Double-Posting

[Drgn01]

Notice -

 

 

 

I just want to firstly mention that this isn't a flame or rant, I'm just curious.

 

 

 

Also, please read everything before posting. -.- If you're feeling lazy and only read like half, at least don't say I don't know what I'm talking about or something.

 

 

 

Just one more thing XD I'm not just doing this to get attention. I actually want to know what everyone else thinks.

 

 

 

________

 

 

 

I've seen people doublepost quite a lot, so that gets me to wonder, is there a rule agains't it?

 

 

 

That may seem like a stupid question, but normally (I used to post on RSC before I came here) someone would have their post erased and given a warning. But here (at this forum, not really any specific board), people won't even mention to the double-posters to not double-post.

 

 

 

I hang out at the Help & Advice boards practically all the time here (I've only become pretty active in the past week or so), and it gets on my nerves sometimes. For example, I'll write a whole screen worth of information (not even kidding :-X ), editing and adding things a lot. Then, someone will come and write a sentence or two, and if they have to add something else, make a whole other post and won't bother to edit. Personally, I don't care much about post count, but I feel that that's unfair (the person double-posting normally has 200+ posts already).

 

 

 

Lots of people will probably come here and start complaining that I'm complaining (funny how that works :P ), but I just wanted to see what other people thought of this, and if they've seen it here before as well.

 

 

 

I also noticed that there isn't a Bump feature at the top of threads. Does this mean that there isn't a rule agains't double-posting? If so, do you think there should be a rule?

 

 

 

. : Drgn01 : . :?

[Cruiser]

I've seen people doublepost quite a lot, so that gets me to wonder, is there a rule agains't it?

 

If it's not in this thread, no.

 

 

 

That may seem like a stupid question, but normally (I used to post on RSC before I came here) someone would have their post erased and given a warning. But here (at this forum, not really any specific board), people won't even mention to the double-posters to not double-post.

 

Tip.it != RSC. Different communities have different rules and user bases, that's just a fact of life. Might take some getting use to. :P

 

 

 

For example, I'll write a whole screen worth of information (not even kidding :-X ), editing and adding things a lot. Then, someone will come and write a sentence or two, and if they have to add something else, make a whole other post and won't bother to edit. Personally, I don't care much about post count, but I feel that that's unfair (the person double-posting normally has 200+ posts already).

 

Double posts are seen by most as an accidental exact copy of the previous. I agree with you that people posting right after their own reply is annoying, but there's no way to really enforce it without putting a massive amount of extra work on the mods. There's no real point to enforcing it if someone is just adding additional information to the thread (as much as I hate wasting DB space).

 

 

 

I also noticed that there isn't a Bump feature at the top of threads. Does this mean that there isn't a rule agains't double-posting? If so, do you think there should be a rule?

 

Bumps are only needed for the market place. If the thread is interesting and active, the community will keep it on the front page. If it's not on the front page, it has no more current use, and doesn't need to be bumped.

 

 

 

Like I said ealier, making double posts (Your definition, the instead of editing kind) against the rules would just add a *lot* more work for the mods.

[Drgn01]

First off, thank you for explaining everything that you mentioned. I've had quite a few experiences, out of this forum, where topics would just be crushed, and people would just say "Your so dumb, who cares??!" But like you said, Tip.it does seem to be quite different.

 

 

 

I was under the impression that communities had quite a few things in common. As I now see, I was wrong #-o

 

 

 

I would also have to agree with the fact that there would need to be a lot more work for the mods. So as much as I think it's not fair to double-post, to, like you said, enforce that rule would be a huge amount of work.

 

 

 

I never exactly thought about that, but you're right :P If the topic isn't that good, and no one replies, then it doesn't really need to be kept active/alive. I was just really used to RSC, that I guess I didn't think it would be a big difference between the two communities.

 

 

 

Thanks for the reply :)

 

 

 

Any other comments?

[Vape]

Don't focus so much on your post count - it's not an accurate measure of anything at all.

[Zargo]

The best thing to do if you see any double posts on the boards is to just report them. Quick and easy as a mod can easily notice it.

[Notorious_Ice]

Well there is a very easy way to stop double posting.

 

 

 

Just merge them. If someone makes a double post, it still bumps the topic, but it merges both posts into one. = cleaner thread + no extra posts for the offender.

 

 

 

Example:

 

 

 

[Drgn01]

Don't focus so much on your post count - it's not an accurate measure of anything at all.

 

I hang out at the Help & Advice boards practically all the time here (I've only become pretty active in the past week or so), and it gets on my nerves sometimes. For example, I'll write a whole screen worth of information (not even kidding :-X ), editing and adding things a lot. Then, someone will come and write a sentence or two, and if they have to add something else, make a whole other post and won't bother to edit. Personally, I don't care much about post count, but I feel that that's unfair (the person double-posting normally has 200+ posts already).

 

 

 

Also, thanks to everyone else who has posted :) I read all comments, and still lookin for anymore anyone else wants to add :P

 

 

 

Well there is a very easy way to stop double posting.

 

 

 

Just merge them. If someone makes a double post, it still bumps the topic, but it merges both posts into one. = cleaner thread + no extra posts for the offender.

 

 

 

Example:

 

 

 

 

How do you access this option? :? But thanks for showing me this :D

[Notorious_Ice]

Most forums have an option in the admin control panel.

 

 

 

EDIT: I think these forums use SMF, if so im almost certain its in the control panel somewhere.

[Cruiser]

EDIT: I think these forums use SMF, if so im almost certain its in the control panel somewhere.

 

 

 

These boards us phpBB. Looking at the footer shows that. :P

 

 

 

By default, you can't merge posts like that without modifying the code. A vanilla install of phpBB2 can't even merge threads, only split, but tip.it has added many, many mods to accomodate atleast thread merging.

[Notorious_Ice]

Lol, I didn't see.

 

 

 

SMF is better anyway :thumbsup:

 

 

 

Well it shouldn't be too hard for an admin to include post merging. Even if they ripped the code from somewhere else.

[bambino]

This is pretty forum related if you ask me ;).

 

 

 

*moves*

[saidada1189]

i think that the author is right. I think that merging "double post" is a good way to correct the problem the author describes

 

 

 

 

 

(albosky, what are your thought on the matter?)

[pokemama]

Disclaimer: as Crew I work on the website and do not work on the Tip.It forum. In this post I'm sharing my experience as a former mod/admin on other boards. My opinions do not represent Tip.It administration or moderators.

 

 

 

Drgn01, welcome to the Tip.It forums! It's great that you are asking questions and want to know how things work around here.

But here (at this forum, not really any specific board), people won't even mention to the double-posters to not double-post.

You will see in many staff and moderator signatures the following slogan "See a problem post? Don't reply to it, report it!"

 

 

 

A bunch of people telling someone not to double-post ends up being more spam than the original (and often accidental) double post.

 

 

 

The first thing to do is look at the time stamps on the double posts. Often they are only a minute apart and contain the same info, indicating it was a little hiccup in the system and not intentional.

 

 

 

However, if it's someone who is deliberately making separate posts [First post: "I love my cat." Next post: "I forgot to tell you I love my dog." Next post: "Also my turtle."], then by all means report that person. The problem is approaching SPAM proportions and the person needs to be corrected and/or warned by someone in authority before they flood the board, lol.

 

 

 

As far as I know, the mods here do not have a problem with you reporting double posters. They will look at it, and either fix it and send a note to the offender or not - it is up to their judgement. Once you've reported it, you can feel that you've done your duty.

 

 

 

When I'm online, usually there is a moderator online who will spot my report and correct it before an hour has gone by. If you don't see any mods on the "Who is online?" list, it may take a bit longer - and on the other hand, they may be online but hidden. ;)

 

 

 

Multiple identical topics by one poster also sometimes occur - usually by accident, as is quickly revealed by the time stamp. It is helpful to report these posts (I usually point out it was accidental in my report) so the mods can clean it up.

 

 

 

I'm sure you've noticed that our Report button is the exclamation point at the top right of each post. Click it to be taken to a page where you can explain the problem.

 

 

 

In summary, it's best not to post scolding someone for breaking the rules - simply report the offending post and let the mods take care of it. ;)

 

 

 

Disclaimer: as Crew I work on the website and do not work on the Tip.It forum. In this post I'm sharing my experience as a former mod/admin on other boards. My opinions do not represent Tip.It administration or moderators.

[Drgn01]

But here (at this forum, not really any specific board), people won't even mention to the double-posters to not double-post.

You will see in many staff and moderator signatures the following slogan "See a problem post? Don't reply to it, report it!"

 

 

 

A bunch of people telling someone not to double-post ends up being more spam than the original (and often accidental) double post.

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer :)

 

 

 

I understand what you mean, and completely agree. I will do my best to help and contribute to this forum :thumbsup:

 

 

 

Also, thank you to Bambino for moving this topic for me.

 

 

 

I've enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts on this topic, and thank all who have answered :wink: Once again, if anyone feels they have anything else to add, please go right ahead.

[Notorious_Ice]

pokemama ur tip.it crew, Is there any chance of using my idea of merging posts? Ive mentioned it a couple times and nobody has really replied to it. Even if nobody knows how to code it, just rip it from somewhere else.

[Vape]

pokemama ur tip.it crew, Is there any chance of using my idea of merging posts? Ive mentioned it a couple times and nobody has really replied to it. Even if nobody knows how to code it, just rip it from somewhere else.

As pokemama clearly stated, the Tip.it Crew works on the tip.it/runescape websites, NOT on the forums.

[the_tallest1]

Welcome to the Tip.It Forums. I'm glad to see you posting your questions and ideas here as it only helps to make the forum run more smoothly when we get input from the users.

 

 

 

From the moderator side of things we don't deal very harshly with accidental double posting. I'll usually remove posts if it gets into the triple and quadruple post area caused by forum lag. I will remove true duplicate posts if someone reports them so don't hesitate to do that. It's an easy enough procedure to get rid of them.

 

 

 

I usually don't happen to see too many posts where the author will make repeated replies to his own post. If it's something that is deliberate though they get dealt with in a manner that's appropriate to the situation. Now creating multiple topics is a little bit more annoying to me personally. This does happen during a major instance of lag but when it's someone who keeps posting the same thing so it stays at the top of the board and people can read it then that is a little bit more serious.

 

 

 

The idea for the merging bumping posts or dupes is interesting. I'm wondering if it can be made board specific though since some boards by their nature have multiple repeat posts that shouldn't necessarily be merged. The Blogscape and Rate This boards come to mind since some of those would be highly annoying to read with 7-10 consecutive lengthy posts. The staff would have to discusse this further.

 

 

 

Hope this answered a bit more of your questions. :