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Possible Duplicate:
Standardization - Normalisation

Considering that we should not edit a post that is correct in one variant of French to make it conform to some other variant of French, should we edit a post that is correct in one style variant to make it conform to some other style variant?

For example:

  • Should italics be removed or added (e.g. Why do we use "schnookums"? <-> Why do we use schnookums?);

  • Should bolding be removed or added;

  • Should curly English quote be changed to straight or vice versa?

Note: this question is asked with regards to both English and French posts on FL&U.

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1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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My point of view on this topic is still the same

if an edit appeals someone while not hurting others, just let it be.

So if someone edit your post in a way you find not appropriate, you are entirely right to rollback and complain. But if someone likes to prettify the posts, if there is no conflict, why should we bother? Lay back, live and let live.

So, to make myself clear: we should do whatever appeals us, provided that it doesn't harm anyone¹.

And for the word-of-god worshippers, see https://french.stackexchange.com/faq#editing

If you are not comfortable with the idea of your contributions being collaboratively edited by other trusted users, this may not be the site for you.

¹ And is on-topic, of course.

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    I didn't ask if the edits should be rolled back if they weren't liked, I asked if they should be made in the first place.
    – Kareen
    Jun 18, 2012 at 20:22
  • I thought that was obvious: why should we forbid/discourage them?
    – Evpok
    Jun 18, 2012 at 20:24
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    So what happens when different things appeal to different people, provided that they're both correct and on-topic? An edit war?
    – Kareen
    Jun 18, 2012 at 20:42
  • In that case, everyone is civil enough to stop the edit war and rollback to before the edit war. Or the mods make them civil enough. But have you seen it here yet? So why bother now?
    – Evpok
    Jun 18, 2012 at 21:05
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    You should only edit if you make the post better, not if you change from one typographical convention to another typographical convention..
    – Gilles 'SO nous est hostile'
    Jun 18, 2012 at 21:31
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    @Evpok Perhaps it's not a problem now simply because we're lucky enough that not a lot of people are doing it and that those other people who do disagree don't edit back.
    – Kareen
    Jun 18, 2012 at 21:41
  • @Kareen So let's just refrain from knee-jerk policy-making and wait until there is a real need.
    – Evpok
    Jun 18, 2012 at 22:18
  • @Gilles Define better. This is not going anywhere, you should only edit if you think that it makes the post better. And try to discuss with those who disagree instead of bluntly rolling back.
    – Evpok
    Jun 18, 2012 at 22:21
  • @Gilles It seems that you don't quite agree with this answer. Would you mind formulating an answer reflecting the whole of your thoughts?
    – Kareen
    Jun 19, 2012 at 15:55
  • @Kareen I don't have anything to add to my previous answer.
    – Gilles 'SO nous est hostile'
    Jun 19, 2012 at 22:42
  • @Gilles Then I suggest maybe editing that question to include this one, closing this one as duplicate and merging the two. This way we can have everything relevant on the same page.
    – Kareen
    Jun 19, 2012 at 23:09
  • @Kareen Ok, go ahead and edit your question if you like.
    – Gilles 'SO nous est hostile'
    Jun 19, 2012 at 23:12
  • @Gilles All right, it's done.
    – Kareen
    Jun 19, 2012 at 23:47

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