Duplicate threads

They really dont bother me, what does bother me is the guy who jumps on the duplicate thread linking to the existing one - In most cases the first poster is the author of the original thread that got duplicated.


Now, i dont know if its just me but I dont have the time to sit on ATS 24/7, so sometimes a duplicate thread helps me.

I dont know if this has been recomended before, but would it be possible to keep duplicate threads up? not loads of the same threads but two or three over a few days are not going to kill anybody, or cause any more mess than there already is. An option would be to disable the flag or star option for duplicate threads whilst keeping them up & a link to the original, but if the author of the duplicate thread generate more disucssion than the original I see no readon for it to be closed.


just a suggestion.

Duplicates are allowed in certain circumstances. If one is really old for example, or one is in breaking news, and the other is in another forum. Server space isn't free, which is why forums like to keep duplicates to a minimum.

In theory the staff could merge the meaningful posts into the original or more popular thread which would also move it back up the recent list. More work load though.

I have yet to figure out the guidelines on dups. Some are shut down while some other topics seem to have multiple thread of basically the same content. I suppose it is just the way things go at times.

duplicate threads
www.abovetopsecret.com...
by instar
started on 12/20/2004 @ 03:29 PM

(giggles)

Originally posted by n00bUK
They really dont bother me, what does bother me is the guy who jumps on the duplicate thread linking to the existing one - In most cases the first poster is the author of the original thread that got duplicated.

I am going to have to be 'that guy'

duplicate threads
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Duplicate Threads and the Un-use of the Search Function
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A Way To Keep From Posting Duplicate Threads
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A 'Q' about duplicate threads, how do we tell who posted 1st, and what to do?
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Now, i dont know if its just me but I dont have the time to sit on ATS 24/7, so sometimes a duplicate thread helps me.

I have found many interesting topics via duplicate threads that I missed the first time around. But what irks me is that any new info is rarely if ever transfered to the old linked to thread so is loast. In the case of the Baltic Sea UFO that meant everyone missed the SECOND one that was spotted

And the thread that was linked to by the mods was also a duplicate not the original

Most other forums have a merge function... for some reason ATS does not... (covered that question in several duplicate threads )

But hey duplicate thread allow those posting the links to the old one a chance to earn many stars Its funny really, but in a sad way. And lately the posts of "use search you idiot" are getting really tiring

An option would be to disable the flag or star option for duplicate threads whilst keeping them up & a link to the original, but if the author of the duplicate thread generate more discussion than the original I see no reason for it to be closed.

I agree that would work and has worked in the past. I myself have a few threads based on revived topics that took off the second time around

Originally posted by TKDRL
Server space isn't free, which is why forums like to keep duplicates to a minimum.

Well most decent servers these days offer UNLIMITED space and bandwidth in their host packages. Mine (globat.com) does this for $4.44 a month with 6 domains hosted in the same account... So server space is not really an issue these days. Pay in advance and you get a better rate too

But merging them would solve many issues like nasty people calling new members idiots, collecting stars for pointing to the old links and loosing any new posts that are relevant