Edit Button

[waterboatman]

Morning Ed, Would it be possible to include an Edit button that the poster only could use to edit typos noted after posting? It does happen as I'm sure you know.

[Gromit]

I don't think it is possible, technically, because of the way the software is designed, to have an edit function. It has been a frequently asked for feature, but it had never been possible. On sites that use Disqus.com for readers comments, I find the edit function very useful.

[waterboatman]

I didn't know that. Thanks gromit.

[sunny-dave]

Trouble is it can lead to some pretty (childish but nasty) deliberate attempts to make people appear foolish.


Person X : "I think Nigel Farage is definitely right"

Person Y : " I agree 100%"

Person X then quietly edits a 'not' into his/her post.


Imagine the above, but with a lot more subtlety (and we have some very subtle posters) ...

[tamborine]

Wbm, gizmos with speech to print would help & they censor blueys

[factor-fiction]

I think it would be open to abuse. It would perhaps work if changes had to me made within a minute. Most of us make typos but we do have chance to see what we've typed before we press sumbit

[Baldric]

Read your post before hitting Submit is what you need to do

[Baldric]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/AB-Editors-Blog/Question1370474.html

[ummmm]

We never had an edit button. We had a preview option.

[Old_Geezer]

Seconded, thirded, forthded, ...

Other sites don't have an issue with feared problems. Edits should be visible to admin and problems dealt with same as any other.

[Old_Geezer]

Within a minute is garbage. Usually one doesn't see embarrassing typos for some time. No need for time limts, just a footnote re date/time of last edit (and who by).

[ummmm]

Are typos and/or spelling mistakes really that big an issue if the post still makes sense?

When people resort to pointing out errors it usually means they've lost the debate and are clutching at straws.

There are still quite a few trolls who would abuse the edit button.

[Old_Geezer]

Yes it is a VERY big issue. Makes me look like some kind of idiot and is here as an embarrassment to me "for ever".

[Frank97]

If the post says edited at the bottom, after it has been, what is the problem?
Seems to work pretty well on the other sites I frequent.

[Gromit]

It would be a full time job for admin to correct typos and would not be very cost effective.
Moderators have the ability to zap there own posts. And then post a rewrite or typo corrected version. Maybe the ability to zap your own post could be extended to everyone? However, that would risk answers ending up in the wrong order sometimes. And some posters might change their posts to make their detractors appear silly.