thread edit timeout

custardy

following this thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/36557765#Comment_36557765

and many before it

Im wondering if a limit on members being able to edit threads is practical?
a 1 hour limit gives time to edit spelling,links etc
after that its locked in

fermi

Not sure that's really such a good idea.

There are quite a few (I think) stickies and running threads all over the boards posted by normal users, where the initial posts are updated from time to time by those users. Timing out the use of the edit function would be a real pain for those.

Also, for a short time-out I can envision some possibly privacy issues. People sometimes post some personal things/info that on reflection or in hindsight wasn't wise. Not always realising that within too short a time frame. To unnecessarily hinder people ability to go back and change such things might not be good.

Quite frequently I see people post something that is probably not wise, and I suggest that they edit it out. If they are denied the ability to do that then you may be forced to delete posts (or even whole threads) just for one thing.

Premier_2

I agree it is a pain when posters do similar to that done in the example quoted.

But I also agree with fermi that limiting the time period when a user may edit their own posts may cause more issues that it solves.

Thankfully, the number of occassions when a member does what they have done in the example is small, but sadly not insignificant.
Fortunately, I can usually tell in advance when I suspect a poster may do that. A new poster starting a thread who then starts starts criticising those who have taken the time and effort to respond because those responses dont coincide with their already held beliefs is one of those tell tell signs.

In such circumstances I will endeavour to quote the post I suspect may well be deleted later in any reply I post even if that means me going back later, perhaps after one hour has elapsed depending on when the OP first responds, to edit my own post in order to quote the post I was responding to.