[Opinion] Auto Merge Issue

[Sedim Haba]

You've probably heard this before, but I must speak.

Look, I understand the rationality of auto-merging posts.

I also understand the rationality of the 5 minute editing timeout.

But... when combined, they are extremely frustrating.

When a post is made, and automatically merged with a post even from the previous day,

AND YOU CAN'T EDIT to fix anything... this I can't understand.

Well, you may say, 'don't post things that need fixing' and fair enough.

I do compose much ahead of time, and paste it here. Check the spelling.

But, mistakes happen. post button may be clicked, by accident.

And then... you're screwed. Please fix this if possible.

There is no reason why we shouldn't be allowed to fix grammer or such mistakes on a brand new post in 5 min, just because it's being merged!

Thank you for your time, and for providing this space. I am not being ungrateful, just Autism.

 

[Yazata]

If someone's Journal (or any thread for that matter) gets bumped up to the top of the front page every time they want to add an "oh and I also like tomato soup" other posts (that someone might have put a lot of effort in) will get no attention and they get no chance to be seen.

Another reason for this is the requirement of 20 posts to be able to send a DM will be met only if some effort has been put into participating with the forum.

Edit:
And typos happen. We're humans not AI

 

[Sedim Haba]

If someone's Journal (or any thread for that matter) gets bumped up to the top of the front page every time they want to add an "oh and I also like tomato soup" other posts (that someone might have put a lot of effort in) will get no attention and they get no chance to be seen.

Another reason for this is the requirement of 20 posts to be able to send a DM will be met only if some effort has been put into participating with the forum.

Edit:
And typos happen. We're humans not AI

Yes, that makes sense, but what about the ... sorry, you can't edit this, no not even 5 minutes you get!

 

[Morell]

It has to be so. Even with annoying 5 minutes. It prevents people from changing their posts when there are already reactions to them. You will get used to it. It took me some time too. Simply adapt, there is no need to hurry your post.

And Yazata is right. Misspelling happens. I do a lot of errors myself.

 

[MinaAnd23as]

Probably a dumb question, but what is the deal with merged posts anyway? I see them often, but I'm wondering what would be the cause of merging posts? Is it from double posting?

 

[Sedim Haba]

It has to be so. Even with annoying 5 minutes. It prevents people from changing their posts when there are already reactions to them. You will get used to it. It took me some time too. Simply adapt, there is no need to hurry your post.

And Yazata is right. Misspelling happens. I do a lot of errors myself.

That's just the thing, you DON'T get your 5 minutes... right?

Post automatically merged: Monday at 8:30 PM

Probably a dumb question, but what is the deal with merged posts anyway? I see them often, but I'm wondering what would be the cause of merging posts? Is it from double posting?

Yazata explains it above pretty well. Like I said, by themselves it's all good. Until you make a post the very next day and... oops, no edit at ALL.

Post automatically merged: Monday at 8:37 PM

THIS post I made this morning, at 10... I had NO opportunity to edit. At all. 8 hours diff between each of them.

[Help] - Have you ever interacted with Fae/Jinn?

I was/am hesitant to make this thread, but hey, there's weirder threads here. I don't want to sound like I'm bragging in ANY way, at all. But, really do need help. I have a Familiar; a Fae. Jinn. (or Entity if you prefer) We interact for almost a year. Have nothing, no experience to compare...

wizardforums.com

 

[SkullTraill]

Yes, it’s true. The post edit timer goes by the timestamp of the post, and when you make a double post it isn’t a new post simply attached to the old post meaning you will have no edit timer.

It’s as designed and will not be changed, otherwise anyone could bypass the edit timer by making a double post and then being able to edit the whole merged post.

As others have said, the only solutions available to you are:

1. Be careful about what you post before you post
2. Be less worried about minor typos and grammar issues
3. Upgrade your account to Benefactor to have a longer edit window (still only applies to the timestamp of the first post of the merge)

This is not going to be changed. This system has worked extremely well so far to avoid flooding and also avoid the several negative effects of deleted/missing content.

 

[Sedim Haba]

OK, then may I ask... how long does one have to wait to be able to edit? days? weeks? Never?

EIGHT hours seems a bit much for eliminating spam? Oh, and I do plan on going with Benefactor, after my divorce next month,

when finances are separated. I value this place. Just thought less frustration is good.

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:31 PM

*Edit automerged posts I mean.

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:33 PM

See? It's just not grammer, I realized 'Never' sounds a bit like an a-hole, wanted to remove it, sorry bout that.

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:36 PM

I didn't realize one could possibly go back and edit the old post's text, I was only thinking of the new post.

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:39 PM

THAT would be bad, granted. IF there was no way of only allowing edit of the MOST recent automerged text, then ya, I see your point absolutely

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:42 PM

Now, I know that forum software sometimes has limits, BUT... if Automerge could happen AFTER the 5 minute edit window,
then that would eliminate spam too. Ya, it would be spam... for 5 minutes. BUT that may not be possible.

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:49 PM

Sorry for all these, just how I am, Autism. I use the WHOLE five minutes, most posts. Now you see why...

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:51 PM

GOD HELP ME if my Familiar ever gets on here... I do let her post on my Coven's Discord. She's got quite the sense of humor. Seelie Fae!

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:58 PM

(but they do restrict her to her own, special text channel, just for her conversations)

 

[SkullTraill]

OK, then may I ask... how long does one have to wait to be able to edit? days? weeks? Never?

EIGHT hours seems a bit much for eliminating spam? Oh, and I do plan on going with Benefactor, after my divorce next month,

when finances are separated. I value this place. Just thought less frustration is good.

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:31 PM

*Edit automerged posts I mean.

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:33 PM

See? It's just not grammer, I realized 'Never' sounds a bit like an a-hole, wanted to remove it, sorry bout that.

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:36 PM

I didn't realize one could possibly go back and edit the old post's text, I was only thinking of the new post.

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:39 PM

THAT would be bad, granted. IF there was no way of only allowing edit of the MOST recent automerged text, then ya, I see your point absolutely

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:42 PM

Now, I know that forum software sometimes has limits, BUT... if Automerge could happen AFTER the 5 minute edit window,
then that would eliminate spam too. Ya, it would be spam... for 5 minutes. BUT that may not be possible.

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:49 PM

Sorry for all these, just how I am, Autism. I use the WHOLE five minutes, most posts. Now you see why...

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:51 PM

GOD HELP ME if my Familiar ever gets on here... I do let her post on my Coven's Discord. She's got quite the sense of humor. Seelie Fae!

Post automatically merged: Monday at 11:58 PM

(but they do restrict her to her own, special text channel, just for her conversations)

You are allowed to edit posts for 5 minutes after posting. If you’ve upgraded your account to Benefactor, then that limit is increased to 24h.

Whichever limit it is, when that time period elapses, you can no longer edit the post. So the window to edit begins when the post is submitted. You do NOT have to wait for posts to be able to be edited.

Autism or not the onus is on you to proof-read before posting, and follow all rules and etiquette.

And no, there is no way to allow the user to only edit the most recently merged segment of a post because merging literally means the multi-post is appended to the end of an existing post ID, which is the whole purpose of it all. After that, there is no separation between “old” and “new” post, it’s just one post. So the edit timer may have expired.

Everything else: denied.

 

[Sedim Haba]

Gotcha. Thank you for your time, looks like Benefactor will fix the problem, 24h will do and what I was planning on anyways.