I too think the "edit" will be welcome tool!
You are right we have lost the civil art in how to communicate our thoughts with out offending or maybe start out trying to converse and than get caught up in the tit for tat!
I am also hoping for others who want to expand their thoughts will be able to do without some holding other ideas hostage because they disagree!
I enjoyed some of the concepts Alamo-Girl and like wanted to explore.
Many of us are in different places in our understanding and should some feel P O because they don't like or disagree the place that is being discussed, would it not be best for them to find a thead that they do find interesting, with out bring their judgement and contempt upon heads of others views!
I strongly agree with your view that an edit tool would be helpful. And I strongly agree with Sidebar Moderator that it is sad that too many do not reconsider their phrasing before mashing "post".
IMHO, too many posters lose sight of the fact that there is a real human being - a brother or sister in many common causes - on the other end of the Freeper handle, a person who may be deeply hurt by careless words which would never have been spoken face-to-face.
As an example, I recall an incident long ago when a bright but very young conservative college student just barely 20 was trying to engage a hardened old-timer on a subject of little consequence (and long since forgotten). The old-timer kept reacting aggressively to the youngster as if he were speaking with someone just like himself. When the age of his opponent was revealed, the conversation changed entirely and the old-timer became patient and careful with his words.