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General discussion

Something's bugging me. . .

Jul 13, 2007 10:08PM PDT

Oft times I see duplicate posts in diferent forums. And subsiquently one or all but one will be locked by a moderator. Reason being, "duplicate post". This bugs me. Not all visitors or regulars visit the same forums. Posting in several forums gets more exposure. I myself have done this. The results are usually no answer or no help in one forum, and good information in another forum. Is CNet so hurting for storage that these posts are wasting space?

Yes, I've seen locked posts and a link to the other post. But that seems a little narrow minded. Some people will not jump around just to try to help or find an answer.

Can't the mods just leave them as they are?

Discussion is locked

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Some agreement and perhaps a judgment call
Jul 13, 2007 11:20PM PDT

on the part of a moderator that includes knowledge/information that's not apparent to all. I can understand that it's not always clear which forum to post in. Some are specific and some quite generic. "Computer Help" is quite vague. As well, some cross into more than one forum. For instance, a printer issue be due to a driver specific to an OS. So, if someone is having problems with an HP printer in XP, in which forum should the question be posed? I can see new posters floundering to find the best fit and looking for a quick answer that might prompt them to make simultaneous posts to several forums. I could argue that such would get more respondents but might get conflicting or confusing answers. It would be better to wait a few days before posting in another forum and the mods might tolerate this. A mod might also make a judgment call to lock it in one forum if the question is getting better attention elsewhere. Usually, what I've seen is, they will link to that thread and explain the reason for the lock.

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That's right
Jul 14, 2007 12:55AM PDT

Very often we will see duplicate posts made within a few minutes of each other scattered across the forums. We, (I mean I because I can't talk for other mods), close down duplicates for a few reasons;

1] Its a duplicate.
2] If the duplicate is in the same forum there is no benefit.
3] Conflicting advice may be given in different discussions. The members call here for help and they do not need to have to sift through advice and suggestions that seem at odds with what has been said elsewhere.
4] There is nothing more annoying than typing a long post explaining something or other, making suggestions, etc, only to find someone else has done the same thing in another place.

Sometimes, when we miss duplicates, the discussions become long and involved and then no-one can follow the threads.

We don't simply lock duplicates without any thought. We try to ensure continuity of advice and we direct or re-direct as might be needed.

We don't always get it right, (well, I'm the exception, Devil ), but generally we do.

Mark

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Still not satisfied. . .
Jul 14, 2007 3:24AM PDT

1.) Ok, so?
2.) Same forum, agreed.
3.) Conflicting advice. Which one is right and which one is wrong. Who's to judge? Sifting through advice will give the poster a chance for more options. "suggestions that seem at odds with what has been said elsewhere". Right. One is wrong, one is right, maybe a different tack. Why do the mods judge which is right or wrong?
4.) Annoying to who? I've never seen a member complain because they got too many answers. The poster may find the correct answer in one forum before they find it in another. Back to my earlier question. Is CNet short on disk space?

"No one can follow the thread"? Says who? The mods? Again, so what? This is an information forum. More answers, more information.

What about some of these threads that have truncated to over a hundred posts? Those are hard to follow, and I'll guarantee 99% of the members won't read them all unless they're bored out of their skulls.

Don't take this next question the wrong way, but why can't the mods leave them alone? Just to see what happens. Is it written in a private TOS or operational guideline for mods only that duplicate posts will be locked?

I'm still not satisfied with your answer.

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hi wayne, i don't speed type
Jul 14, 2007 3:40AM PDT

or copy other peoples answers to be used whenever neccessary, so believe me, if i spend 20 minutes looking for a solution and then typing a post, only to find out that someone else in another forum answered the same question from the same poster.....it does not a happy camper make

oops!, i just discovered that my post is a duplicate of Marks #4 ;-(


jonah

.,

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I have it on good authority from a Mod in one of the forums
Jul 14, 2007 3:48AM PDT
"Is it written in a private TOS or operational guideline for mods only that duplicate posts will be locked?"

My understanding is that Lee Koo is reluctant to lock posts as a general rule of thumb.

Of course this was related to me by a Mod so at best it falls within the hearsay rule.

I can understand a duplicate post in the same forum being locked or a new poster starting a different thread to answer a post in a prior thread on the same matter. This is confusing to a reader and locking the one with a reason is acceptable.

What is not acceptable is locking a post in more than one forum on the same issue.

I know I can post in say XP and the post a link to it in V&S if there is a security issue as well, however a new poster may not have the ability to properly post a link in another forum that references the same issue.

I do not feel it is a matter of space.

All you have to do is go to V&S to the daily updates of various anti malware and you will see not only the name of the software, engine and build and link but also a listing of ALL the things that are being updated.

For me it would be sufficient to go there and read that an update is available for say Ad- Aware SE or Symantec, without having to know all the various files that are being updated.

I mean will I not update just because some files are being updated and others are not?

I don't think so, if I want to have current definitions.

So to answer your Question about space, I do not believe it to be an issue.
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Undesirable situations...
Jul 14, 2007 4:18AM PDT

* The question may be answered in less than an hour in one forum, but later that evening others may try to help the member in the other forum, never knowing the issue was already resolved. That's a waste of time.
* Even in the earlier stages, several responders may suggest the same or similar resolutions, each one in a different forum. That's further duplication of the subject matter and again a waste of time on someone's part.
* The original poster may start indirectly referencing suggestions made in another thread, confusing the responders in this thread.
* The original poster may become irritated that the same suggestions keep being made, but the responders had no clue as the suggestions were in a duplicate thread they were unaware of.

I've seen all of the above happen, to the extreme case of duplicate threads in seven different forums within minutes of each other. The confusion and aggravation has gotten not only to moderators but the posters and responders as well. That's why we lock duplicate threads as we deem appropriate.

By appropriate I mean:
* Is it appropriate in the current forum?
* Should is really be posted in two places, such as Windows XP and V&S? (Some really are cross-venue.)
* If it should be limited to one forum, which is best suited for a complete and timely response?
* What responses already exist?

Granted, that's a judgment call, so not everyone will agree. However, it seems to work well in most cases and will likely continue through the foreseeable future unless the engineers develop the functionality of moving threads on the front-end, something I would love to see.

Regards,
John

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Maybe this would help but maybe not
Jul 14, 2007 4:28AM PDT

In addition to the red "If your asking for technical help....." (that isn't always read) introduction, it could be amended to include a line such as "Please come back and post if your issue is resolved....."

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Ooh, you MUSTsee these observations by two former mods.
Jul 14, 2007 5:08AM PDT
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(NT) I already had it bookmarked. :)
Jul 14, 2007 6:24AM PDT
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I have a concern with. . .
Jul 14, 2007 3:31AM PDT

"Conflicting Answers".

Which one is wrong?

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Too many possible variables to know
Jul 14, 2007 4:19AM PDT

It could be anything from just bad advice to misunderstanding of the question. It could be related to incomplete information from the poster causing the respondent to just make a guess and guess incorrectly. Ultimately it's up to the person requesting assistance to test the suggestions and give feedback and further information when necessary. It's a challenge to try and give the best advice you can to folks with varying verbal, technical, and troubleshooting skills...especially when you don't know them. A respondent with superior technical knowledge in an area doesn't always know what level of help is appropriate. A too complex...even if correct.... answer can go right over another's head and just confuse them even more. One that's too basic insults some folks. That can be just as bad as purely bad advice if it causes further frustration for them. I'd think the forums should provide a comfortable place to come for help as well.

I am sure some moderators have seen posts they've removed or wanted to remove because they felt the advise was just plain bad. I've been corrected myself for this and actually was annoyed for having this done but have come to understand the reason. As an example, I am comfortable with dismantling a CRT monitor. I know how to properly drain the charge from the envelope and what areas to keep away from. Some problems with CRTs are caused by dust buildup in high voltage areas or poor connections that are correctable. When I tried it advise a member on how to do this, it was me who was corrected. I took offense then but came to understand later. Some bad advice is more harmful or actually dangerous. Hopefully, that doesn't happen often enough to be a big concern.

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Now spit on your hands...
Jul 14, 2007 5:17AM PDT

...and grab the leads on these here big can like things, we call them "capacitors". Did you feel that discharge?! Ain't that a blast?!! Now that I'm sure you're away, unless of course you are dead, we can proceed to the next steps. Say what? You wanna different tech?

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Don't tell me you don't
Jul 14, 2007 5:35AM PDT

"tongue test" your 9v batteries to see if they're ok. I wouldn't recommend that to test the B+ batteries in old portable radio equipment..if anyone here still remember those. Shocked

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OK
Jul 14, 2007 5:26AM PDT

Which one is wrong?

I guess its a toss of the dice Happy

As far as dupe threads are concerned there are valid points on both sides of the fence.Besides being extremely annoying,it also wastes people's time which I feel this should be the main factor to be taken into consideration.

As I'm searching for a solution which could take a considerable amount of time,thats because I don't know what I'm doing Happy, then as I meander through the forums only to find the same thread in another forum and I read "problem solved" Sad


This looks like a job for 'sticky post",why not mention this in the sticky post so members will understand that dupe posts can lead to confusion.

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Problem is moderators moving outside their own forums.
Jul 14, 2007 4:07AM PDT

I know when I was modding at Computer Help and Hardware, in those couple years I didn't lock any posts (I don't even remember having that option?) that had dupes in another forum except for spam. Now spam was simply deleted across all forums by any mod that ran across it and cross checked to other forums. Moderators should mind their own forums for the most part and if they search around and find dupes outside their own area of responsibility just ignore, or drop a line in the thread in the other forum that the problem is also being addressed at the other forum too. I didn't really mind people asking the question in several forums, I only had to deal with it in one, or two. If they asked it in Computer Help and in Hardware I'd tell them I'd keep answering them in just the one, and give a link to that thread. I would leave the other thread and most anyone would go to the thread with the active discussion on it anyway. One thing I didn't waste time on was searching out wherever else they might have asked the same question. It's easier to do now than with the Twister software, but I'd still not have wasted my time on it.

What everyone including moderators need to remember is no one person has all the right answers, and once you think you do, you quit learning better ways you never knew before.

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as an ex mod said
Jul 14, 2007 5:20AM PDT

Q. If I post my message multiple times in a forum will I get noticed quicker?

A. Yes, but not until we finish deleting all your duplications so there aren't 10 threads going on about the same problem.

Wink

.,