Editing Posts

Elevated moderators can edit others' content when necessary. This guide covers when and how to edit content responsibly.

When to Edit

Editing should be used sparingly. Consider these scenarios:

Appropriate

Situation	Example
Remove personal info	Phone numbers, addresses, private details
Remove harmful links	Malware, phishing, illegal content
Fix formatting breaks	Broken markdown that affects readability
Redact rule violations	Remove only the offending portion
Fix critical misinformation	Dangerous medical/safety advice

Inappropriate

Situation	Better Action
Disagree with opinion	Give feedback
Minor errors	Let author fix
Style preferences	Leave alone
General rule violation	Archive instead
Spam	Archive instead

Permission Requirements

To edit others' content, you need:

Content Type	Permission
Discussions	canEditDiscussions
Comments	canEditComments
Events	canEditEvents
Wiki Pages	canEditWiki

These permissions are typically granted to:

• Elevated moderators
• Channel owners

How to Edit

Editing Discussions

1. Open the discussion
2. Click the action menu (three dots)
3. Select Edit
4. Make your changes
5. Add an edit reason (required)
6. Click Save

Editing Comments

1. Hover over the comment
2. Click the action menu
3. Select Edit
4. Make your changes
5. Add an edit reason
6. Click Save

Editing Events

1. Open the event
2. Click the action menu
3. Select Edit
4. Make your changes
5. Add an edit reason
6. Click Save

Editing Wiki Pages

1. Navigate to the wiki page
2. Click Edit
3. Make your changes
4. Add an edit reason
5. Click Save

Edit Reasons

Always provide a clear edit reason:

Good reasons:

• "Removed personal phone number per privacy rules"
• "Redacted harmful link to phishing site"
• "Fixed broken markdown formatting"
• "Removed harassment directed at user X"

Bad reasons:

• "Fixed"
• "Edited"
• "Changed something"

Version History

All content maintains version history:

• Discussions: Title and body versions tracked separately
• Comments: Text versions tracked
• Wiki pages: Full version history with diffs

Viewing History

1. Open the content
2. Look for Version History or Edit History
3. View previous versions
4. Compare versions to see changes

Best Practices

Preserve Author Intent

When editing:

• Keep the original meaning intact
• Only change what's necessary
• Don't "improve" writing style
• Don't add your own opinions

Minimal Changes

Good: Original: "Contact me at 555-123-4567 for more info!" Edit: "Contact me via DM for more info!"

Bad: Original: "I think cats are better than dogs." Edit: "Cats and dogs are both great pets." (changed meaning)

Documentation

• Always fill in the edit reason
• Be specific about what you changed
• Reference rule violations if applicable
• Note why archiving wasn't appropriate

Communication

Consider:

• Giving feedback explaining the edit
• Notifying the author via comment
• Creating an issue for significant edits

After Editing

Notify the Author

For significant edits:

1. Give feedback on the content explaining:
   • What was edited
   • Why it was necessary
   • How to avoid this in the future

Create an Issue (if warranted)

For serious violations:

1. Create a moderation issue
2. Link to the edited content
3. Document the original content
4. Note the changes made

Monitor

After editing:

• Watch for reversion attempts
• Be prepared to archive if repeated
• Consider if suspension is needed

Editing vs. Other Actions

Situation	Edit	Archive	Feedback
Personal info exposed	✓		Optional
Harmful link	✓		Optional
Broken formatting	✓
Minor rule violation			✓
Major rule violation		✓	Optional
Spam		✓
Off-topic			✓

Common Mistakes

Over-editing

Mistake: Editing style, grammar, or opinions Better: Leave it alone or give feedback

Under-documenting

Mistake: Vague edit reasons Better: Specific, clear explanations

No Communication

Mistake: Editing without explaining Better: Give feedback after editing

Editing Instead of Archiving

Mistake: Editing out major rule violations Better: Archive the entire content

Ethical Considerations

Remember:

• Users trust their words won't be changed
• Edits should be emergency measures
• Transparency builds trust
• Document everything
• Prefer archiving over extensive edits