### Group Discussion re: duplicates ###

[krispos42]

It seems that Gungeon regulars ellisonz and fightthegoodfightnow have both posted the same op-ed from the same source, about 4 hours apart. ellisonz's post contains an excerpt and a link, fightthegoodfightnow's post contains a brief comment and a link.


Duplicates are generally not a problem here, as often times a "duplicate" will emerge several days later, when new facts have emerged. The late duplicate will often have a distinctly different discussion because of this.

However, one of these posts was alerted on as a duplicate, and since they are essentially the same, I would appreciate some discussion about how the Group members would like policy to look like.

I don't particularly care either way, so have at it!


-Krispos42, Gungeon Host


On edit:


fightthegoodfightnow has noticed this duplication and seen fit to self-delete his/her OP. However, since I took the time to write this, let's have the discussion anyway!

-K

[Clames]

1. Really the best way to go about it...

...has just been demonstrated. The OP notices that they've posted a duplicate thread and self-deletes it. I don't know how DU's software works but on other forums that have high volume of posts and thread creation they simply anchor the duplicate and it drops away quickly. Some can merge duplicate threads so that contributing posts are not lost.

[oneshooter]

2. That is true. But there are some "regular" posters here that don't seem to care

They just want their post #'s up. They generally post with no comments and don't post again, or rairly do.

What then?

Can Hosts lock posts?
Do we alert the Host via E-mail/DU mail?

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[Clames]

4. Drive-by threads...

...should be locked or deleted unequivocally. That's considered spamming on other boards and members that do that with the obvious intent to stir the pot are usually banned post haste.

[krispos42]

15. I can lock original posts.

I can't do anything about replies.


You click the "Alert Abuse" link in the lower left of the OP, and report it as a "This discussion thread is off-topic, or violates the Statement of Purpose for this group" issue.


That sends a PM to all the Group hosts (moi).

[X_Digger]

3. I'd say.. if less than 24 hours since the first one, lock the dupe. n/t

[Tuesday Afternoon]

5. give the OP a chance to self delete, first. yes.? that would be the polite way, I think.

[X_Digger]

6. I could live with that.. assuming they ever show back up in that 1st 24 hours, lol. n/t

[Tuesday Afternoon]

7. yes. lol

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. I point out similar or duplicate threads when I notice them, even if they are in different groups

From there it is up to the originator to do what they want with it. Sometimes they just whine

Drive by can be banned by the host. It may be useful in some cases

[krispos42]

13. Do you PM them, or just point it out in the thread? n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

19. I post it with links to the other threads so others can see and participate in those discussions if

they choose. Sometime I get slagged, other times thanked. Then again, I am not a host and have no appearance of authority.

[ellisonz]

9. Here's another duplicate episode:

Fri Mar 9, 2012, 04:59 PM
PavePusher
More of the same old same old....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/117220693

Duplicated:
Thu Feb 23, 2012, 03:21 PM
DonP
Disarming the Myths Promoted By the Gun Control Lobby - Forbes
http://www.democraticunderground.com/117216919

In this case the duplicate was 2 weeks later...

If the article is recent scan the first page, if it's old, use the search function.

Also, try to use the original headline and make a comment in the body of the OP.

[oneshooter]

10. Yes, but in 2 weeks the origional could be dropped off of the main page.

So how far back should someone search?

[ellisonz]

11. Using the search function at the top right of your window...

...a search for "Disarming the Myths Promoted By the Gun Control Lobby" turns up those two posts as the top results.

[krispos42]

14. That's probably not a good solution

Just because I don't think most people will bother.

[ellisonz]

16. Most people are really lazy then...

...it's not hard to do. But maybe I'm just jaded about the willingness of posters to comply with express statements of practice from hosting the main forums...

I don't think there's a better solution than that if you actually want to have some statement about posting duplicates.

[Starboard Tack]

12. Alert the poster of the dupe when first spotted

and ask for a self-delete. Otherwise have group host lock the dupe with annotation.

[Hoyt]

18. I don't mind dupes, but like your suggestion.

[petronius]

17. I vote lock the dupe, to avoid scattering discussion

Add a locking message with a link to the original post.

I would not say that a delay is necessary, however: just lock it when the dupe becomes apparent, and if the OP prefers to self-delete it's easy to unlock it again for that purpose...

[slackmaster]

20. I don't care at all. I think it's so trivial that caring would be a waste of time and energy.

[Atypical Liberal]

21. I don't care.

Dupes don't bother me.

[one-eyed fat man]

22. I'm shocked!

that drive by postings are going on in here!!!



Round up the usual suspects!

[ileus]

23. That blogger from Italy used to post dups all the time.

More often than not they were steaming piles of shit but they drew more replies than identical threads without all the anti hyperbole.