Do you think it's intrusive to edit others' posts?
Hi everybody!
I have refrained myself to from offering corrections several times, because when a post exceeds three or four lines, the limitations of the comments section along with my lack of mastery of the English language usually turns my corrections into a complete mess.
From time to time, I've edited someone's post when I know that the member is open to corrections. I think the strikethrough line is very useful and eye-catching, but sometimes, I feel that it can be also a bit aggressive.
Occasionally, I've been reminded that editing someone's posts is considered rude, and that's why I think it twice before editing. I can understand why, but, at the same time, I also feel it's an obstacle for me to offer corrections. After all, my intention when editing is never to change the words of the person's words, but pointing out some mistakes. I appreciate it when someone takes the time to edit my post, and would like you to feel free for doing it to do so.
Any thoughts?
27 Answers
It's intrusive in the best possible way.
The only edit to my text that I don't like is corrections that I can't follow. I want to know they are there, and I want to know what was there before correction, so I can understand the difference.
The 'history' feature of edit is not very easy to use, and I wouldn't know to use it anyway if it's not obvious that corrections were made.
Another good reason for preserving the "pre-edited" text is so that in case the meaning was changed by the correction, everybody can see and understand the original. If the meaning was changed, the person who made the edit can be criticized and corrected by others later in this way.
I wish the message editor had simpler support for strike-through and underline text.
strikethrough text
<s>strikethrough text</s>
underline text
<span style="text-decoration:underline">underline text</span>
highlighted text
<span style="background-color:yellow">highlighted text</span>
Laura, I too am all for corrections being made to my bad Spanish as well as my sometimes incorrect English. Like Mariana I do prefer the quote method rather than just going in and changing things. The comment box is probably my idea of the best method because if you see it and want to take advantage of what someone has pointed out to you, what better way is there than to rewrite it yourself bringing a greater awareness into your own brain. If I simply see that someone has corrected me I will notice and move on without really making a physical note of it. Does that make sense? 
Frankly, I do not mind if a post of mine is edited. Capitalization, spelling and punctuation differ between Spanish and English.
A few members here seem to follow my posts and advise me of errors I have made and I appreciate it.
What better way to understand the differences than to see you original post corrected.
I personally would be very careful editing a post in Spanish as my learning level may not be good enough to edit it correctly.
But in English, from time to time, I will correct a post for the basic errors.
However I would never edit to the point of changing the posters intent.
I, as most everyone of us are here to learn, when we see typos, capitalization,, spelling and punctuation errors corrected, I regard it as an opportunity to learn and nothing more than that.
I accept my corrections with grace, If I have a dispute I present my evidence to be debated by those wiser than I.
I suggest we all do the same !
On my part, you're welcome to go as far as editing my name. 
Seriously, we're all learning here, so all corrections are gratefully appreciated.
Editing a member post for typos, changing the title, or category is fine. However, going in and adding text, crossing out mistakes, etc., should be reserved for the owner of a thread, for example, Heidi's games for Alvite. She specifically says that she'll do the corrections.
Otherwise, going in and changing a post is quite intrusive. Instead, write them a comment in the comment section of what corrections you suggest.
I feel that it can be also a bit aggressive.
Exactly.
If anybody edits my posts, I will find them and curse them with a thousand sand fleas to invade their private parts.
...............Just kidding. I welcome any edit that will better my knowledge of the Spanish language..............Love Marshi
I just like to edit posts that are written by native Spanish speakers and that have some mistakes, just in order not to confuse English speakers.
Please edit my Spanish if it is incorrect! That's what I am here for - to learn Spanish 
Corrections help me to learn.
As far as English goes..... if something is obviously a glaring grammatical error or incorrect spelling, then yes, again I don't mind my posts being edited. However, if it is just a difference of opinion on sentence construction or wording etc, then its a little different. In any language there are many different ways of saying more or less the same thing, so in these instances I would rather my English be left alone.
It doesn't bother me a bit.
Edit my posts all you want. They're not my babies. I love being corrected.
If you could edit using the cross out method so I see the mistakes though, that would be cool
And like someone said, where possible, the comments are good because they force me to do it myself.
I appreciate 100% the corrections I receive.
But still.....
I'd rather have my mistakes pointed out in a comment box and not have someone go into my post and change my words.
It's totally different when someone wants to help fix my link or a moderator wants to change my title.
Dear, Cogu, please feel free and edit my posts (both in Spanish and English (I see your English is much better than mine)) whenever you see my mistakes. It's highly appreciated, mi profesora.
I'm in favour of the strikethrough line for several reasons.
I find it counterproductive for everybody's learning to read posts that are not correct. For better or for worse, everything we read remains in our subconscious mind. If we are speaking about a thread like "the word of the day", I agree that the corrections can easily be offered in the comments section, and I can understand that the fact of correcting oneself, helps you to remember the correction. However, corrections are not only useful to the person who made the mistake.
If we have a look to any the daily threads, we will find:
-corrections that have been misunderstood
-corrections that have been offered, but not read, or not applied, by the owner of the post
-mistakes on some corrections (correctors are also human)
Not to mention the posts that are longer than a sentence. In these cases, offering all the corrections in the comment section becomes a really hard task. As the section itself reads:
Comments are for adding quick remarks to a post.
What about not so quick remarks?
You cannot bold words or letters, nor strike mistakes out, nor even highlight them in capitals.
That's what I think that sometimes, it's better and easier to edit a post. When someone edits a post of mine with the infamous line I review it carefully, I appreciate it, and I really learn.
I shall do the same with the people that have put his/her hand up in this thread.
Thanks to everyone for sharing your opinion.
Cogumela, I hope you continue correcting posts, especially mine. You have a way of making one feel that mistakes are just minor bumps in the road to learning.
The more corrections the merrier I reckon - go for it! The more I get corrected the quicker I'm going to learn and if I get corrected straight away I don't have time to form a bad habit so I welcome any and all corrections either as comments, PM's, edits to my post or anything ya like!
PS: If it's an edit to my post and it's not something really obvious it might pay to leave me a comment as well, just to let me know why the changes were required in case I don't get it, I can be a bit slow some times je je.
