The Old Grey Bear has started a discussion of great interest. The point that seems to have been grabbed and run with is the “Legal” rights and “Who” owns them, and who can do what to whatever who owns, does not own or who has the rights to do to what who owns etc. etc. etc.

The sentence that grabbed my attention in The Old Grey Bear’s post was “The Perl Monks Monestary is a Community. The 'Intellectual Property' of the Monastery is tied up in the threaded discussions that take place here.”

This statement strikes me as a expressing the intrinsic value of the Monastery. The value the community is derived from the threaded discussions that take place here.

Let’s evaluate this statement in business terms, or if you prefer, how do we as a community derive the greatest value from the Monastery?

1) Let the current rules stand. You have the right to modify your posts. What does this gain for the community? I believe many people are more willing to post, knowing that their right to edit is there, and is going to be honored, even if the community does not agree with their edits. We (as a community) risk the occasional loss due to (in the opinion of the community) unwise/unethical editing by a few authors acting in an extreme manner. But our gains are so much greater because everyone who posts recognizes that their rights to edit will be honored, and therefore will post more frequently and honestly. Many (as has been mentioned in this thread) are editing with strikeout and bold to denote editing – for this thank you!

2) We can change the rules. Once posted, you may not edit or retract, or worse yet, the Gods will randomly override your edits or retractions. If this becomes the standard, I believe many who post will cease to post, or will post more with legality, and the immortality of their words in mind than the idea of helping others, and expressing their true opinions.

While I disagree with X’s action of beheading/deleting his posts as a form of protest or revenge, it makes me feel better to know that even an extreme application of the right to edit will be honored. Also knowing that most other authors of posts will never take such action as intelligent and helpful people, they recognize the value of their posts, not just to the “Monastery” but also to all the PERL users who may read the thread.

Thank you Mr. Bear!

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