Editing other people's posts?

[rwh]

Presumably mods can edit other people's posts? Under what circumstances is this considered acceptable, and is it normal to expect a note that it's been done?

This post: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=42933 has had its title changed by someone other than me - it doesn't make a big difference, except that I initially had trouble finding it, and the new title is slightly wrong - but the principle does worry me a little.

I choose what I want to say, and am prepared to be held accountable for it. If someone else can edit it willy nilly, I feel somewhat vulnerable. If I wanted to get legalistic, I'd even claim it's copyright infringement (or something - 'passing off' perhaps?)

Any thoughts? Comments from mods?

Richard

[Ixion]

Hm. Yes. Mods can edit posts . I've only ever done it (a) when requested to by the original poster (idiotically, you can't change your own thread title); or (b) in VERY rare cases where something has been posted that is blatantly illegal or "stupid" , and then only after PMing the original poster, and leaving a note in the post that it's been edited. In other words, editing the POST , I consider, is reserved for "fixing up cock ups"

However, editing the TITLE of a thread (not normally a single post) is a slightly different matter. Ideally, thread titles give some indication of what the thread is about. And in (eg) New Member speak there are a lot of threads with the same or similar title "Hi- new member" . Or "Trip report". It makes things a bit tricky for people searching. So sometimes a mod will clarify (eg, by adding a members handle, or a From/to). I don't myself cos I'm a bastard, but other mods have this thing about being helpful. Pffuff

[rwh]

Hm. Yes. Mods can edit posts . I've only ever done it (a) when requested to by the original poster (idiotically, you can't change your own thread title); or (b) in VERY rare cases where something has been posted that is blatantly illegal or "stupid" , and then only after PMing the original poster, and leaving a note in the post that it's been edited. In other words, editing the POST , I consider, is reserved for "fixing up cock ups"

However, editing the TITLE of a thread (not normally a single post) is a slightly different matter. Ideally, thread titles give some indication of what the thread is about. And in (eg) New Member speak there are a lot of threads with the same or similar title "Hi- new member" . Or "Trip report". It makes things a bit tricky for people searching. So sometimes a mod will clarify (eg, by adding a members handle, or a From/to). I don't myself cos I'm a bastard, but other mods have this thing about being helpful. Pffuff

Ok - I guess this was the thread title, though I'm not entirely clear what the difference is - is the thread title just the title of the first post? Just set a title on this post to see what happens ...

The inaccuracy in this case is that the title now talks about shipping parts, where I was asking about shipping a whole bike - I just described it as a parts bike to be sure people would understand I couldn't ride it.

But even if it's the thread title, it seems it would be nice if the editor would note that they've done so.

Of course, this is nothing like as serious as if the whole meaning of my post had been changed (eg to misrepresent my political point of view).

Richard

[crashe]

Whoever the moderator was that changed the title, should at least put it in the 'edit' box with their name.........

I know in the past if Frosty edits something...... he puts his name in the 'edit' box. I think it is good practise that all moderators do this. Then if there is a problem that person can then contact that moderator about the problem that has arised.
IMHO.

[degrom]

Yes... Please just add your name when editing stuff...

(Just for when I want to PM you and thank you for your help... :bash: )

[sunhuntin]

ive had a typo edited in one of my thread titles. bugged me at first, and still does. the typo in my title was only minimal, and easily read over.
i dont mind the of adding new members names, and dates of accidents/cop chases etc. but occasionally it might go too far.

[Motu]

I've only edited typos in thread titles to spare the thread starter embaressment - sorry for my misplaced concern,you are on your own now.

[sunhuntin]

I've only edited typos in thread titles to spare the thread starter embaressment - sorry for my misplaced concern,you are on your own now.

i dont know who did the editing...usually i pride myself on spelling correctly, but for some reason, that typo didnt bug me. lol. normally it does, and i would have been grateful for the correction. maybe it embarrassed me cos it was picked up, and i knew it by the alteration.

*shrug* dunno....lmfao.

[degrom]

I've only edited typos in thread titles to spare the thread starter embaressment - sorry for my misplaced concern,you are on your own now.

Hey mate,we appreciate what you are doing... We are just asking that the person that edits the stuff add his name.

[Hitcher]

My apologies, RWH. The thread title change was mine. I misread your post. I have changed it a second time.

I edit thread titles for a range of reasons, such as clarity (when they have a really meaningful title like "Wanted" or "Hey") brevity (when the title runs on for miles or includes unnecessary symbols), specificity (like adding a date when one is needed), and spelling and grammar (either to spare the poster embarrassment or when making any other edits as above). Given that many people use the search function to look for stuff, a bit of editing should assist this.

[Crasherfromwayback]

embaressment - sorry for my misplaced concern,you are on your own now.

Here ya go then....'embarrassment'....one of the most often misspelt words we use....

[boomer]

Of course, this is nothing like as serious as if the whole meaning of ...

Life?


come on me old.. get a fukin grip. granted you may be anally retentive, being a 'sys adm', you will have these god tendancies.. but paaaalease...

:tosser:

[Crasherfromwayback]

You beat me to it CFWB. However, the word is Misspelled!

lol....well it's one all then!

Love yer work!:Punk:

[madandy]

I made a bit of a cock up in the wee hours this morning and couldn't change the title so as to warn people that my post was a 'spoiler'. [Jurez MotoGP spoiler in racing forum]
I pissed some people off and was pissed off myself at around 2:30am when I realised I couldn't change the title.
Is it possible for posters to be able to edit their titles as well as the post itself?

[Hitcher]

I think this stuff about identifying sports results as *spoilers* is a nonsense. We live in a real-time world. If people don't want to know the result, then don't read the post. Or listen to the radio, or access any Internet news sites. Or jam your fingers hard into your ears if you start to overhear a conversation in a cafe. If events aren't broadcast on free-to-air TV for several days afterwards, that is surely not the problem for people wanting to post about them.

As for posters being able to "edit" their post titles? Check before hitting the "submit" button. I could whack on at length about people who do not make sensible use of the subject line on emails and web posts. Particularly such gems as "Hiya" or "For sale" or "Does anybody know anything about...", etc. But that would probably make me sound like a Grumpy Old Fart who has completely lost touch with reality.