Is the edit window an invitation to narcissism? May 30, 2013 1:14 AM   Subscribe

I'm guilty of this: I find myself rereading my posts continuously for 5 minutes after I post them, even though I already previewed and corrected any typos. Not a complaint per se, just curious if my experience is unique.
posted by MoTLD to Etiquette/Policy at 1:14 AM (77 comments total)

I have never done this and it sounds strange to me. I don't think it would need the edit window anyway; if I was that awesome I could just favourite my post and look at it for hours, no trouble.
posted by solarion at 1:56 AM on May 30, 2013 [6 favorites]


I only ever use it for typos, and then still miss them sometimes.
posted by smoke at 2:18 AM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]


I do this and have done it since far before the edit window; I do this with emails I've just sent out (and ones from longer ago) and posts in other forums and journals; I reread my own blog posts and comments on other blogs.

It's not usually narcissism. It's much more, did I say what I thought I had said? What is it that I just said, anyway? What do I think about what I just said, do I think I could have articulated better?

Sometimes it's perfectionism, but I am a professional typo-fixer, so it's ingrained to proof read after the fact. Most of the time it's just me echoing to myself. I'm not like this when I speak as opposed to write. But it's not narcissism unless I've written something I think is particularly great, in which case, yes. But my ability to edit or not edit what I've posted has absolutely no bearing on how much or how long I reread it.
posted by Mizu at 2:21 AM on May 30, 2013 [13 favorites]


I don't preview, and use the edit window instead.
posted by empath at 2:26 AM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


I almost always only use it for typos, bad punctuation etc. Occasionally I use it when I see I've missed out a key point that would clarify my comment so, rather than adding a whole new comment, I just edit.
posted by Decani at 2:42 AM on May 30, 2013


I tend to only substantively change it if i notice i forgot something within a few seconds. I don't want to make a meaningful change to what i said if people might have already responded to it.
posted by empath at 2:46 AM on May 30, 2013


I will note that the edit window really is meant for fixing typos and similar small mistakes only. Adding or deleting content is a problem because people do not see your edits unless they refresh the page, so even something that seems innocuous can cause weird confusion. For example:
Original comment: This is a good example of X, Y, and Z.

Edited comment: This is a good example of W, X, Y, and Z.

Response comment: Don't forget W! W is my all-time favorite example of [thing].
So we have a little note on the edit window itself that asks people to just edit for typos, and we have a bit longer thing in the FAQ, here.
posted by taz (staff) at 3:02 AM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


Here's what it says on the edit window:
  • Please don't add/change/delete the content of a comment. This is for typos and small fixes only. Write an additional comment or contact the mods if there's a bigger issue.
  • Please don't add "edit: [reason for edit]" type notes to your comments. It's distracting and unnecessary.
  • Take a look at the FAQ about editing for more information.
posted by taz (staff) at 3:07 AM on May 30, 2013


I don't need an edit window to do this. I'm fascinated by these mostly hideously embarrassing words that I type into this internet thing and I have to continue to read them over and over again, sometimes for many years. All perfectly normal!
posted by h00py at 3:13 AM on May 30, 2013 [6 favorites]


I will note that the edit window really is meant for fixing typos and similar small mistakes only. Adding or deleting content is a problem because people do not see your edits unless they refresh the page, so even something that seems innocuous can cause weird confusion. For example:

I kind of think that if you noticed that you said something like DO rather than DON'T quickly enough (within about 10-15 seconds or so) and fix it, it's better than trying to correct a misunderstanding later in the thread.
posted by empath at 3:24 AM on May 30, 2013


You're talking about comments, not posts, right? Because I do find myself checking my posts five minutes afterwards and only then finding that horrible tyop or missing link and with no edit window.
posted by MartinWisse at 3:25 AM on May 30, 2013 [4 favorites]


Quick, Martin; there's still time for that typo.
posted by solarion at 3:27 AM on May 30, 2013 [4 favorites]


To be honest, I'd prefer if we just let people say "edit: now that I think about it, I forget to mention yada yada" than have people make multiple posts. I think people are net literate enough to figure out what happened on the off chance that there is confusion. It doesn't seem to cause problems on sites like reddit unless people are actively being jackasses about it.
posted by empath at 3:27 AM on May 30, 2013 [3 favorites]


We sort of had to go with a clear-cut, easily understood usage that a) gives people the very reasonable ability to fix small errors, b) also assuages the concerns of people who felt like an edit window would be A Very Bad Thing Indeed, and c) works with the Mefi linear commenting dynamic that often features near-immediate responses, and which allows people to view new comments without refreshing the page.
posted by taz (staff) at 3:38 AM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


Please don't add/change/delete the content of a comment. This is for typos and small fixes only.

I loathe to admit how guilty I am of completely ignoring this.

I'm like Liz Lemon with, "Do-Over!!"
posted by kinetic at 4:17 AM on May 30, 2013 [3 favorites]


Like Jerry Garcia said about tapers at Dead concerts, "once we play it, it is our gift to you. Do with it as you want", I write it and 95% of the time I never look back (within the 5 minute edit window). But, I will admit to rereading certain emails I send and parsing every word multiple times to makes sure I said what I had hoped to say.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 4:21 AM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]


I have gaps in my visual field, so I miss typos and other errors until after posting, even with scanning the comment before posting. The only time I add new words is if the meaning is completely lost, usually because I left out the verb. Why my brain hates verbs is a mystery.

Autocorrect is also the very devil, which must be fought with fire before and after hitting "post."

As for reading comments afterwards, I am more likely to do this months afterwards; it's almost as rewarding as posting in the first place, especially of a good conversation developed.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:31 AM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]


Also, I just want to say that I read JohnnyGunn's comment as "tapirs at Dead concerts," and was both confused and charmed.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:33 AM on May 30, 2013 [9 favorites]


It's much more, did I say what I thought I had said?

I do the same thing with emails and blog posts and whatnot, for this reason. I let a few minutes or even a day go by then re-read with fresh eyes to see if I said what I thought I was saying.
posted by solotoro at 4:51 AM on May 30, 2013


I usually preview twice to make sure what I've written makes sense, and then I read it over again after I've posted. And I still make dumb mistakes all the time, like forgetting verbs and such and so.
posted by Metroid Baby at 6:19 AM on May 30, 2013


I re-read all the stuff I write, and sometimes go back to it later. I'm not a writer, but I do have an editing background. And currently I have to write really good emails for work to a lot of people, which sounds weird but seems to be true.

I also catch myself practicing hard conversations out loud by myself. I'm not sure why, but these two things feel related. Like I spend a lot of time making sure I say exactly what I mean. I don't think that's a very nice quality of mine, but I don't think it's narcissistic either.

A lot of what Mizu says resonates with me, too.
posted by juliplease at 6:20 AM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


As mods we've had the ability to correct our own typos for a long time so I'm happy this is a thing that other people have the ability to do. That said we can also see how much people are using the thing and it's amusing to me that while some people, most really, use it for small typo type stuff there are definitely people who often do multiple-short-rewrite types of things, sometimes making an assholish comment a little softer, or adding hyperlinks after the fact. If we see people doing this often we'll drop them a note; I'm sure if we can see this happening other users can also see it and contrary to what people think, sometimes it turns into a thing. I really appreciate the fact that most people seem to be using it the way we intended and that overall it's been a net good for the site.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:33 AM on May 30, 2013


GenjiandProust: "Also, I just want to say that I read JohnnyGunn's comment as "tapirs at Dead concerts," and was both confused and charmed."

It is safe to say that at almost every show I attended, I was both confused and charmed. And, can be confused for a Tapir.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 6:37 AM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


I type any old shite, regret it and then try and clarify. I reject the supremacy of bourgeois discourse implicit in the ability to say something more meaningful in a text comment than you could rant in person with a few drinks taken.
posted by Abiezer at 7:16 AM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]


Also, I just want to say that I read JohnnyGunn's comment as "tapirs at Dead concerts," and was both confused and charmed.

Read it as "diapers," and didn't even know what.
posted by mph at 7:21 AM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


I have done this now and then. But I write comments in a separate text editor and that's where I do most of my obsessive-compulsive stuff. Then I copy/paste into the comment window and preview obsessively, looking for broken links and so on. Still don't catch everything, of course. Also I revisit my own recent comments pretty often just to see if anyone has responded directly to one of them in the thread.
posted by jfuller at 7:32 AM on May 30, 2013


It's perfectly natural to re-read your comment after you hit post. It's what good writers do.

It's also perfectly natural to favorite your own comment when you are re-reading it because, if you wrote it well to begin with, you'll find yourself strongly agreeing with it.

It's also perfectly natural to want to flag your comment as 'fantastic', but modesty should prevent you from doing this.
posted by George Lucas at 7:37 AM on May 30, 2013 [13 favorites]


I need no invitation to be narcissistic. I mean, with comments as great as mine, who'd need one?
posted by maryr at 7:45 AM on May 30, 2013


I re-read most of my comments once after posting. Don't obsess over them, though. (Thank heaven for the edit window.)

I tend to make a lot of typos in FPPs, and read them at least once or twice after posting to make sure I haven't made an total ass of myself. If I have time, I'll sometimes re-read and then check every link in an FPP to make sure everything's okay after posting. But don't always.

After that, whatever.
posted by zarq at 7:49 AM on May 30, 2013


Before, I used to re-read my comments for half an hour and bite my nails. Now, I do add the odd comma within a minute or two and move on (the mods have the stats).

No.
posted by Namlit at 8:08 AM on May 30, 2013


I really appreciate the fact that most people seem to be using it the way we intended and that overall it's been a net good for the site.

I had faith. I haven't heard much complaining from the user side of things either, though I'm not likely to I suppose.

I'm also very glad you're not getting swamped with "puppies to hitler" type edits. Or onus to anus pedantry even. But I'm still kinda sad that the sockpuppet that came out of the whole ordeal hasn't seen the light of day since.
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:42 AM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


Just like marijuana leads to heroin, edit-window leads to narcissism
posted by edgeways at 8:47 AM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


Wait, so it's not the esprit d'escalier window?

Crap.

Note: one minute ago this said "Wait, so it's not the 'Oh, I know what word I should have said there' window?"
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:47 AM on May 30, 2013 [3 favorites]


I reread, but I did that before the edit option existed. Words are a bit like children -- they seem to develop their own separate identity and character once they've escaped my clutches. At least I get to add a few pats and tugs these days before they dash off into the big world.
posted by bearwife at 8:50 AM on May 30, 2013 [6 favorites]


Every few months I go back and re-read everything I've ever written. But I don't think it's quite the same reason.
posted by GuyZero at 8:59 AM on May 30, 2013


George Lucas, do you ever wish the edit window was longer -- say around twenty years instead of five minutes -- so you could go back and edit some of your earliest, most heavily favorited comments to add some new stuff, change a few things around, and just, you know, make them more special?
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:24 AM on May 30, 2013 [11 favorites]


I have never used the edit window. I just give every comment a careful profread before posting so I avoid errors in the first place.
posted by brain_drain at 9:46 AM on May 30, 2013 [4 favorites]


I use the edit window when I make a pronunciation mistake.
posted by mullacc at 9:55 AM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]


I only use it when pretending to mind-read subsequent comments.
People ranting on about Truth perishing from the world and fires raging, etc., are delusional.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:01 AM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


As the painter in the folk tale left all his works slightly marred or unfinished, lest the perfected image come to life and kill all who beheld it, even so do I include in every comment some miniscule error. If I once neglect this caution, Truth will live in the world, and the world will not endure it. It will perish, consumed by gouts of colorless fire glorying forth from every computer, phone, and tablet. Even from the eyes of men will the fire rage.
posted by Your Disapproving Father at 10:02 AM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]


Uh. I forgot the typo that time. I'm verry srory, guys.
posted by Your Disapproving Father at 10:03 AM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]


I use the edit window to correct the various "auto-correct" fails my iPhone throws into my every post.

The worst is with grammar. For some reason I can't type your without my iPhone trying to chance it to you're, etc.
posted by Shouraku at 10:20 AM on May 30, 2013


Uh. I forgot the typo that time. I'm verry srory, guys.

I thought you had it with "miniscule."
posted by payoto at 10:20 AM on May 30, 2013


Psychologically speaking it might help reinforce the "don't do significant edits" rule if you posted a screenshot of what an edit looks like to a moderator, perhaps under the FAQ entry.

(But then I don't know what it looks like so I could be wrong.)
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:26 AM on May 30, 2013


Uh. I forgot the typo that time. I'm verry srory, guys.

I thought you had it at

"lest the perfected image come to life and kill all who beheld it,"
posted by marienbad at 10:30 AM on May 30, 2013


I do this more, in general, on days when I am tired and semi brain dead. It is a harmless way to occupy myself. I also do it more with both my own posts and others if it was personally meaningful to some significant degree. I try to read through a comment once immediately after posting to check for errors because I have crap eyesight and make more typos than I think. I don't always manage it.
posted by Michele in California at 11:10 AM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


I sit there waiting for comments. It's sad really. Saturday really needs to hurry up and get here so I can get Nyx.
posted by theichibun at 11:37 AM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]


Coming into this thread right now has been like hearing myself think out loud and set it down in ten point font. On a grey background. With yellow highlights. A touch of blue you think?
posted by infini at 11:39 AM on May 30, 2013


What a beautiful kitty. And named after the goddess that my parade is named for, too!
posted by Night_owl at 11:46 AM on May 30, 2013


something about that kitty picture makes it looks like it's of a man in a kitten suit.

Anyone else see that or do I need to eat lunch or get my eyes checked or something?
posted by sweetkid at 11:54 AM on May 30, 2013


I think it's just that new Instagram filter that makes your pets look disconcertingly human.
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:02 PM on May 30, 2013


Is the edit window an invitation to narcissism?

I didn't know an invitation was required.

Have I been gatecrashing all these years?
posted by philipy at 12:08 PM on May 30, 2013 [5 favorites]


I was narcissistic long before the edit window, so I think no. Though, by the time I've posted a comment I'm usually already sick of the words I've used and don't even want to think about it anymore. More often I just give up in the middle of trying to rewrite/proofread it and, if it's halfway readable, just click post comment anyway or not. Whatever, I don't care what you fuckoes think (NB I totally do please love me).

Though once in awhile I will go back to read a really old comment of mine and wonder who the hell was that person.
posted by fleacircus at 12:17 PM on May 30, 2013


I do this also.

And I get really worried when using the edit window.

It is possible I overthink things.
posted by jeather at 12:45 PM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


The way I use the edit window is to wait 6 or 7 minutes after I post, find a typo or two, then go "oh, shit!"
posted by TedW at 1:22 PM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]


Narcissism requires no invitation.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 1:23 PM on May 30, 2013


Who loves ya...babe?
posted by infini at 1:28 PM on May 30, 2013


I only use it for tyops.
posted by benito.strauss at 1:29 PM on May 30, 2013


You and Martin both.

I'll admit, I've added content to my comments, but only when the thread is slow and not likely to result in a confusion in responses.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:31 PM on May 30, 2013


Posting is sometimes a self-invitation to narcissism. The edit window is for grooming.
posted by Namlit at 1:32 PM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]


"tyops" makes me think of PsyOps, but for typing.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:35 PM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]


*working overtime just for flt*
posted by infini at 1:41 PM on May 30, 2013


If you want an invitation to narcissism, go to your profile page and click on the "Favorited by others" link.

You're welcome.
posted by RobotHero at 2:14 PM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


I got mine but I couldn't go because of a conflicting appointment with self-loathing.
posted by George_Spiggott at 3:09 PM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]


If you want an invitation to narcissism, go to your profile page and click on the "Favorited by others" link.


I do this constantly.
posted by sweetkid at 3:15 PM on May 30, 2013


If I figure I've said something particularly elegantly -- which isn't as often as I'd like -- I'll go back and reread that sucker far too many times. It's something that I've always found to be true for me -- I'm often not exactly sure what I think until I say it or write it, and when I express something that seems to be true about what I think and is pithily stated, it's almost as if I want to go back and memorize it. Weird. But I am self-absorbed that way, I admit.

And, also, +faves are uncomfortably (for me at least) gratifying. Although I don't consciously tailor what I say to seek them, they still tend to make me happy.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:14 PM on May 30, 2013 [5 favorites]


"It's something that I've always found to be true for me -- I'm often not exactly sure what I think until I say it or write it, and when I express something that seems to be true about what I think and is pithily stated, it's almost as if I want to go back and memorize it. Weird. But I am self-absorbed that way, I admit."

I wrote something about this last night but decided not to post it, but Mizu's and yours and others' comments here, and my own experience, indicate that it's just not the case that doing this is necessarily or even chiefly about narcissism or pride in one's writing, or whatever. I'm sure that many people who don't do this will think so, though, which is why I decided not to comment about it last night.

But I'm struck by a common thread in these comments that, for some of us, re-reading comments we've written is just a continuation of the groping for understanding that we do as we're writing the comments. Posting the comment doesn't end that process.

Indeed, the actually posted comment has a somewhat changed character relative to when it's a work-in-progress — it's as if, once it's done and posted, we take a number of steps away from it and look at it in its context within an active conversation, like looking at a building we've designed, once it's built, in its environment, and ask ourselves, okay, does this thing mean what I thought it was going to mean when I wrote it? This design, this artifact, it had a meaning I was working toward as I wrote it ... is that meaning there? Do I understand what I was writing about?
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 4:31 PM on May 30, 2013 [8 favorites]


There's this fantastic part of Buddha's coming to enlightenment where after meditating for seven days or so he stands up, walks seven steps away, and turns to meditate on where he sat.

I spend a decent amount of time reviewing things I put out for others to see because it gives me a different perspective on me. I will admit it feels narcissistic and self-absorbed as well, though; I'm a professional navel gazer.
posted by Deoridhe at 4:41 PM on May 30, 2013 [3 favorites]


I'm someone who usually understands himself very, very well. In contrast to what some of you have written, I often reread my own comments in hopes of being surprised.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 4:46 PM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


i hate that it can only be used for typos. usually i think of something after i posted, so i want to add more, but thats discouraged so i just post a bunch
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 5:02 PM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]


“I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.”

― Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest
posted by philipy at 5:14 PM on May 30, 2013 [1 favorite]


I like the preview window. It helps me remember to delete intensifiers, gives me time to think of useful euphemisms that don't involve the anus. Also, time to recover proper humility. I am but a minnow in the Sea of MeFi.

Sometimes the edit window helps turn an it back into an if, or whatever. At my speed of thought, the five-minute window won't let me fire off very many synapses, so I'm not going to try for any structural revisions.

Is there an existential subtext in this thread?
posted by mule98J at 7:00 PM on May 30, 2013 [2 favorites]


Thanks, all, for sharing so much on a (surprisingly?) deeply personal topic.

Sometimes when I read over a post during the edit window it looks fine, but a few minutes later I come back to it and realize that while I effectively made my point, the way I said it was condescending. Which is something a narcissist would do, except for the part about recognizing it afterwards.
posted by MoTLD at 10:03 AM on May 31, 2013


As a self-confessed pedant, I feel I have to add that yes, I knowingly interchange post and comment. The button says "post comment." The FPP button should probably say "post post." ;)
posted by MoTLD at 10:07 AM on May 31, 2013


Fine line between a typo and a malapropism. Surely fixing your semantic intent should be regarded as similar to fixing a typing error, as long as it's a minor fix?
posted by walrus at 9:46 AM on June 1, 2013 [1 favorite]


And furthermore ...
posted by walrus at 3:51 PM on June 1, 2013


I'm generally so ashamed of what I've written, I daren't look at it again.
posted by Solomon at 4:52 AM on June 2, 2013 [1 favorite]


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