I have just posted a new topic  and whilst trying to edit it ,I have come to the conclusion that  for some reason you cannot edit the first post.

Was it always like this perhaps ?

Secondly if you try to use )s , when using the messaging system, it converts them to "smileys" 

Also after sending, there is no longer an edit message facility and I think the scrolling the message  to proof read it ,before sending is more difficult than before.