5-minute limit?
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### Author:  [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2020, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-limit-for-editing-posts/849532/10 "2020-03-16T07:49:57Z")
I also would like a longer edit window. Six minutes would be about right! 🙂 Go ahead and keep the “5 minute” messages as they are but, like the baker who gives an extra free donut when you order a dozen, surprise users happily with 6-minute edits!
Just now, I tested a feature and was rewarded. I clicked _Edit_ to add an “ETA”; clicked _Save Changes_ and watched the cursor spinning. I wondered whether I’d get a 504, a 505, or a 666.
While watching this spinning I noticed a misspelled word in my ETA. I corrected it and, despite that the cursor was already in its gloomy spin, clicked _Save Changes_ a 2nd time. I got a Time-out message, but when I refreshed the thread, found that my ETA had been included, _and had the spelling correction._
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### Author:  [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2020, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-limit-for-editing-posts/849532/11 "2020-03-16T09:00:44Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#):
>
> Questions for you:
>
> What is the _ **compelling** _ reason for allowing editing at all?
>
> What is the _ **compelling** _ reason for extending the 5-minute limit?
I did not say there are any. Other posters have asked for a longer window, and given their reason. No reply has countered with a more compelling reason to retain the present limit.
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### Author:  [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2020, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-limit-for-editing-posts/849532/12 "2020-03-16T13:48:45Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> Also note that the server errors usually just stop you from seeing the post (or edit) that you made, but it’s still actually updated. I won’t swear that it always works that way, because who knows, but usually.
I keep a browser tab open to [downforeveryoneorjustme.com](http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com) for precisely this reason.