Edit button please!

[Baconyum]

We need an edit facility!

I've seen on other posts on this subject you don't want people editing in such a way as to change the meaning of what they said but...

1 I think most mners and HQ would call them on that (it could even be made reason for a 'formal warning')

2 it could be timed eg 5 MIN only

3 I know you have the preview function but

A I don't always notice even if I preview
B most of us CBA to preview every single post!
C preview doesn't always work, I've posted small posts I've previewed and no SPAG errors only to post and SPAG errors appear

4 not having an edit button means thread flow interrupted by people

A misunderstanding a post due to SPAG errors
B people having to post to correct and explain what their post SHOULD have said

5 it's bloody annoying! Not having one that is.

[SilverBirchWithout]

The trouble is people would abuse it.

You could post something like "fuck off you twat" or "beware this is a troll" than quickly edit the comment.

[paxillin]

I'm glad there isn't one. I'd much rather have spelling and grammar mistakes than people changing what they said.

It would be a nightmare to monitor abuse, I'd rather HQ concentrate on the trolls and other nasties.

[Baconyum]

But other mners would see it and could reporeport plus mnhw im sure could see what people posted before they edited, the technology is certainly available and used by other sites.

[paxillin]

Possibly. Often you'd come back to a thread, find a huge bunfight nobody except the goadyfucker and 2 posters who happen to have seen it live would understand.

As for reporting, HQ are busy enough just deleting troll threads and catching out pbp, not sure how keen they'd be to have an extra task. I just don't think the benefit is big enough to justify the risk and work.

[Naoko]

Timed edit button. Please. Two minutes or five or something short like that - not long enough to be terribly abusable, long enough to fix that typo you spot just as you hit submit. Even reddit has a very brief grace period where you can edit without it flagging your post as having been edited, and that's arguably even more of a hive of scum and villainy than MN :o

[kinkytoes]

Just write carefully.

[Baconyum]

Good point naoko. Kinkytoes - I do write carefully I have a typing speed of 200 wpm it's auto correct which causes the problem. Also it can appear on screen typed correctly on the typing screen then change on the posted screen. Especially the last word typed

[MarthaCliffYouCunt]

You dont really need to edit SPAG mistakes. everyone makes them. Unless you're very drunk (in which case edit button is no use to you) people can work out what you meant to type. And only dickheads point out other people's SPAG mistakes (unless you have actually posted in the pedants corner, in which case, tough shit )

[Baconyum]

Some do change the meaning of what a poster was writing (can/can't, do don't etc)

[MarthaCliffYouCunt]

Easily fixed with a second post and an *

[Sparklingbrook]

I think a timed one for thread titles only would be good.

Other than that I can't get too fussed about SPAG errors if you can make sense of what's been said. I get more by the posters that point them out TBH.

[CuttedUpPear]

Nah. It would be an open door for trolling and confusion.

[INeedNewShoes]

Second time in two days I've seen 'PBP' written. Can someone tell me what it stands for? It's not in the acronyms list.

[Sparklingbrook]

Previously Banned Poster

[murphyslaws]

Alternatively you could have a option to see the OPs posts all at the top as well as throughout the thread. As usually useful info is added pages later and no one sees them.

[Sparklingbrook]

I like MN because it isn't like every other forum, I still worry that eventually the Like button will appear.

[Baconyum]

Correction posts can be problematic on a fast moving thread. I've seen bunfights occur and then it turns out the post was wrongly autocorrected!

Murphy'slaws yes I'd like that too, partly for very long threads as you can get a gist of things from the op's posts.

[AllMyBestFriendsAreMetalheads]

I think it could be tricky on some of the fast moving threads, the ones that can be getting a few replies a minute. Which could also cause bunfights.

I've seen the edit function abused on smaller forums, usually for the sole purpose of being a GF/WUM.

If MN were troll free, maybe, but it isn't.

[paxillin]

Compile a mental list of the worst goadyfuckers. You know, the ones whose arrival on a thread means poor OP will get no more advice and a bunfight will start.

Every one of them will use it. Goad, insult, followed by wide eyed innocence. Whaaat? Goady? Meeee? Never, that was a typo, you are a pedant!

[cozietoesie]

Yes - I think it does rather come down to what you might define as a typo. (It might not be the same definition as my own.) I think the potential risks are greater than any benefits at the moment.

[paxillin]

But you wouldn't know if it was:

I think kids shoot walk. edited to say: I think kids should walk.

or:

Those precious snowflake pfb mums on here are hilarious. I think kids should walk. Edited to say: I think kids should walk.

Both would say "post edited on..."

[ShowOfHands]

I think it'd cause far more problems than it solves. The odd SPAG mistake very rarely causes problems. Editing would encourage pedantry (in its malevolent forms), goady fuckery and trolling.

[WaitrosePigeon]

No, mumsnet should be left how it is.