I personally don't understand the reasoning to want to edit other people's posts. Can you give an example of a good reason to edit someone's post? Truthfully, I think its more of a detriment than a benefit to be able to edit someone's posts. I can think of a ton of bad reasons to edit another persons post, but very very few good reasons.
It would be MUCH better to have a system where the user making the post allowed/disallowed people to edit their posts. If I'm signing my posts, I don't want someone to edit it to change my opinion to side with theirs. For instance, if this email were a part of a thread in a forum, you could change it to make it look like I side with your argument, and most people wouldn't notice.
Ryan Lane Naval Oceanographic Office
-----Original Message----- From: wikitech-l-bounces@wikimedia.org [SMTP:wikitech-l-bounces@wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Jimmy (Jimbo) Wales Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 10:48 AM To: wikipedia-l@wikimedia.org; Wikimedia developers Subject: Re: [Wikitech-l] French wikipedians requesting to install Wikiforum extension on French Wikipedia
I was prepared to say that I'm against the idea until I tried it.
For me the key is: I can edit other people's posts. This keeps it a wiki, and this has very important social implications.
I would be opposed to much use of talk pages that allow for discussions that don't let other people edit.
It is very important as a matter of mutual trust that we *can* edit comments, even if we almost *never* do, as a matter of custom.
Public restaurants might be much safer if every table was in a different room with a locked door. That way, no one could hit each other. But it's good for society that we sit at restuarants peacefully together. Sure, people *could* hit each other, but they *don't*. (Usually :-))
I like it.
--Jimbo _______________________________________________ Wikitech-l mailing list Wikitech-l@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikitech-l