(since no replies were being accepted)
Concerns about flame wars and people posturing in "edited" posts are well, not such a big deal. Stuff like that will always happen folks.
Providing ability to edit your posts, well it is a reasonable request. In spirit of things, what one says is his/her words. Changing those, editing, cleaning, etc. all seem mighty consistent.
Don't worry about policing and censoring. Encourage good behavior and deal with one-off problems when they occur.
That's my take on things.
+1 BRING BACK EDIT.
Another website I visit allows editing for something like 30 minutes.
The situation was described in this post: http://www.part15.us/node/4606
A change in the edit function such as using time limited edits is not as simple as throwing a software switch. It takes time to research this.
Neil
It's not really a big deal anyway. Just get your post right before you post.
I have made many typos even with the edit.
So far this posting is going wlle.
Some time back a member was looking for their lost post while another wanted to edit a typo. Neil had a great solution, use a text editor like Notepad to compose their post giving the user the ability to edit the message before posting it online. Compose, edit, proof read then copy and paste the message into the forum or blog.
Often more than not a post or response to a post is an on-the-fly act, where the honest truth is expressed.
There is good in proofing before posting. But that is not true or upfront, it is a false perception of what really is being thought, expressed and said. In other words...self censoring.
Like a coin however, there are two sides to it.
RFB
Good idea Mr. Sallade rock95seven.
In a way I sort of almost did something like that last night.
I wanted to respond to somebody's post but wanted to get the words just so, so I wrote it by hand with a pencil and paper, changed it for about 20-minutes, never approved any of it and ended up being quiet.
But even while I agree with "pre-composing", here I am typing. I can't seem to stop.
"But even while I agree with "pre-composing", here I am typing. I can't seem to stop."
Imagine what it would be like to hold a conversation with a person face to face and each person is taking their time to respond to the other while "editing in the mind" before saying anything.
Eventually the thought of what would be said get's lost in the strive for perfection. Perfection is a myth. Nothing is perfect.
Eventually the conversation would have huge gaps between responses because everyone would be editing and proofing before saying anything!
As evidenced above..you went through that very thing exactly Carl..only difference was it was on a piece of paper AND in the mind, eventually the point from your point becomes lost in the clutter of attaining perfection.
RFB
If edits are allowed, even if only for a short time after the original post, there should be some way to review the original if there is question as to what the change was.
It never fails, if I preview before post I'll usually find some typo to correct.
I see we've brought back the edit for 30 minute window usage.
I think that is great.
I post often and quickly. My fingers get sloppy at times and I make obvious spelling and grammar bloopers. Hoping no one truly cares about such informal errors. Being the internet is more like a lasting stain, I try to clean up the bloopers, thus editing.
But, I am fully understanding about misuse of editing. Easier to police the problems, when and if they ever arrive. Otherwise, the Part15 police can sit in wait for decades sipping their beverages watching time go by.
Thanks for accommodating the edit request!
PS: I tested the edit function with this 🙂