Post Edit timing for members.

[DSTM]

Wondering if the Post Edit time can be extended without my edit showing at the bottom of my post?

I may want to add information or rephrase a sentence and don't wish to see my post edited.

Thanks.

 

Edit time test.

120sec and Post edit visible.

Edited April 7, 2014 by DSTM

[RandyL]

Yes we can change that for groups but not for individual members. Perhaps five minutes would be better. Two minutes is not much time. At least not for someone as slow as me.

[RandyL]

I just increased the time to 5 minutes. I think this is better. It's longer but no so long as to cause confusion.

[DSTM]

Thanks Randy. Much appreciated.

[RandyL]

No problem. I think it's a good idea. I too have thought about the timing in the past. You gave me the nudge to make it so.

[Ray1000]

Coincidentally I was talking to one of the Moderators about this a few days ago.

 

He explained the reason for the short editing period and I appreciate the thinking behind it.

 

But now I know it can easily be lengthened ... can it be lengthened to any degree?

 

I’m only involved with two forums on a regular basis and the other one has a permanent editing facility. To my knowledge it’s never caused any problems. You can remove linked pictures from Photobucket for instance then go back and tidy the post up accordingly. Or edit advice you may have given that has changed over time to help those searching for an answer rather than asking a new question.

 

I posted a Speccy log on here that ran into a 1000 words on 238 lines when it could later have been edited down to 2 lines and made the thread more readable.

 

I just wondered if there was a length of time that could be applied that would allow for tidying up and not affect the original reason for limiting editing.

 

Ray

[Plastic Nev]

In fact it was me you spoke to in a PM Ray, however I had no idea at the time that it was such a short period. I think the five minutes that Randy has put it at is more reasonable and under most circumstances will be enough.

As I said to you, any of us can later edit further if asked and if it is for a good reason.

 

The only thing else worth a mention is that to have a good read of your post before actually hitting the post button, and if you go advanced, you can then also preview the post to see how it will look in the final posting, and of course change anything if needed before posting or hitting the "Submit reply" button.

 

Nev.

[Ray1000]

No, you were right Nev, the short time period is only referring to whether the announcement at the bottom of the post appears.

 

Ray

[DSTM]

In fact it was me you spoke to in a PM Ray, however I had no idea at the time that it was such a short period. I think the five minutes that Randy has put it at is more reasonable and under most circumstances will be enough.

As I said to you, any of us can later edit further if asked and if it is for a good reason.

 

The only thing else worth a mention is that to have a good read of your post before actually hitting the post button, and if you go advanced, you can then also preview the post to see how it will look in the final posting, and of course change anything if needed before posting or hitting the "Submit reply" button.

 

Nev.

 

Randy is spot on with the 5 minute limit, and Ray there has to be a limit to guarantee the smooth running of a thread.

The OP can say you said such and such in post (whatever) and then he said I did not because he has quickly edited his previous post.

In some circumstances if there wasn't a limit, the thread can turn into a (You said- I said) and can quickly go off topic.

 

Nev. We post a link with a reply to a member, and then we find a better link just after we posted.We need a short time to edit our help posts and now thanks to Randy, 5mins is right on the money, IMHO

Both you and I have done it, and being a member we need a little breathing space to get the reply post so as to best help the member.

If you are answering a number of Tech threads we really haven't time to write each reply in word or whatever first.

Being staff on another site naturally edit time doesn't come into it, and when I posted a reply to a member here and wanted to rephrase I found an Edit at the bottom of my help post. I also didn't realize the edit time was so short,

Now all is well.

[Ray1000]

No' date=' you were right Nev, the short time period is only referring to whether the announcement at the bottom of the post appears.[/quote']

 

I inadvertently thought there were two editing times set ... one measured in seconds where the “Last Edited by:” message wouldn’t appear - and one measured in minutes where it would.

 

... and Ray there has to be a limit to guarantee the smooth running of a thread.

The OP can say you said such and such in post (whatever) and then he said I did not because he has quickly edited his previous post. In some circumstances if there wasn't a limit, the thread can turn into a (You said- I said) and can quickly go off topic.

 

I understand, although I have a job on imagining it happening ... the type of person likely to do it wouldn’t know if a backup was being constantly created, and those type of conversations usually involve an element of quotes that the perpetrator has no control over.

 

I do understand I’m comparing two entirely different types of forum and it might be better on an IT one to have no editing.

 

Ray

[Starbuck]

I understand, although I have a job on imagining it happening ...

Believe me Ray, it's fairly common on some sites (that shall remain nameless) and does cause tempers to flair.

[Ray1000]

I'm sure you're right Pete, it's with me leading a sheltered life :)

 

Ray

[KenB]

Another reason for having a time limit is spammers.

If there was an open time on editing they could post what, to all intents and purposes, seemed like a genuine post then ....after a time when they think we have read it ... they come back and edit ( which doesn't show as a new post ) and add their spam.

 

We have to have a reasonable time limit and 5 mins seems OK after posting to change your mind or add a bit.

This could easily be extended to 10 mins if it was found to be too awkward ...but we do need a time limit for reasons already explained :)

[Ray1000]

I understand Ken,

 

In fact the time limit for me, and probably everyone else, is already 15 minutes.

 

There is a short period when you can edit without the "Last edited" note appearing ... it was 120 secs and now 5 minutes ... and 15 minutes when you can still edit but the announcement is made at the bottom of the post.

 

15 minutes after you click the Submit button the edit icon disappears.

 

Ray

[KenB]

Hi Ray

 

I was just explaining another reason for having a time limit on editing. :)

[Ray1000]

I realise that Ken and fully accept the idea :)

 

Ray