View Poll Results: Should users be allowed to edit the first message in a thread

Voters
12. You may not vote on this poll
  • No... it takes away from the value of conversation in the forums

    10 83.33%
  • Yes ... we don't want their teachers finding their homework

    2 16.67%
  • I really don't care

    0 0%

Thread: Feature Request ... Block editing of first post in thread

  1. #1
    Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Ontario Canada
    Posts
    9,547

    Feature Request ... Block editing of first post in thread

    @Webmaster...

    Is there any way to block people from editing the first post in a thread?

    In the last few days we've had several people either empty their first message or re-edit it with their "final version" code. Salem has restored some of it, but some of it is just gone.

    When a person asks a question, gets their answers then empties the first message they effectively render that thread "dead weight" as any ensuing conversation no longer has context.

    When a person gets their code working then updates that first message the rest of the conversation appears nonsensical. Anyone looking at that thread will simply wonder what the heck we were talking about.

    Either way it destroys the forum's worth as a research tool.

    So, can this be done?

  2. #2
    (?<!re)tired Mario F.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Ireland
    Posts
    8,446
    I think there's an option or mod in VB to disallow edits after replies have been made. It affects not only the first post. I always found this feature appealing.
    Originally Posted by brewbuck:
    Reimplementing a large system in another language to get a 25% performance boost is nonsense. It would be cheaper to just get a computer which is 25% faster.

  3. #3
    spurious conceit MK27's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    segmentation fault
    Posts
    8,300
    Whoops, I voted no when I meant to vote yes here. Oh well. And that can't be edited, lol.

    Strongly disagree with this, as it is again the kind of rule that involves penalizing everyone because of the misbehavior of a few. By doing, that, you are essentially (and ironically) giving control over to the few who misbehave. From then on, if someone wants a new rule for some reason (eg: in order to penalize everyone else), all they have to do is come up with a way of abusing some potential and then do until they get enough attention.

    I edit most of my posts for one reason or another, usually within the first ten minutes, but sometimes later. I don't edit significant things out tho, and am annoyed by the behavior CommonTater describes because I think even after a problem is solved, the material should remain for posterity.

    The first post in a thread is particularly important and can be more difficult to write than a reply. I don't think we should discourage people from refining their thoughts by making editing impossible. I have seen forums where that is a policy and I doubt the few problems it solved make up for the many problems it created.

    So I think a better idea would be to make a rule against the removal of significant material, and people who observe such and are upset by it can let a mod know, and things can be resolved on a case by case basis.

    Quote Originally Posted by CommonTater View Post
    the rest of the conversation appears nonsensical. Anyone looking at that thread will simply wonder what the heck we were talking about.
    Just as an observation Tater, I have witnessed you mass delete your posts during a discussion. I hope you don't make that a habit, as -- regardless of the motivation -- it amounts to the same thing that you find irritating in others.
    C programming resources:
    GNU C Function and Macro Index -- glibc reference manual
    The C Book -- nice online learner guide
    Current ISO draft standard
    CCAN -- new CPAN like open source library repository
    3 (different) GNU debugger tutorials: #1 -- #2 -- #3
    cpwiki -- our wiki on sourceforge

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    1,485
    The poll is missing an alternative for, "Yes, there are legitimate reasons to edit a post"

  5. #5
    Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Ontario Canada
    Posts
    9,547
    Quote Originally Posted by MK27 View Post
    Just as an observation Tater, I have witnessed you mass delete your posts during a discussion. I hope you don't make that a habit, as -- regardless of the motivation -- it amounts to the same thing that you find irritating in others.
    I would not do so without reason... There have been times I got off on the wring tangent and then when I realized it, deleted the posts so that the conversation could continue in the right direction. Other times I've deleted messages to avoid someone who's obviously looking for a fight. However; I would never delete anything without good reasons...

  6. #6
    Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Ontario Canada
    Posts
    9,547
    Quote Originally Posted by Subsonics View Post
    The poll is missing an alternative for, "Yes, there are legitimate reasons to edit a post"
    Then you should vote Yes... people should be able to edit the first post.
    The text descriptions were just a bit of humour... you have No, Yes, and Don't Care options to choose from.

  7. #7
    Lurking whiteflags's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    9,613
    This isn't going to work for me. I edit my posts too often.

  8. #8
    spurious conceit MK27's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    segmentation fault
    Posts
    8,300
    Quote Originally Posted by CommonTater View Post
    I would never delete anything without good reasons...
    Of course, and there are good reasons to edit an OP, so it should not be banned.

    BTW, the good reasons you listed don't sound right to me:

    Quote Originally Posted by CommonTater View Post
    There have been times I got off on the wring tangent and then when I realized it, deleted the posts so that the conversation could continue in the right direction.
    Ah, so after recognizing you have de-railed a thread, you figure the best thing to do is de-rail it even further by deleting a bunch of posts, creating a string of apparent nonsense reactions to the posts you deleted. That's not confusing at all -- good thinking.

    Maybe an apology would be more appropriate. We all make mistakes, but we don't all sweep the pieces under the rug afterward.

    Other times I've deleted messages to avoid someone who's obviously looking for a fight.
    How someone reacts to your posts is not your responsibility, and you are not obliged to react to them either. Innocent people do not need to hide evidence, and deleting your posts strongly implies to me that it was not about "someone looking for a fight", but about someone with potentially legitimate criticism of what you have posted.

    I deduce from this that you have a tendency to act before you think. Nobody is perfect. But while choosing to delete posts may mitigate some of your embarrassment, I do not think it is a responsible way of dealing with your problem.
    Last edited by MK27; 09-24-2011 at 01:40 PM.
    C programming resources:
    GNU C Function and Macro Index -- glibc reference manual
    The C Book -- nice online learner guide
    Current ISO draft standard
    CCAN -- new CPAN like open source library repository
    3 (different) GNU debugger tutorials: #1 -- #2 -- #3
    cpwiki -- our wiki on sourceforge

  9. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    1,485
    Quote Originally Posted by CommonTater View Post
    Then you should vote Yes... people should be able to edit the first post.
    The text descriptions were just a bit of humour... you have No, Yes, and Don't Care options to choose from.
    Yes I know, I attempted to give some background to my choice with some humor as well. But, perhaps it could be tweaked to only affect users with < x posts, which could probably be pretty low, say 10 or so.

  10. #10
    Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Ontario Canada
    Posts
    9,547
    Quote Originally Posted by MK27 View Post
    Ah, so after recognizing you have de-railed a thread,
    Talk to the hand my friend. I am NOT getting into another stupid debate about nothing with you... and derailing THIS thread.

    Go troll someone who actually gives a crap.

  11. #11
    ATH0 quzah's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Posts
    14,826
    The problem with blocking edits completely is that they can't go back and add code tags or indentation or whatever - they would have to have a separate post for that.

    How about a [+] Show Edits expander that you can click to see revisions of the main post in the thread or something? I don't know. It's bad when they just go back and completely remove the code from the first post. But sometimes they need to fix indentation and such.


    Quzah.
    Last edited by quzah; 09-24-2011 at 04:14 PM. Reason: post was thread
    Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.

  12. #12
    spurious conceit MK27's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    segmentation fault
    Posts
    8,300
    Quote Originally Posted by quzah View Post
    The problem with blocking edits completely is that they can't go back and add code tags or indentation or whatever
    Hmmm. Something to consider.

    How about a [+] Show Edits expander that you can click to see revisions of the main post in the thread or something?
    Like VCS's or wikis? That would be great, but I doubt VB can facilitate this. Even if it could, stuff like that adds significant overhead in terms of both storage space and CPU time for each edit. Then no one will even look at the record for 99% of posts.
    C programming resources:
    GNU C Function and Macro Index -- glibc reference manual
    The C Book -- nice online learner guide
    Current ISO draft standard
    CCAN -- new CPAN like open source library repository
    3 (different) GNU debugger tutorials: #1 -- #2 -- #3
    cpwiki -- our wiki on sourceforge

  13. #13
    Master Apprentice phantomotap's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    5,108
    Like VCS's or wikis? That would be great, but I doubt VB can facilitate this. Even if it could, stuff like that adds significant overhead in terms of both storage space and CPU time for each edit. Then no one will even look at the record for 99% of posts.
    O_o

    What we really need is a "Reclaim" feature for moderators. Same great taste as a perpetual edit stack but less filling.

    Soma

  14. #14
    Registered User carrotcake1029's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    404
    Quote Originally Posted by Mario F. View Post
    I think there's an option or mod in VB to disallow edits after replies have been made. It affects not only the first post. I always found this feature appealing.
    this if its an option

  15. #15
    ATH0 quzah's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Posts
    14,826
    Or the person who replies first could just quote the first post entirely.


    Quzah.
    Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.

Popular pages Recent additions subscribe to a feed

Similar Threads

  1. Google Reader feature request help
    By Wraithan in forum A Brief History of Cprogramming.com
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 05-20-2009, 05:12 PM
  2. Replies: 2
    Last Post: 07-01-2007, 07:11 AM
  3. HTTP GET and POST REQUEST
    By strickey in forum Networking/Device Communication
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 04-20-2007, 04:23 PM
  4. Sending an http POST request
    By jaxen in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 11-24-2006, 12:35 PM