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lavardera
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 422
Location: merchantville, nj
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 Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 9:27 am Post subject: Edit function |
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Could you enable the edit function? I believe huc raised the question elsewhere. I found this enabled you to correct hurried posts which is a big help - and I believe the software will flag edits done after a certain period of time which stops you from re-writing history as it may be.
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Kevin
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 1138
Location: Eugene, Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 12:24 pm Post subject: Editing function for forum postings |
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I've heard a couple of requests for allowing users to edit their forum messages after they've been posted. Thanks for these thoughts!
I'm taking the request under advisement. There are also a few basic points against enabling this, from my perspective.
I think people need to be accountable for what they say, as a general principle. If they can say something, and then make it go away later, then there's no way to hold onto basic accountability.
If someone changes their mind, they can always post a new message, saying this what I think about that now.
For an ability to make quick changes from accidental typos not noticed and such, please note that these forums have a preview function which is enabled.
Minor posting errors are generally unimportant, and readily overlooked by the community. These forums provide by and large a pretty informal mode of communication, and I think that's a good thing. In case of terrible accidental posting errors, the support staff is also here to help.
Allowing edits and then simply timestamping the point at which edits were made does not seem to me adequate in terms of statement accountability and archival integrity.
Also, in general, I like to change only a limited number of variables at a time in any of our systems, so we can develop understanding along the way of the impact of different factors. Impacts regarding the social implications of various forum structures, in this case.
The grand switch to these new forums has by its nature required sweeping changes. In that context, in the face of any doubt, I'm going to lean toward not enabling additional different functionality, at least right away.
Finally, we are still developing our internal list of priorities for additional forum customizations - and will be, for a while. While the most basic need for short-term editability is arguably already met by the preview function, at some point it might make sense for us to add a limited time editing capability as well. But other details are significantly more urgent.
In this particular area, I'd like to experience what we've got for a while, before additional tinkering.
Last edited by Kevin on Wed Apr 14, 2004 6:37 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Matt
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 427
Location: Sterling, Virginia
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| Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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Kevin --
I keep wanting to say thank you again and again. The new forums are a tremendous service to the users, and I really appreciate it. I'd like to add my voice to the requests for you to consider adding the edit feature, if and when you do consider it.. I've many times put my foot in it inadvertantly, and really wished I hadn't been so quick on the click...that being said, forums that do enable the feature usually don't see a lot of it, and any user that routinely tries to re-write the past quickly loses credibility...
But I am a very happy camper right now and I understand the need to limit the variables.
Matt |
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Derek
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 570
Location: Melbourne, Australia
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 3:55 am Post subject: |
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Kevin,
Perhaps if there was a way to allow editing of a post up until someone else posted a follow-up? This would let people correct themselves but not go back and adjust their position in response to further input from others.
Although, as you point out, this forum has the option to preview a post before submitting it. That is probably adequate protection for those who are a little too quick on the draw. They just need to get in the habit of always checking the preview...
(I have just added this line after previewing the above. Damn, do I preview this again?!)
Derek |
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Kevin
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 1138
Location: Eugene, Oregon
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 8:38 am Post subject: Editable until... |
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Nice suggestion!
| Quote: | | Perhaps if there was a way to allow editing of a post up until someone else posted a follow-up? |
Something along those lines could be a good way to go, meeting the desires both for extra correctability and for archival integrity.
Of course, something creative like that adds it to the forum development queue. Clunky as the old forums had become, they also represented many years of fine tuning. Feature-rich as these new forums are, we expect to continue fine tuning them for quite a while.
Thanks! |
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ms
Joined: 14 Apr 2004
Posts: 613
Location: Naples, Florida
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 5:37 am Post subject: |
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Kevin,
I think you are dead wrong on the editing issue.
A few years ago, I remember banging out a thoughtless and mean-spirited response to a message posted on the forum. I contacted you by email, and you removed it. I'm grateful that you did, because it was written and sent in a moment of inappropriate heat and while the content was relevant, the tone was not.
Surely this happens to others as well. We get passionate about our software; indeed I have already seen some folks get a little miffed about some issues.
The forum isn't a historical document, Kevin, and there's nothing wrong with someone having second thoughts, or needing to just correct errors.
Respectfully,
Michael Spencer |
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Kevin
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 1138
Location: Eugene, Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:03 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for your thoughts on this!
BTW, we're still ready and willing to help with a seriously erroneous posting in those rare instances where it is necessary. That kind of support is still available with this new forum system.
--
dead wrong, but living right...
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John Cruet
Joined: 30 Apr 2004
Posts: 290
Location: Guilford, CT
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| Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 11:39 am Post subject: |
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I'd like to add my voice in support of the editing function.
It's been available in other php forums I post on, so why not here?
Sometimes I make typos and even when I use the Preview button I miss some.
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djavolak
Joined: 25 Apr 2004
Posts: 26
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 12:11 am Post subject: |
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I think the edit function should be added, too. I ama regular at another (muc, much larger) bulletin board, and they simply add an last edited by whoever on date and time. There are in fact very, very few edits. I don't think anybody would put much effort into re-writing their posts to significantly alter the meaning. For the most part people use it to fix typos, or clarify their meaning once they actually see the message. At the very least there should be a typo-grace period of a few minutes.
Regards,
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Milos. |
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Architorture
millennium club
Joined: 31 Jul 2004
Posts: 1376
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2004 4:21 pm Post subject: |
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just curious if any headway had been made on this topic?
i would also suggest there be an edit time limit of something in the area of 5 minutes... that way it gives you a chance to read it over and reconsider what you have said...althought the preview function is supposed to do this...
the time limit is important so that someone doesn't change it after others have responded though |
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SDR
millennium club
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1716
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 2:32 pm Post subject: Edit |
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I'll speak up for edit-ability; I usually preview posts, here and elsewhere, but have still missed typos. As someone who is sympathetic to the science and method of history, one wants not to be permissive of revisionism. If that is still seen as important, then the edit-until-next-post ability suggested above, if feasible, would be an improvement, in my view. I remain a stickler for the most error-free writing possible; it is one way of demonstrating respect for one's colleagues, if nothing else.
Holiday blessings to all -- SDR |
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SDR
millennium club
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1716
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 9:43 pm Post subject: PS |
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For what it's worth, the site I visit where editing is enabled, running on phpBB 2.0.2, displays a message at the bottom of (some) edited posts, stating how many times edited and the time of the last edit -- it may be that this is displayed only after a certain period following initial posting, or only after a subsequent post by another correspondent?
SDR |
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Architorture
millennium club
Joined: 31 Jul 2004
Posts: 1376
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| Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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| most times and edited post on forums will say that it was indeed edited and when....although the original content is not available in anyway |
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