# What's the deal with not editing? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 16, 2004, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-not-editing/240326 "2004-04-16T07:46:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-not-editing/240326/1 "2004-04-16T07:46:34Z")
Not even within a (say) 30 minute window? Is it the software of an administration decision, if so why? ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-not-editing/240326/2 "2004-04-16T11:57:15Z")
I don’t think it is the software - two other boards I visit use vB software, and they allow editing. HOWEVER, neither has anything near the amount of traffic that SDMB has. I _can_ see that editing could be mis-used, esp. in rather heated discussion. Still, I admit I’d love to have an editing feature enable - a tiny screen and bad eyesight, and currently using very out of date spectacles tends to result in a bit of a typo-fest. If it were ever allowed here, though, I’d think it would have to be a very short time-frame, more like 5 mins than 30. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-not-editing/240326/3 "2004-04-16T12:05:27Z")
We do have a way to fix typos – the Preview button. Use it before you submit your post. ---
**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 16, 2004, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-not-editing/240326/4 "2004-04-16T13:20:53Z")
From the sticky thread [FAQ - technical issues - please read this BEFORE posting a question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=103503): > [@Arnold Winkelried](#): > > Q: Why can’t I do (some vBulletin action)? > A: We have disabled the following features at our message board. Some were disabled because they were abused in the past; some because we thought the usage might become abused in the future; some to protect the privacy of our members; some due to site speed considerations; and some for other reasons. > […list of disabled features…] > > 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. So there ya go. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2004, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-not-editing/240326/5 "2004-04-16T13:37:49Z")
While I realize it may seem awkward not to be able to fix minor typos, there’s been a very beneficent side-effect. Namely, we don’t have people carping over typos or spelling errors any more. Well, hardly ever. Most people have figured out **Gaudere** ’s rule (“A post whose sole purpose is to criticize someone else for a typo or spelling error will almost certainly also have a typo or spelling error.”). So, in consequence, more of our discussions are focused on content rather than on “gotcha!” based on typos. As noted, you can use the PREVIEW feature to check your posts. And, if there’s a serious typo that distorts your meaning or is really liable to be misunderstood (like typing “now” when you meant “not”, say), alert a Moderator (via the REPORT THIS POST button) and they’ll usually be happy to fix it for you. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-not-editing/240326/6 "2004-04-16T14:10:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Is it the software **of** an administration decision, if so why? Any query about editing will contain a minor editable error. " **or** , dammit!