# Working with/editing threads **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 16, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-with-editing-threads/988684 "2023-08-16T23:23:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-with-editing-threads/988684/1 "2023-08-16T23:23:02Z")
So, I started a thread in Cafe Society. Got it posted, then logged out, _then_ decided that the title wasn’t a very good one. Logged back in and whilst dithering over flagging the post for Mod attention or directly messaging a mod, I accidentally deleted the thread (not that worried about the thread, I’m not that invested in it) My questions are these, why was I able to manipulate the thread like that after I had already logged out and why am I unable to “Un-delete” it afterward? ETA nevermind I think I answered my own questions, but have others now. Why don’t I remember a “Are you sure” message box before the delete happened? Isn’t there supposed to be an “are you sure” prompt before irreversable actions? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-with-editing-threads/988684/2 "2023-08-16T23:36:08Z")
Once you delete the thread, you no longer have permission to do anything with it. I also tested whether or not you get any kind of “Are you sure” prompt. You don’t. Would you like to have your thread restored? ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-with-editing-threads/988684/3 "2023-08-16T23:59:24Z")
eh, yeah, why not. I originally wanted to have the title edited to change “pain” to “embarrasment” Thanks ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2023, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-with-editing-threads/988684/4 "2023-08-17T07:18:06Z")
> [@DorkVader](#): > > So, I started a thread in Cafe Society. Got it posted, then logged out, _then_ decided that the title wasn’t a very good one. Logged back in and whilst dithering over flagging the post for Mod attention or directly messaging a mod, I accidentally deleted the thread (not that worried about the thread, I’m not that invested in it) After you posted a thread, there’s a time window (I don’t know how long, maybe @engineer_comp_geek knows) in which you can edit the title, so you wouldn’t have needed mod intervention. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2023, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-with-editing-threads/988684/5 "2023-08-17T12:39:29Z")
Yeah, every time I post something using a computer instead of my phone(how I normally interact with the boards) I learn something new about how things work on this platform. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2023, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-with-editing-threads/988684/6 "2023-08-17T14:27:54Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I don’t know how long 15 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-with-editing-threads/988684/7 "2023-08-17T21:54:27Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Once you delete the thread… Wait…we can delete our own threads again? (I thought that had been diabled) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2023, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/working-with-editing-threads/988684/8 "2023-08-17T23:37:17Z")
You can edit your own threads for 15 minutes. That includes editing text, changing the title, or deleting the post. I believe the thread still shows up, but it shows something like “topic deleted by author” or something similar for the post and the thread is automatically locked. It’s not the same as when a mod or admin deletes a post or thread. Once the edit window has expired, you can no longer edit or delete the post/thread. If you notice a typo, just report the post and we can fix it. We will not make substantial changes to posts though.