Editing a posting

[Peter_uk_can]

Written at 10:16 CMT, Wednesday 21 May.

I just looked back through the list of postings to which I have contributed.

The "edit" facility" disappears after a certain number of days.

I can edit yesterday's, the 20th May and the 17th May but the "edit facility" is not available for anything before and including the 13th May, so at a quick guess it could be that it is a time sensitive option which is set at 7 days.

I trust this will be useful information.

[Chris01]

I don't wish to cause any trouble or bad feeling, but I think it's important for accuracy that users can edit their postings with no time limit. Please could we have this reinstated? Please?

Kind Regards

[Peter_uk_can]

I repeat my previous post that as far as I am aware, there is no time limit on editing posts. If anyone knows different, then PM me.

I have sent my post above as a PM...

[peter nicholl]

Anyone bothered to read the FAQ on Edit? |snore|

[MarkJ]

Anyone bothered to read the FAQ on Edit? |snore|

Yep - and it states that depending on how the board is set up, there may be a time limit on editing your posts. In this case, I think there is - probably unintentionally, as Bo Peep has stated that she is unaware of any limit. But for some (perhaps all) "normal" members, there seems to be a limit as mentioned by others in this and other recent threads.

Mark

[Peter_uk_can]

Anyone bothered to read the FAQ on Edit? |snore|


Anyone bother to actually read my post ? or actually look at their own postings and work it out. ?

It is B.S like this that sometimes makes me think that I should not have anything to edit in future.

[peter nicholl]

Yep - and it states that depending on how the board is set up, there may be a time limit on editing your posts. In this case, I think there is - probably unintentionally, as Bo Peep has stated that she is unaware of any limit. But for some (perhaps all) "normal" members, there seems to be a limit as mentioned by others in this and other recent threads.

Mark

Mark
There always has been a time limit on edits as far as I can remember. Perhaps some other old hands can correct me if I'm wrong.
Peter

[Ladkyis]

yes as far as I can remember. And can we remember that the written word does not carry the same tone of voice or emphasis as the spoken one and be careful how we say things please.

Gosh I sounded just like my mother then ...

[peter nicholl]

yes as far as I can remember.
I also seem to remember that the cut off was quite short. And Thanks "Mum"

[busyglen]

I agree. There has always been a time limit on the ability to change a post going way back.

The solution is simple....insert another post immediately after the original stating the correction. It will be linked even if it appears slightly out of sequence. ;)

Glenys

[Chris01]

There has always been a time limit on the ability to change a post going way back.
What we're asking for is no time limit, please :)

The solution is simple....insert another post immediately after the original stating the correction. It will be linked even if it appears slightly out of sequence. That doesn't help if you want to change something which is wrong, or more importantly (which has happened) wanting to remove something, e.g. if it accidentally referred to a living person.
Please don't anyone get upset, it sounds as though it's been done inadvertently, so please could we have it changed [can't find smiley for please so |wave|]

[Peter_uk_can]

What we're asking for is no time limit, please :)
That doesn't help if you want to change something which is wrong, or more importantly (which has happened) wanting to remove something, e.g. if it accidentally referred to a living person.


Precisely !
I had made reference to a living person and needed to correct it. |help| |idea|

I have now solved the problem |jedi|

The funeral is on Monday... ;)

[Geoffers]

I had made reference to a living person and needed to correct it.
I have now solved the problem
The funeral is on Monday...

Bumping off your relatives eh? - shock, horror!!...............good idea though.

If a post needs editing - moderators can do this for you. I don't know why others cannot, as per part of the first line of one of the great songs of our time......"It's a mystery to me".


The solution is simple....insert another post immediately after the original stating the correction. It will be linked even if it appears slightly out of sequence.

Seems the simple and perfect answer - I think I remember Guy suggesting the same.

Fare y'well tergerther.

[peter nicholl]

To save Geoffers' blushes |blush| I think that he has hit the nail on the head when he mentions a group of people who do a grand job. We are lucky to have such super Moderators to cover your main fears. If you imagine the Forum as Hogwarts, they are the house elves. Seven days seems reasonable and if that length of time hasn't given members a real problem, then if it ain't broke ...

[Chris01]

I have just checked in admin and you do have seven days to edit a post. After that, contact a moderator.Thank you very much for confirming that. However, please could you set it so there is no time limit, for the reasons previously stated. Why would it be a problem? Please, grovel, please, kind request, please...|help|:)

[Mutley]

"they are the house elves"

Hi Ho, Hi Ho,
It's off to work we go......

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee50/manicpanicd/Pixels/the7dwarfs.gif

[Mutley]

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/smshannon/stuff/mischief.gif

Mischief? - Not me Guv!!

[arthurk]

I think editing old posts needs to be done with care. For example, say you wrote "I'm looking for an ancestor born in 1830" and there are several replies from people trying to find him, but without success. If you later discover that you misread your notes and the ancestor was actually born in 1850, changing the original will make the replies appear irrelevant. In those circumstances I suggest you should add a new post at the end of the thread, and any change to the original should be limited to adding a note at the end saying "Oops, got the date wrong - see post No.xxx for correct info". Maybe this is why limiting our ability to edit old posts was thought to be a good idea?

Arthur

[Peter_uk_can]

I think that Arthur, and others, raise a very good point about editing of posts.

I often edit mine within minutes of sending it, mainly becuase I either spilt sumthin wring, or ?, I don;t remember what i was going to say.

Perhaps the best way is to add a new reply, pointing out the error and when it was made, or that one considers the whole thing closed.

[Ladkyis]

This is something that has come up so rarely (As far as I am aware this is only the second one in nearly 4 years) that I can see no reason to change anything now.
Even if you discover that important facts were wrong in a message written four years ago it is better to put a new message onto a thread to explain what you have discovered in the intervening years than to change dates and stuff.

If you want something changed then PM me and I'll take a look.

[uksearch]

This is something that has come up so rarely (As far as I am aware this is only the second one in nearly 4 years) that I can see no reason to change anything now.
Even if you discover that important facts were wrong in a message written four years ago it is better to put a new message onto a thread to explain what you have discovered in the intervening years than to change dates and stuff.

If you want something changed then PM me and I'll take a look.

I have stated my objections on the closed thread, so there is no point in reiterating them. But, why you lovely lady, should I have to contact you about this or anything to do with the postings in my general area of operation? There is only one person who has posted more message on this forum than myself. He is a super moderator and if he so wished, and I do not suggest he would, could alter, put belles and whistles, and do anything to any of his previous messages, and in fact any other persons messages. If the messages that I post are no longer mine, then what is the point of me posting to this forum, if at sometime down the road, I do not have any control of their contents.


UK

[Guy Etchells]

Please do not take this the wrong way.

I am not for one minute suggesting you or any of the other regular forum members would do this but...

There is one very good reason why there should be a cut off point for the editing of old posts.

If there is the facility for posters to alter their posts months or even years after posting the forum could become an archive for obscene postings.
Moderators do not have time to scrutinise every post in the archive every day and unscrupulous people could take advantage of this fall in security.

There is also the basic altering history argument that archives should not be changed as they form an historical record and changing a posting could change the meaning of any replies to that posting.

Take any extreme hypothetical example.
If a poster adds a posting stating that in their view rabid dogs should be exterminated.
Perhaps many other posters would reply showing their agreement to this point of view.
A year later that posting could be amended to stating that all whales should be exterminated. That would completely change the context of the replies and would be unacceptable.

It is for reasons such as these that I think there has to be some cut-off point after which altering postings is disallowed.
Cheers
Guy

[Geoffers]

There is only one person who has posted more message on this forum than myself. He is a super moderator and if he so wished, and I do not suggest he would, could alter, put belles and whistles, and do anything to any of his previous messages, and in fact any other persons messages.

Keep repeating - "I must resist the temptation, I must resist the temptation, I must resist the temptation.............."

Another way to look at things is to things of the forums and lists on another hosted in another place cannot be edited at all - they are there in the archives, mistakes, threats, complaints, offensive messages, etc - control is lost there from the moment the messsage is submitted. At least here there is - if needed - a means to make corrections.

I'm sure that if any Moderators on this forum abused their rights, they would be removed from the position.

[Ladkyis]

If this forum was a magazine or newspaper then we would have to write to the editor to get something corrected in the next issue. The original edition with any mistakes would still be available.

If this were a committee meeting then minutes would be taken of what was said and at the next meeting any corrections to spelling or content would be raised and corrections made - and written in the next set of minutes. The originals would still be available for people to read.
So why are people getting hot under the collar because editing of messages is limited to seven days and then you need to get a moderator to do it for you?

[Chris01]

Another way to look at things is to things of the forums and lists on another hosted in another place cannot be edited at all - they are there in the archives, mistakes, threats, complaints, offensive messages, etc - control is lost there from the moment the messsage is submitted. If you're talking about Rootsweb you can delete your messages, with no time limit.

[Chris01]

If a poster adds a posting stating that in their view rabid dogs should be exterminated.That's what the 'quote' function is for. :)

Also, I belong to another forum (not family history) using the same software, where edits are permitted with no time limit, and although it is a heavily used board, they have had no such problems.

[Chris01]

I have stated my objections on the closed thread, so there is no point in reiterating them. But, why you lovely lady, should I have to contact you about this or anything to do with the postings in my general area of operation? ... If the messages that I post are no longer mine, then what is the point of me posting to this forum, if at sometime down the road, I do not have any control of their contents.
UK
I agree.

Also, adding another post does not solve the problem when you need to remove something from the original (such as reference to a living person).

[MarkJ]

References to living persons would be removed by the Moderators if found anyway - and, if for some reason the reference was not seen, then the Mods are happy to edit posts if requested to do so.

I have been following the thread as an interested outsider - I have no real views on this in any way. But the comments made by the Moderators have been very logical so far. Editing an old post *could* allow someone to modify their original message - now I am sure all B-G members wuld only edit a message for the right reasons, but...
As mentioned earlier, if some new piece of info is added much later on, then the post would still be buried miles down in the forum and less likely to receive replies. Posting a reply to your own message, quoting the original, gets the addition to the top of the New Posts - and thus more likely to be seen.

Imagine a dodgy spammer comes on the forum, posts a legitimate message - e.g a simple Introduction. They then leave the forum for a while and, a month or two later, when the post is long since buried, they pop back and use the edit function to add "Buy my stuff here...". That post is still buried and the Mods unlikely to see it - but the spam is now going to be cached by Google et al. An awful lot of spammers are specifically interested in manipulating links to their dodgy websites and getting them to the top of Google searches (or other search engines). The more websites/forums which mention "Buy my stuff here...", the higher the page rank for their spam site.*
Although I can appreciate the views of those who are unhappy with the ability or otherwise to edit their older posts, I think the reasonings given in the responses from the Moderators have been very reasonable. Although I too am limited to a week or so for editing, I must admit that I have never had cause to attempt to edit an older message!
With the ability to either quote and reply to an earlier message, or ask a Moderator to help if you need to make specific changes to an old post, I think the forum is getting the balance right.
Perhaps one possibility is for longer standing members to be able to edit their messages? No idea if that is possible with the forum software, but at least it would prevent people appearing and using the edit function for crafty spamming later.

* Yes, I know there are lots of ways in which the Page Rankings are sorted on search engines, but lots of links to the site is one of the main ways.

Mark

[uksearch]

Please do not take this the wrong way.

SNIP
Guy

I haven't.

UK

[Geoffers]

If you're talking about Rootsweb you can delete your messages, with no time limit.

Ah well, you live and learn, thank you............although you only mention delete and not edit...............and then - I've just looked back as the forum and board I used to use on the dreaded ratsweb in the days before the blessed British-Genealogy came into being..........and I must confess the means to edit or delete is very well hidden.

[peter nicholl]

Take any extreme hypothetical example.
If a poster adds a posting stating that in their view rabid dogs should be exterminated.
Perhaps many other posters would reply showing their agreement to this point of view.
A year later that posting could be amended to stating that all whales should be exterminated. That would completely change the context of the replies and would be unacceptable.

It is for reasons such as these that I think there has to be some cut-off point after which altering postings is disallowed.
Cheers
Guy
Taking Guy's point one stage further, some of us remember a post that slipped onto the Forum after the London bombing. The status quo is working why invite another example of The Law of Unintended Consequences?
Peter
PS Does an edited Post stay in its original place in time? If it does and the edit is done a long while after, who will know? This was originally posted before 2pm
PPS It still says 13.28, QED Timed at 14.12

[peter nicholl]

Please see the above PS and PPS. It would seem that even with no time limit, a Poster would have to make another Post to say that the old one had been edited.

[Peter_uk_can]

Written at 10:16 CMT, Wednesday 21 May.

I just looked back through the list of postings to which I have contributed.

The "edit" facility" disappears after a certain number of days.

I can edit yesterday's, the 20th May and the 17th May but the "edit facility" is not available for anything before and including the 13th May, so at a quick guess it could be that it is a time sensitive option which is set at 7 days.

I trust this will be useful information.

To forum administrators, moderators and members, my post was by way of information, it was not an invite to a war...

[MarkJ]

Peter, I don't see this thread as a "war" - just a good honest discussion. There is nothing wrong with differing viewpoints and this thread has been very interesting with good debate from all.
I am sure nobody thinks that you - or anyone else who has contributed - is attempting to create a division within the forum. We all have our opinions on various matters - including the editing discussed in this thread - and it is a sign of healthy democracy that it can be debated.
It is also notable that Bo Peep - who at the end of the day is the owner of the forum and pays out her cash to allow us to use the B-G forum - has listened to the various comments and taken a decision after listening to the suggestions rather than simply dictating!

Mark :)

[Mutley]

Because as a moderator I have the ability to edit, as an example, I have gone back a year or so and chosen one of my posts in a general chatter thread.

I have clicked 'edit' and written in bold across the bottom of the post

Bu***** off all forum members!

I wrote the word in full and interestingly it shows without any stars!!

I saved and did not put anything in the 'reason for editing' box.

The post and thread are still there without any indication that this line has been added today.

I think that shows why you should not be able to edit, most of us are responsible but some are not.

Now I have got to find the thread again and edit it back before someone does see it and I get banned. :o Hope no one beats me to it:)

[busyglen]

I've been content to mostly sit on the side line with this debate, but I think that Mark has made a very valid point.

For those of us that have been members for several years, and remember what happened on the old server when the spammers got in, I for one would prefer that the system remain as it is. I know it's not quite the same as a spammer altering an old post to increase hits for what ever he wants to sell, but who knows what people will do if given the chance.

We have to remember that this site is not on the same scale as R/Web who have the clout to do what they want....although I can think of several incidences when they run into problems in the past.

As has already been stated `if it aint broke, don't fix it'. That is not to say that if new ideas come along, they can't be introduced, if the Administrator sees that they are beneficial. After all...she is paying the bill! :)

Glenys (Climbing down of her soapbox) |soapbox|

Edit: Just seen Mutley's post! ;)

[Mutley]

OMG... That was a real panic situation. I could not find the post again....:o

But I've done it now and removed the offending line.
Reminder to Mutley. Don't do anything so stupid again.|blush|

Edit (It was on one of your old threads Glenys and you are such a nice lady, you would have been horrified!)

[busyglen]

OMG... That was a real panic situation. I could not find the post again....:o

But I've done it now and removed the offending line.
Reminder to Mutley. Don't do anything so stupid again.|blush|

Come on now....you've promised this before and still do it...you can't help it!|jumphappy

Glenys

[MarkJ]

OMG... That was a real panic situation. I could not find the post again....:o

But I've done it now and removed the offending line.
Reminder to Mutley. Don't do anything so stupid again.|blush|

Marks Top Tip Of The Day: Open another tab/window in your browser and open B-G in that. Tehn navigate to the post you are going to play with - that way, you will know the exact reference details. So when you have edited the post in your main tab/window, you will always know which post you fiddled with ;)
Quite useful if you want to quote another post too - you can open the post in one tab and copy the details from there into your main tab :)

Didn't come across as clearly as I would have liked, but I hope you get what I mean!

Mark

[Mutley]

Thanks Mark, that is a real good tip to remember.

I'll try to be good Glenys, promise

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd256/parth9795/stupid_dog.jpg

It does just show though, that idiots like me should not really be given free reign. I'm still shaking!!!

[AnnB]

OMG... That was a real panic situation. I could not find the post again....:o

But I've done it now and removed the offending line.
Reminder to Mutley. Don't do anything so stupid again.|blush|

Edit (It was on one of your old threads Glenys and you are such a nice lady, you would have been horrified!)

But Mutley, you could have put the offending word in the search thingy and it would have found it immediately - should be the only occurrence in the whole of the forum's history http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a173/AnnB_/giggle.gif

Best wishes
Ann

[busyglen]

Thanks for the `lady' bit Mutley! |hug|

I don't swear, so it may have come as a shock if I had later had cause to read the old post! :o

Glenys

[Mutley]

But Mutley, you could have put the offending word in the search thingy and it would have found it immediately - should be the only occurrence in the whole of the forum's history http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a173/AnnB_/giggle.gif

Best wishes
Ann

Ann - I never thought of that, mind you, at that moment I was so scared I doubt I would have been able to spell it again. I had written down the thread title of Bye for Now but as they are all three letter words they would not come up in the search. Seven letters would have|blush|

[Mutley]

Thanks for the `lady' bit Mutley! |hug|

I don't swear, so it may have come as a shock if I had later had cause to read the old post! :o

Glenys

Sorry Glenys, I did not intend anyone to see it. I am lately being driven to all sorts of bad habits. Another reminder to Mutley.
Moderation in all things...:cool:

[uksearch]

I have thought and dithered about posting this message for the last few days. My heart and brain tells me that I now have to do it, because I think that I have just cause.

I think that this has been a very open and frank debate and many good points have made against my objections about the time limit set on editing or deleting messages. However I cannot agree with the general consensus, my postings are mine. If the rules of the game dictate that this is not the case, because I have failed to read the rules of the organisation, which in my experience were changed without my knowledge, and very likely due to updates by server changes etc… without the complicate knowledge of the owner, then so be it.

If you are a member of a club/forum/chat list, you have to obey by the rules of that particular organisation. If you do not like the rules then leave. I make no criticism of Bo Peep, it is her forum, she pays the bills, and she makes the rules, guided by more erudite folk than me.

However this is no longer a forum that I wish to be a member of, so now please delete ALL my threads and messages from this forum. I hope that you will comply with this request as I will not be posting any messages on this forum again. I wish you all well; I feel that my usefulness to these forums has reached a natural sell by date. This is something that I have thought about for a number of months, and not just brought about by this recent thread.

UK

[v.wells]

I think that Arthur, and others, raise a very good point about editing of posts.

I often edit mine within minutes of sending it, mainly becuase I either spilt sumthin wring, or ?, I don;t remember what i was going to say.

Perhaps the best way is to add a new reply, pointing out the error and when it was made, or that one considers the whole thing closed.

My sentiments exactly! When I want to bring an old post to the forefront again that is what I do!:)

[v.wells]

UKSEARCH

Your usefulness to these forums has been outstanding! And I mean that sincerely.

[Chris01]

...My heart and brain tells me that I now have to do it, because I think that I have just cause... I cannot agree with the general consensus, my postings are mine...

... this is no longer a forum that I wish to be a member of, so now please delete ALL my threads and messages from this forum. I hope that you will comply with this request as I will not be posting any messages on this forum again. That would be a great loss to the forum. :eek:

BoPeep - please would you be willing to reconsider your position on no time limit for editing?

[busyglen]

UK, If you get to read this before finally pulling the plug, I would like to say that it is such a shame that you feel that it is time for you to leave. You have been such a mine of information and have helped so many people over the years, and I have enjoyed all of the `odd' BMDs that you have posted, which have helped in so many ways. It is such a shame if your work is deleted.

From your post, it is obvious that you have made up your mind, so from me, thank you for all that you contributed and the help you have given.

Good luck for the future.

Glenys

[MarkJ]

I second Glenys' comments. I have always found UK's contributions to be a great source of information as well as humour at times. His efforts in assisting members with Lancastrian ancestry have been amazing.

I hope you decide to stick around UK, but if not, then I wish you well and thank you for all your help to this forum.

Mark

[AnnB]

I would like to add my best wishes to UK and to say, you will be missed.

Thanks for all you have contributed, you made me wish I had ancestors from your neck of the woods.

Best wishes
Ann

[Guy Etchells]

snip
However I cannot agree with the general consensus, my postings are mine. If the rules of the game dictate that this is not the case, because I have failed to read the rules of the organisation, which in my experience were changed without my knowledge, and very likely due to updates by server changes etc… without the complicate knowledge of the owner, then so be it.

UK

As far as I am aware no-one disputes that the postings of individual forum members are theirs (i.e. their copyright).
It is implicit in every form of communication that when someone writes to a forum, mailing list newsgroup or even newspaper to TV or radio that when the contribution is published it becomes part of the archive of that organisation and therefore part of history.

One cannot withdraw all the newspapers published just because the writer decides they wish to withdraw their letter. In the same way postings made to mailing lists or forums should not be deleted or changed at the whim of the writer.

I am sorry if this upsets people but history must not be changed to suit the present.
One may as well start a bonfire in Parliament Square and start burning books because they don't fit in with the present political stance.
Cheers
Guy

[Chasing Caseys]

Ive read on here that you have seven days in which to edit a post. My last post was on the 21st and would like to remove some of it but the edit button has dissapeared and today is the 25th :confused:
It seems that some in the past have or had not the ability to edit posts. I have in the last year or so gone back and edited or deleted post i made when i first joined - they didnt make a difference to the body of the topic.

Sorry to rake this up again but would like the opportunity of having the allocated seven days to ammend my post :)

[Chasing Caseys]

Thank you

[MarkJ]

Remember that you can always PM one of the Moderators if you need a post editing which is past the deadline. Although it is obviously preferable to edit ones own posts, a Mod does give you to option to sort things if time has passed by ;)

Mark

[Chasing Caseys]

So the seven day deadline is no longer and now its three days which means i now have to contact a moderator ?

[v.wells]

Wouldn't it be easier to just reply to your own post and state the corrections?

[Chasing Caseys]

Will do.

[Chasing Caseys]

There is no edit button showing as yet.

[Sandyhall]

Hi
Am I missing something here or am I being a bit thick |oopsredfa

Why would you want to edit a post you have made over a week ago on the forum surely no one would see it (unless they where specifically looking for it)
If you have made a mistake wouldn't it be best to Quote and repost the one with the mistake and make the changes with an explanation which would therefore bring it to the top of the days list and every one would see it, surely thats what you need to be doing or do you NOT want to bring your post to everyone attention.

A very confused
Sandy