TOPIC: [FORUMS] Stop staff from editing user's comments

Server Name: Forums

Suggestion Title: Remove the ability for staff to edit user's comments (the original title is a bit blunt, but I could not fit it into the limited subject length)

How would it benefit the server: I don't see how it is acceptable for any reason for staff to edit another user's message. There is a small easy-to-miss disclaimer at the bottom of a message saying who edited it, but no reason why. If a message is not allowed, it should at the least simply be deleted, not edited to a staff member's liking. Additionally, if the user were to edit their message further just a small bit, all evidence to the average user of the original message being edited is lost. This sets an extremely dangerous precedent and there is simply no good reason for a staff member to ever change what a user has said, effectively putting words into their mouth.

Potential Issues/Exploits: None.

Additional notes: This was inspired by an instance I saw on another suggestion, where a staff member edited another user's message. Apparently the staff member edited the person's message to remove a hashtag supporting another user - I do not know if this is the exact reason for it. If it is the exact reason then obviously I definitely don't agree with that (all explanations given were removed), but nonetheless I don't think staff should be able to edit user's messages at all for any reason. The user should be asked to change it themselves, or it should just be removed. Practically all good online forums work on a policy where they don't edit other user's messages, and in instances where it does happen there are usually serious consequences for those involved (as has happened on reddit for instance). I assume this is a feature of the forum software on the front-end, so could easily be turned off - if you can't turn it off, my suggestion is simply to not use it and instead use the options above. I'd like to hear your thoughts. Yes, I know that staff are free to moderate as they see fit, but this is a suggestion, not a demand.

usually posts are edited if there is content that is breaching the terms of use but they believe that just editing it is a better choice if they believe the post has some value.

We reserve the right to edit and remove all content which does not fall in line with our Terms of Use. By editing a post, a staff member can remove the specific part which breaks TOU rather than the whole post: