ixl
09-09-2000, 05:32 PM
I have re-enabled post editing on the forums, albeit with a couple of changes. Editing is now possible, but only under certain restrictions:
[list=1]
The posting must be edited within 60 minutes of being initially posted; and
The posting must be the last in the topic
[/list=a]
(These restrictions are implemented through custom hacks. Please report any bugs to me ASAP, thanks!)
Now, for an explanation. I am sure you are wondering why these rules are necessary. Well, the main reason I did this is so that I could leave editing enabled at all. If not for this change, I would likely have to disable editing, as many other UBB forums do.
There are two problems with post editing. The first is continuity. Before, someone could post something, a whole discussion could ensue, and then the initial posting could be changed (perhaps for very innocent reasons). Then, the rest of the posting would make no sense, potentially wasting the time of people trying to help.
The second is security. Suppose someone accidentally leaves his password somewhere that he shouldn't, and someone else gets it: that person could wipe out hundreds of postings here, again destroying continuity and damaging the value of threads. Or perhaps an argument breaks out; someone could change an early posting to possibly make it look like his or her opponent had instigated the conflict.
The purpose of editing is to correct typos or mistakes in posted articles. The current implementation gives you (what I think is) plenty of time to do this, while preventing continuity problems. I thought this a better solution than disabling editing permanently. If you need to add new information to an existing posting and the edit window has already expired, just post a new reply. Thanks.
Your feedback about this policy, and about how I chose to implement this feature, are both welcome of course!
P.S. I will respond to new postings directed at me later on tonight.
------------------
Charles M. Kozierok ( ixlubb@PCGuide.com )
Webslave, The PC Guide (http://www.PCGuide.com)
Comprehensive PC Reference, Troubleshooting, Optimization and Buyer's Guides...
[list=1]
The posting must be edited within 60 minutes of being initially posted; and
The posting must be the last in the topic
[/list=a]
(These restrictions are implemented through custom hacks. Please report any bugs to me ASAP, thanks!)
Now, for an explanation. I am sure you are wondering why these rules are necessary. Well, the main reason I did this is so that I could leave editing enabled at all. If not for this change, I would likely have to disable editing, as many other UBB forums do.
There are two problems with post editing. The first is continuity. Before, someone could post something, a whole discussion could ensue, and then the initial posting could be changed (perhaps for very innocent reasons). Then, the rest of the posting would make no sense, potentially wasting the time of people trying to help.
The second is security. Suppose someone accidentally leaves his password somewhere that he shouldn't, and someone else gets it: that person could wipe out hundreds of postings here, again destroying continuity and damaging the value of threads. Or perhaps an argument breaks out; someone could change an early posting to possibly make it look like his or her opponent had instigated the conflict.
The purpose of editing is to correct typos or mistakes in posted articles. The current implementation gives you (what I think is) plenty of time to do this, while preventing continuity problems. I thought this a better solution than disabling editing permanently. If you need to add new information to an existing posting and the edit window has already expired, just post a new reply. Thanks.
Your feedback about this policy, and about how I chose to implement this feature, are both welcome of course!
P.S. I will respond to new postings directed at me later on tonight.
------------------
Charles M. Kozierok ( ixlubb@PCGuide.com )
Webslave, The PC Guide (http://www.PCGuide.com)
Comprehensive PC Reference, Troubleshooting, Optimization and Buyer's Guides...