# We need more than 5 minutes for edit!!!!!!!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 11, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058 "2014-10-11T19:19:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/21 "2014-10-12T00:15:07Z")
I remember when we couldn’t edit at all, so I’m eternally grateful for any time that’s allowed. So, yay for five minutes in my book. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/22 "2014-10-12T00:20:19Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > … multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign of a diseased mind… > [@Morgenstern](#): > > what??? multiple question marks mean something other. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/23 "2014-10-12T00:23:31Z")
what is wrong with showing some idiocy. ---
**Author:** ![j\_sum1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/24 "2014-10-12T00:43:20Z")
Five minutes is plenty to catch a typo. If I need to reflect, make an addendum or revise then it deserves its own post and should enter the conversation in a linear fashion so that others can follow what has happened. If I need to clear an ambiguity or turn of phrase, again it deserves its own post. It is only fair to let others see the full thought process especially if I need to graciously back out of a situation where I inadvertently caused offence. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a,“I should have said it like this…” kind of post. It is honest, transparent does not detract from the conversation and alerts everyone to the kind of subtleties in language or phrasing that may arise in that particular topic of conversation. And if there is any quoting or direct answers from other posters then having the original is vital. Five minutes is plenty. ---
**Author:** ![btthegreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@btthegreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/btthegreat)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/25 "2014-10-12T00:50:48Z")
I’d like ten minutes, especially when I am posting in the heat of passion. It gives me time to reconsider my tone as well as my typos and that process is definitely of value to the general tone of discourse here. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/26 "2014-10-12T02:38:19Z")
Five minutes has almost always been plenty for me. I confess, I don’t preview as much as I ought. But I mostly use editing to change clumsy or ambiguous phrasing. I might use the word “he” and then realize, reading the post, that “he” could mean either of two guys. So I quickly edit “he” to “the first guy” and note “cleared up ambiguity” in the reason. Five minutes is good for that. It’s even enough to do a quick Google, check a pertinent (or impertinent) fact (or factoid) and toss that in. “ETA, his name is ‘Grandison Wompler,’ not ‘Grandson Wompler.’ My apologies.” ETA: eta. ---
**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 12, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/27 "2014-10-12T02:56:00Z")
Most places I’ve been that have time limits have it set at five minutes. I think that’s plenty of time. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/28 "2014-10-12T03:45:29Z")
I like the five minute rule. It’s one of my favorite things about this board. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/29 "2014-10-12T04:37:25Z")
> [@btthegreat](#): > > I’d like ten minutes, especially when I am posting in the heat of passion. It gives me time to reconsider my tone as well as my typos and that process is definitely of value to the general tone of discourse here. I don’t like to brag, but it takes me _much_ more than ten minutes when _I’m_ in the heat of passion. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/30 "2014-10-12T04:41:26Z")
I’ve seen this topic come up several times in the past couple years. It seems that the people asking for change are only requesting 10 mins instead of 5. Nothing ridiculous like an hour or two. I understand the trolling concerns. I can’t see that happening with short edit periods. Maybe if it was 30 mins someone might post a nasty insult and then remove it 20 min later. Seems pretty immature too me and posters on the SDMB trend older and are more educated. I can’t imagine that kind of grade school trolling here. Regardless, that kind of trolling wouldn’t be practical in a 10 min edit window. The troll wouldn’t even know for sure if the person saw the insult in such a short time frame. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/31 "2014-10-12T04:56:43Z")
I would like a bit more time too, but, lets face it, we can’t even get a decent rolleyes smiley. :rolleyes:☹ ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/32 "2014-10-12T05:24:48Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > I remember when we couldn’t edit at all, so I’m eternally grateful for any time that’s allowed. So, yay for five minutes in my book. Remember when we couldn’t even preview??? Lordy, whatta mess. > [@btthegreat](#): > > I’d like ten minutes, especially when I am posting in the heat of passion. It gives me time to reconsider my tone as well as my typos and that process is definitely of value to the general tone of discourse here. If you can’t control yourself, that’s a you problem, not an edit window problem. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/33 "2014-10-12T06:01:49Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I don’t like to brag, but it takes me _much_ more than ten minutes when _I’m_ in the heat of passion. Cite? 😉 You left that one wide open. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/34 "2014-10-12T08:04:59Z")
Back when I was a young man, we couldn’t edit at all. And we LIKED it. So get off my lawn! ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/35 "2014-10-12T09:39:44Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > You left that one wide open. That’s what _she_ said! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/36 "2014-10-12T10:33:23Z")
> [@btthegreat](#): > > I’d like ten minutes, especially when I am posting in the heat of passion. Yeah, I have a difficult time typing accurately with just one hand. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/37 "2014-10-12T10:34:51Z")
Holey shit, have you always been able to compare edits with originals? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/38 "2014-10-12T12:59:52Z")
5 minutes is fine. Sure, I’ve been bitten when trying to look up a cite and miss the window, but overall, I’d rather a shorter one than longer one. I remember the pre-edits era. While I do like being able to edit, i do miss some of the funnier typos that popped up over the years. Plus, the plethora of “nm” posts that appeared once editing was allowed is mildly annoying. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/39 "2014-10-12T13:15:54Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I remember the pre-edits era. While I do like being able to edit, i do miss some of the funnier typos\*\* that popped up \*\*over the years. You mean _ensued_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2014, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058/40 "2014-10-12T13:26:09Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > You mean _ensued_. 😃 Why yes, yes, I do. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-more-than-5-minutes-for-edit/701058.md?page=3)