The "Ninja Edit". Are you guilty of this?

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JurassicUtility Posted: 09-29-2009 11:36 PM

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Okay, this may require some explanation.  A "ninja edit" is when you post a message, then immediately realize that made some mistake and edit the original post without citing what you changed.  The most innocent form of this is simply making changes in your spelling or grammar with the intention of making your post easier to read.  The more spurious form of this, is when you post something saying one thing, and then change it to say something else.  Either because you don't want people calling you on something you originally wrote, or you're just trying to make yourself look better.

An example would be, say, writing "Waffles are kinda nasty".  Upon remembering the socially sensitive nature of the topic and history of waffles, you might realize that people would construe your post of being anti-wafflism in nature.  You then hurriedly change your original post to something more benign like: "Waffles are okay I guess."  At this point it's quite possible that people have started commenting on your poorly thought out post, and perhaps asking things like, "Buddy, what do you have against waffles?"  If no-one bothered to quote the original post, these replies could be misconstrued by others as attacks and generate much confusion and unnecessary drama.  This generates misinformation, and is clearly not cool.

Anyways, this is something that's been bouncing around my head recently.  Basically just thinking about the social rules and conventions that people use and uphold in virtual communities, and I thought it might make for interesting discussion.  I've also included a poll for posterities sake.  I'll freely admit right now that I'm guilty of doing the second option on occasion.

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Zenverse replied on 09-29-2009 11:49 PM

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I am guilty of ninja editing grammatical errors, punctuation, spelling, etc... It bothers me to see that I've made a mistake and I feel that I must correct it. I don't usually change the rewording of a post because of the fact you mentioned that someone could have read it already and be writing a post about it. This is probably why it usually takes me a long time to post something because I take too long to make sure it sounds right and use the Preview button a lot. Of course, a grammatical error may slip past every once and a while, especially when writing long posts. :)

If I must add something, I'll usually put it as an edit so people know I added it after the fact.

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JurassicUtility replied on 09-30-2009 12:03 AM

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Zenverse:

I am guilty of ninja editing grammatical errors, punctuation, spelling, etc... It bothers me to see that I've made a mistake and I feel that I must correct it. I don't usually change the rewording of a post because of the fact you mentioned that someone could have read it already and be writing a post about it. This is probably why it usually takes me a long time to post something because I take too long to make sure it sounds right and use the Preview button a lot. Of course, a grammatical error may slip past every once and a while, especially when writing long posts. :)

If I must add something, I'll usually put it as an edit so people know I added it after the fact.

Yeah, I'll sometimes do quick edits on really short posts (that I really should have proofread to begin with ).  If your doing major corrections to a larger post, or adding anything period, my view is that you should cite what it is you changed.  It's just polite.

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cheesecake000 replied on 09-30-2009 3:01 AM

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I am a gutless flip-flopper :(

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animallyson replied on 09-30-2009 5:51 AM

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I've only done it to correct my spelling and the like, but I do it. I can't abide bad spelling.

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larpi replied on 09-30-2009 6:26 AM

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I do it all the time but thats ok because Im a ninja

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wetwillies replied on 09-30-2009 6:44 AM

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Guilty.

I'm pretty sure I've ninja-edited some of the posts in my Movie Journal four or five times (Like my Horrorthon list).

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RyanDJ replied on 09-30-2009 6:47 AM

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I've added another sentence, when I think of something else. I felt it was beneficial, as if someone was starting to read, they'd get my whole thought. Plus, it would be something insignificant. If something is drastic, I'd make another post.

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misschiefmaker replied on 09-30-2009 6:51 AM

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I'm guilty of being a ninja.

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Chambered replied on 09-30-2009 7:09 AM

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<--

I always edit for grammar and spelling, though I usually proof-read before I post, so it's not that common.

I sometimes edit if, after posting, and re-reading a lengthy passage, I find it doesn't quite make the point I was trying to make.

I will occasionally edit to add a response to a comment that was posted before mine, but after I had begun responding.

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cheeznrice replied on 09-30-2009 7:34 AM

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I'm very much like chambered and cheesecake000.

I usually identify my corrections in the edit notes section, but I was just made aware that only mods can actually see those notes.

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kevlar51 replied on 09-30-2009 7:50 AM

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I try not to edit my posts, even when there are typos that change their intent.

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cheeznrice replied on 09-30-2009 8:08 AM

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kevlar51:

More often than not, I change my posts after someone quotes me, just to throw a wrench in the system.

But then I'd see this: [edited by: kevlar51 at 7:36 AM (GMT -6) on Sep 30, 2009] and foil your plan

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devyanks90 replied on 09-30-2009 9:15 AM

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I tend to ninja edit grammar and spelling quite often. I do also tend to add sentences but I don't change the meaning of things.

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TenTonHammer23 replied on 09-30-2009 11:19 AM

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I only edit when I misspell something, or if I double check after I post and notice I word something completely wrong.  If someone replies under me though before then, I let it go.