# Why can't I edit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2003, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-edit/193990 "2003-08-09T06:27:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WhereAmI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@WhereAmI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhereAmI)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-edit/193990/1 "2003-08-09T06:27:28Z")
I’m new to this board. Yeah, I know ya know, ya can tell by my post count. 😃 Anyway, I was wondering why I’m not allowed to edit my own posts? I’m also not allowed to post attatchments. Is this because I don’t have enough posts? Thanks for any answers I may get. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-edit/193990/2 "2003-08-09T06:35:17Z")
Welcome to the board, That’s just the way it is. Nobody can. Also, you’ll soon find out that the appropriate place for this post would have been in the **About This Message Board** forum. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-edit/193990/3 "2003-08-09T06:35:40Z")
This is more of an **About This Message Board** question, but while it’s here: We have encountered posters who were less than honest in their posting styles. Rather than have someone post an attack against someone else, then erase it when the target had been incited to anger, the “edit” function is disabled so that whatever you post is permanently recorded. You are encouraged to use the “Preview” function to discover your mistakes _before_ they hit the board. (Of course, at periods of high traffice, you are advised to copy your post inot Word or Notepad or whatever before you attempt to preview, because the board has been known to swallow text without warning). Similarly, html has been disabled after idiots attempted to corrupt the board using that software. Attachments and similar bandwidth stressing options are all disabled to avoid stressing the servers. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-edit/193990/4 "2003-08-09T06:35:50Z")
First of all, welcome to the boards 🙂 > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WhereAmI \* > **Anyway, I was wondering why I’m not allowed to edit my own posts? I’m also not allowed to post attatchments. Is this because I don’t have enough posts?** Nope. _No one_ can edit their own posts (well, aside from moderators) or post attachments. If I had to guess, I say that it’s to reduce the load on the server. One of the first things you’ll learn here is that the “Preview Reply” button is your friend 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-edit/193990/5 "2003-08-09T06:45:29Z")
As you will see, if you try to access this page during work hours, the servers for this site are being pushed to the brink of catching fire. Useless posts, like one changing an obviously unintentional typo, do nothing other than clog the server. We _know_ you meant “the” instead of “hte”. There is a _preview reply_ button also. As for the attachments, you should be able to direct people to a reputable site that has the pertinent info. Nobody wants viruses or bogged-down servers either. Read all “sticky” threads before posting in a forum, not enough people do. Take ques from other, more prolific and respected posters. “Chat talk” is also discouraged, but abreviations are fine. This is a textbook example of a reply that rambles, preaches, lacks citing, and issues opinions all too freely. Basically, do as I say not as I do. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-edit/193990/6 "2003-08-09T06:48:08Z")
3 posts while I was formulating mine! I really need to take a typing class. ---
**Author:** ![WhereAmI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@WhereAmI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhereAmI)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-edit/193990/7 "2003-08-09T06:58:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by voltaire \* > \*\*Welcome to the board, > > That’s just the way it is. Nobody can. > > Also, you’ll soon find out that the appropriate place for this post would have been in the **About This Message Board** forum. \*\* Thanks for the welcome. 🙂 Hmmmmmm, I thought this would be the appropriate place to ask a question since it’s titled General Questions. Guess I have a lot to learn. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-edit/193990/8 "2003-08-09T07:01:59Z")
> [@](#): > > Guess I have a lot to learn. Then you’ve come to the right place. ---
**Author:** ![biqu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-edit/193990/9 "2003-08-09T07:11:19Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by dnooman_ > 3 posts while I was formulating mine! I really need to take a typing class. Learn the [snip] keyboard layout. The world’s current touch-typing champion is a [snip] user. Friends don’t let friends type [snip]. [edited to remove links – witnessing belongs in GD] _Last edited by amore ac studio on 08-09-2003 at 3:11 AM_ ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-edit/193990/10 "2003-08-09T07:28:01Z")
This belongs in ATMB (About This Message Board), but since **Arnold Winkelried** has answered this question and many more in his sticky thread: [FAQ - technical issues - please read this BEFORE posting a question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=103503), I’ll just close this. **amore ac studio** , We both know you did not edit your post. We don’t like it when posters add fake edited-by lines to their posts. Do not do this again. **DrMatrix** - GQ Moderator