Poll: Post Editing Etiquette

[Evil Smurf]

I will edit a post if I made a mistake, am about to get a warning or feel like it. I'll even edit your post too.

 

[Starik20X6]

I'll edit my posts if I re-read it later and realise I said something dumb, or misinformed, or if something's changed that effects whatever I've said.

 

[Mikeyfell]

I feel like editing spelling or grammar is always okay
I also feel like if anyone uses bad spelling or grammar to discount the actual meaning of your post they're a ****.

If you left something out of a post you can edit to put it back in, but if your post has already been quoted you should mention that you added that in an edit. But if you catch it fast you shouldn't have to.


I've had things happen to me where I get quoted and when I read the post in my inbox it's completely different from the post in the forums (usually far less offensive versions of largely the same post) I wish that wasn't allowed ('Cause I'd liked to report some of those original posts...) But that raises the question of: What if the person quoting you has a spelling or grammar error, or just forgets to put something in their post? What then?

Oh and tags, I'll always edit to fix tags I messed up

 

[Hero of Lime]

Spelling and Grammar, though I read usually read through a post to check for those, but once in a while I post a reply, and then see a mistake that needs a little fixing. I will put the word "edit" if I add something that enhances or adds to my post on the occasion that happens.

 

[DarkhoIlow]

I usually edit due to spelling or grammar and in some cases when I forget to write something to explain more about the subject is when I edit right on the spot.

 

[Caiphus]

It's a mixture of:
"It's my post, I can do what I want."
"It's only okay to edit your post if someone hasn't replied."
"It's only okay to edit your post if you leave a note explaining your reason."

If nobody has replied, then edit away. Why not? If nobody has noticed, or cared enough to respond, then you might as well just go for it. Maybe leave a note, but whatever.

However, if someone has replied then it's polite to leave a note explaining your edit so that their response doesn't look strange/false. Especially since this forum doesn't have "Edited by..." footnotes.

 

[Something Amyss]

I will edit if I feel the need to add or clarify something and I generally mark those.

If it's Spelling/grammar/keyboard malfunction, I won't mark an edit.

There was a guy recently who would change his posts every time I quoted him, without marking, and that was annoying.

 

[PatrickXD]

I edit grammar or maybe make sentences more concise without announcing it, but if I add anything significant, concede in an argument or otherwise change my post I will put EDIT: "insert changes here" at the bottom.

 

[Kaymish]

i will edit my post as i please and there is nothing you can do to stop me... go on try it i dare you punk
though if i make major changes i will put a little note at the bottom of the post though i don't usually bother with spelling and grammar

 

[Alfador_VII]

I edit for grammar, or typos without leaving a note.

But when I add to my post I always note it with EDIT.

I've not yet wanted to delete a post, and I hate it when this happens, but if I did, I'd probably leave a or similar

 

[loc978]

I tend to edit out mistakes or edit in clarifications... as long as I'm the most recent post. Once there's one below mine, I stop.

 

[OneCatch]

I edit my posts for grammar and spelling if I noticed it after I posted, but I won't put "edit" at the end for that. I will when put an "edit" at the end if I forgot to add something, to clarify something, or whatever else I feel like editing.

Yep, same here. I'll edit mostly for grammar, or if some image/link uploaded weirdly, and when I do add something meaningful I put an EDIT: at the bottom.

Same here.
If I change something literally a minute after I've posted it I might not bother, but if there's any appreciable delay then I'll always make a note that I've edited, whether for grammar or for meaning.

 

[StriderShinryu]

Generally, I would say it's only okay to edit for spelling/grammar issues. Goodness knows, I've done that enough for myself. Even then, however, I tend to leave it once/if someone quotes me. That's probably the one line I do draw unless you're talking about a clear Edit note on a post that doesn't change the initial post but just adds a notation at the bottom. Once someone quotes your post, you shouldn't change it.

 

[FoolKiller]

By reading this post you agree that you only have a limited reading license and that the content creator, FoolKiller, has the retained the rights to the post and all rights to change, add, delete, or edit any and/or all of the content.

 

[Heronblade]

Depends on the context. If an edit significantly changes the original meaning, I'll leave a note. If the edit is simply spelling, clarification, or going into further detail, not so much.

The point after all is communication. If what you post isn't quite clear the first time, changing it is perfectly reasonable. Even if it trips one or two people up doing so, others who read the post later will (hopefully) have a better idea of what was meant

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

I always wondered why people noted their edits, I hadn't noticed any kind of notification that a post had been altered so I guess it's a courtesy thing, which is pretty cool for people to decide to do on their own.

My basic rule of thumb has been: If I'm editing to fix grammar, spelling, or tags gone wrong, I don't see the need to announce that fuck up to the world, it was taken care of by the time one reads it. If I've elaborated on my argument/point, or get that nasty feeling after hitting "post" that I might get a warning or insult half the internet (which isn't easy to do), I'll add an "Edit:" stating that I've removed some wildness or whatever the case may be. I suppose it's good to avoid having someone quote an unedited post and have the original all changed up on them. Their quoting can call you out on your unmarked changes though, but I guess people quote edit to mess with the context of the original post as well. It's a dirty world out there.

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

I edit posts usually within moments of posting - because I see something I misstated or remember something I forgot to add while I'm doing the on-board read/check. Also, forgotten or wrong punctuation will usually get me to hit the edit button if it's annoying enough for me to notice. No big deal.

If something is significantly wrong with my post and another poster were to call it out (this has not happened to me personally, but I've seen it) I might feel compelled to edit it out or change it - in which case I (as most people do) would make a note of the changes within that post.

If I have something to add to what I was saying some time later, after people have already been posting after mine, I'll just make another post.

 

[2fish]

DAMN I had hoped this was about when it was ok to edit someone else's post.

I say edit as long as you leave a note as to what changed so new people are not confused.

 

[RedDeadFred]

Onion rings are awesome, I LURVE ONION RINGS!

I do too!

Also this is an example of what seems to be hated of people who quote edit.

I know it's in bad taste, and hopefully everyone else on the escapist does too, but in some more heated threads I see things like this happen. Some gets quoted and people will edit out certain parts of their argument to better fit with whatever they are arguing about.

Ah yes, unfortunate when it happens. I would never do it. See, I did not bring the quoted post into the world, I merely transported it to another part of the thread. It is not for me to alter, unless I think it's too fat for my uses in which case I shear some of it off.

Also, don't worry, despite your edit of my first post, I do in fact LURVE onion rings.