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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

An Edit Button

100 replies

HappyBloodBlackPumpkinEater · 28/10/2012 12:26

Please could we have an edit button for our posts in talk. It would be so much better to be able to edit out spelling mistakes and punctuation errors.

OP posts:
KatMumsnet · 28/10/2012 13:28

Hi there. We see how an edit button would be handy for spelling mistakes and general errors, though we think it might cause too much confusion on the thread if someone were to edit their whole post!

HappyBloodBlackPumpkinEater · 28/10/2012 16:04

Yes, I can understand there might be some people who would delete their post. Perhaps there could be an edit button for a short time (a few hours, or a day) to give people a chance to get to a computer and edit spelling mistakes, but not delete the whole thing when they we don't get the replies they we were hoping to read telling them how right they we are!

(I frequent an active worldwide forum where the edit button disappears after 2 or 3 days, and that works very well.)

Would it be possible to try an edit button out on some of the Local Mumsnet forum pages first, as these seem to be in limbo now anyway, and so a change like that would be timely. If it gets abused then I can understand not wanting to give moderators lots of extra work trying to sort it out, but usually the regulars want conversations to flow and so after a couple of 'incidents' people learn and full deletions stop happening.

OP posts:
Whooooosualsuspect · 28/10/2012 16:07

A timed edit button would be great.

Whooooosualsuspect · 28/10/2012 16:07

A few minutes even so I can put right my glaring errors Grin

RustyScare · 28/10/2012 16:11

Couldn't you have an edit button that still shows the original - like in a word processor review mode?

LizLemon030 · 28/10/2012 16:15

It's the reason i name change so often, because there's no edit button. you have no control over what you've left on mn.

oN other boards (parenting boards) there IS an edit button and it doesn't cause hassle because you can see what time the posts were edited and if somebody went back and edited hours later it would be obvious. ON the other hand though you can kind of control your footprint a bit. if you suddenly panic and think i overshared massively there, you can rein it back a bit.

i had a problem where i was outed once and i asked mn to delete all my posts and they didn't. i was emailing the staff and they were very pleasant, one even rang me but they did not offer to delete all my posts. i asked. they said it would cause confusion. however, other mumsnetters have managed to persuade mn to do this, so I felt quite cross. There is an obvious hierarchy.

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 28/10/2012 16:18

I think it is fine as it is.

The spelling mistakes don't matter, and if you have posted something inadvisedly, well that's tough. I don't think people should have the opportunity to post something inflammatory and then go back and edit it a few hours later.

I don't think it would add any value whatsoever.

RustyScare · 28/10/2012 16:28

It could be useful though where the op has been persuaded that she is BU and says so, but people only read the OP and go on flaming long after there's any need. If you could edit but still have the original visible, the OP could add 'OK, I'm convinced IBU' and avoid all that...

LizLemon030 · 28/10/2012 17:09

that doesn't happen on other sites that have a less combative ethos than mumsnet though. they always use that as an excuse but yet I know it's not a problem on another website i go to.

ZombTEE · 28/10/2012 17:55

It isn't that there is a hierarchy to get all posts removed, it's that you need a very valid reason. And that's HQ's definition of valid, not the poster's.

Saying that, I have often chimed in saying a timed edit button would be a good idea.

L01S · 28/10/2012 18:00

Outing was the reason in Cod's case.

RubyrooUK · 28/10/2012 18:23

Another website I use has a 15 minute window to edit posts for spelling/stupid errors. Then it's left there. That seems to work well.

HappyBloodBlackPumpkinEater · 28/10/2012 19:15

Yes, even 15 minutes would be an improvement.

OP posts:
HappyBloodBlackPumpkinEater · 28/10/2012 19:19

I can't see the errors I type until they are posted. I think it's a dyslexia sort of thing with the type face on a PC, but when on my phone, the text is so small in the comment box that I cannot physically see it without eye strain. I would still go back and add a forgotten end bracket, or speech mark, as I feel as though I have just done a twirl in a new frock and left the skirt tucked in my knickers. Of course nobody else would be bothered by it. Why should you be. It doesn't stop me from being mortified though.

OP posts:
ScarahStratton · 28/10/2012 19:20

I don't like edit buttons at all. It doesn't matter if you make a spelling mistake. It does matter if you can go back and edit the contents of your post, it's an excellent way for trolls to say stuff then delete it.

I would really rather not have an edit button. We should all be aware of what we post anyway.

HappyBloodBlackPumpkinEater · 28/10/2012 19:22

When you post anything, even if it is edited, the MN HQ website would still have a complete record of what was originally posted. So there would be no way to break the law and then deny it, the record of it would be unerasable, it just would not (necessarily) be on public view.

OP posts:
OliviaMumsnet · 28/10/2012 19:23

Erm. There's a preview button for just this kinda thing.
HTH

ceeveebee · 28/10/2012 19:24

Perhaps all posts should automatically be previewed rather than having the choice of preview or post?

MaureenCognito · 28/10/2012 19:24

god me too.
ont he dreaded "moldies" there was an edit one. and people used to have any edits marked with an "edited for spelling"

or you could have edits in a diffo colour

ceeveebee · 28/10/2012 19:26

Or you could choose in your settings to always preview messages?

ZombTEE · 28/10/2012 19:26

Did we just get a passive agressive HTH from HQ?!?!?!

[hshock]

[hgrin]

Whooooosualsuspect · 28/10/2012 19:27

I can't be arsed to preview every post.

MaureenCognito · 28/10/2012 19:28

SO hungover olivia WHY NOT in a different colour

tbh why cnt we bloody upload photos into threads

SuePurblybilt · 28/10/2012 19:29

See that ^^^ right there? That's the end of Olivia's tether Grin
I knew we'd get there in the end. Poor Livia.

Whooooosualsuspect · 28/10/2012 19:31

Shes's had enough of us all.

She wants to post FUCK OFF AND STOP MOANING. Grin