Missing Edit Button on Posts: What Happened?

[moe darklight]

where'd the edit function go??

The "edit" button is missing from my posts edit: ok, for some reason this one has it, but almost all of my older posts are missing it... what happened?

 

[cristo]

The edit button expires 24 hours after you post.

 

[moe darklight]

now... that, I did not know.

lol cause someone just answered on a topic I posted months ago in the middle of the night and the grammar/punctuation errors are driving me NUTS! O well...

 

[quantumdude]

Yeah sorry, it had to be done. Some time ago a member started a thread that we all thought was quite valuable. But then he had a falling out with PF and decided to mutilate the thread by deleting the posts. In response we restored the deleted posts and put a 24 hour time limit on editing so that it wouldn't happen again.

 

[berkeman]

However, if you really need to edit your post after the time limit expires (like you've said something that you now realize is incorrect, and you want to avoid confusing others who may read your post later), you can use the REPORT post button to bring it to the attention of the Mentors. Just REPORT the post, and explain what you want edited and why, and if your request is valid, we can take care of the edit for you. If it's just a small spelling error, though, please don't REPORT the post. Us Mentors are busier than one-armed paper hangers, whatever those are.

 

[cristo]

Us Mentors are busier than one-armed paper hangers, whatever those are.

Wow... that's quite an imagination you've got there! Patent that one quick!

 

[moe darklight]

O ok I get why it's done now, makes sense.
naw no point in reporting it, it's just a long post that I didn't take the time to look at carefully when I posted it and has some distracting grammar and punctuation errors.

well, thanks!

 

[zilchonymous]

Having to bear being stuck with imperfections hinders contribution.

Some time ago a member started a thread that we all thought was quite valuable. But then he had a falling out with PF and decided to mutilate the thread by deleting the posts. In response we restored the deleted posts and put a 24 hour time limit on editing so that it wouldn't happen again.

How likely is this event?How about limiting edits just in politics- and religion-related forums where there is more inclination for abuse?

 

[berkeman]

If you want to edit past the expiritaion, just do as we suggested earlier in this thread and either Report the post (using the Report Post button), and ask the Mentors to do the edits for you, or PM a Mentor who is assigned to that forum and ask them to do the edits for you. Pretty straightforward.

 

[neutrino]

As of now, the Report button may be used only

Note: This is ONLY to be used to report spam, advertising messages, and problematic (harassment, fighting, or rude) posts.

So you might want to add the bit about editing posts.

 

[Evo]

So you might want to add the bit about editing posts.

Amazing how many people do not read that message. I do think we need re-word that to include mentor assistance.

 

[zilchonymous]

Hello, Berkeman, thank you for replying!

If you want to edit past the expiritaion, just do as we suggested earlier in this thread and either Report the post (using the Report Post button), and ask the Mentors to do the edits for you, or PM a Mentor who is assigned to that forum and ask them to do the edits for you. Pretty straightforward.

Yes, got it. Trying to figure out the optimality and universality of this solution.


What are the comparative costs of

• chance of curable event requiring
  • smart member to start a thread we all think is quite valuable
  • him to have a falling out
  • same smart member to decide to mutilate the thread by deleting the posts
  
  
• the sum of
  • reporting
  • processing reports
  • being stuck with numerous unreported issues ( cumulative )
  • additional stress
  • not receiving some potentially valuable contributions ( cumulative )

?



Wish you the best!

zilchonymous

 

[VietDao29]

What are the comparative costs of

• chance of curable event requiring
  • smart member to start a thread we all think is quite valuable
  • him to have a falling out
  • same smart member to decide to mutilate the thread by deleting the posts
• the sum of
  • reporting
  • processing reports
  • being stuck with numerous unreported issues ( cumulative )
  • additional stress
  • not receiving some potentially valuable contributions ( cumulative )

?

You forget to mention:

One started a thread, then, a flaming argument began. After 2, or 3 days, it suddenly dawned on him that he was completely wrong, and he altered all his posts to make he sound good. And the viewer just go like *BOOM*, what are they talking about. It'll cause confusion to the reader.

Well, I am pretty happy with the above solution, a little bit inconvenient, but our mentors are nice, so if it's acceptable, and necessary, they can make the changes for you. :)

 

[makc]

okay then anyone reading this feel free to remove porn link from my old post.

 

[Moonbear]

okay then anyone reading this feel free to remove porn link from my old post.

If you're serious that there is something in an old post of yours that's been overlooked, please report your own post so we can find it, and it will be done.

A 24 hour time limit on edits seems pretty generous. That's more than enough time for someone to realize they've made an error (catch typos, wrong statements, etc) and fix it. Expiring edits do more than prevent malicious editing/deleting. When people later in a thread are commenting on something you've said, it can quickly get confusing if someone goes back and changes it, particularly if the comments are that something was stated incorrectly, and then it is corrected in the original post. In those cases, it's much better to make a new post acknowledging the error than to go back and just change it. It keeps people from getting confused.

 

[makc]

I was kinda hoping for you to drop whatever you were doing and go wild searching for my bad post. That's not so hard, there are only 22 posts to look at.

 

[berkeman]

I was kinda hoping for you to drop whatever you were doing and go wild searching for my bad post. That's not so hard, there are only 22 posts to look at.

makc, please keep in mind that the Mentors are all volunteers, and we have very limited time to spend here helping out on the PF. If you make extra work for me, am I supposed to work less at my regular job? Am I supposed to spend even less time with my family? Please re-think your attitude a bit.

 

[Moonbear]

And, of course, we could always just delete all of them to be safe if you don't want to help us find it.

 

[makc]

And, of course, we could always just delete all of them to be safe if you don't want to help us find it.

Are you trying to make it sound like it's ME who will lose something in that situation?

 

[VietDao29]

Are you trying to make it sound like it's ME who will lose something in that situation?

Or, do you want it sounds like, it is US who will lose something? Nah, nah, seriously wrong, indeed. Deleting all your posts, is just like taking 2, or 3 drops of water out of the ocean. Do we lose something?

 

[makc]

If you do not, proceed with deletion. Why waste precious database space with useless posts, any way?