Why do some users have a problem with repeat questions?

I like the new function that shows you if there was a similar question – that helps keep the repeats down.

But outside of that, I totally agree with you. If I know of a relevant, similar question, I’ll link to it. Often, they might need to be asked again because (1) there’s a new development with the general issue, (2) the prior thread has become MONSTROUSLY long, or (3) it’s too old to be followed by new members.

A little bird told me this question has been asked many times.

sorry @jonsblond I couldn’t resist

I’ve only been here since July so I’m loving the seasonal thing. I enjoy going back through the Siblings as well to see what other users have answered in the past. And really, how often do thousands of us have to say it…JUST DON“T CLICK ON IT!!!

@FutureMemory funny man. When I searched this question, two questions came up from 2008, and the first responses to those questions were just like yours. ;)

This is the department of redundancy department

They copied off my paper, I swears!

I don’t know why this should bother anyone. What about all the new users? I’ve been on here less than a year, so I don’t know what questions come up every year. And if I don’t want to respond to a question I don’t HAVE to. I let the more important things get my knickers in a twist.

@Adirondackwannabe : I know, there’s already enough out there that’s knickertwistian. I guess some just don’t get enough action without the twistitude of their knickers. I just took a cold pill, can anybody tell?

I agree – it shouldn’t matter if questions are asked every year, or even every few months. The population here fluctuates; I know there’s that core group that’s been here for a long time and isn’t going anywhere, but there are new people every day. I like the idea of new perspectives; the answers given last year may be completely different from those given this year.

@JilltheTooth “twistitude of their knickers” – You crack me up. :-)

I realize that this question is about the feeling of users not mods but I wanted to add my mod viewpoint to clarify what we do. This is only my view as a mod and may not be the same as other mods.

If a question is an old duplicate it usually remains (with some exceptions) especially if it is a well thought out or thought provoking question.

Recent duplicates (within the past several months with a few exceptions) we remove and send the asking party a link to the current conversation where hopefully they will find the answer they are seeking in the responses.
(after all- when a question is asked it is because someone needs an answer.)

This was established by our founders who themselves have even accidentally asked a recent duplicate.

So just in case anyone was thinking that never in the history of Fluther are duplicates tolerated they are misinformed.

I have not seen much user anguish over older duplicates but if there are folks who take objection to a repeat of a question from 2008 then they are welcome to flag the question for review.

@JilltheTooth Back away from the Nyquil!

@chyna I was going to see if she had more. Knickertwistian and twistitude of the knickers sound like cool jelly names or a really bad disease.

@Adirondackwannabe : What a great idea if I ever want a secret identity here! Or maybe not so great…wouldn’t be that secret, now, would it?

@JilltheTooth I think those names are pretty well tied to you.

I don’t have a problem with repeat questions. Someone may ask a Christmas question one year and I’m not in the mood for it and won’t answer or even read it. The same question can be asked again later on and maybe I’ll then be in the mood to reply. But it isn’t about me, it’s about the whole collective, which changes daily. Newbies haven’t seen it and will want to respond. I don’t understand someone coming to a question they don’t like and just being outright rude about it.

@JilltheTooth Just don’t get any ideas about making any sort of ‘Fact from fiction’ themed name. I own the rights to that parody!

I don’t have a problem with repeat questions or people posting links to the previously asked questions (most of the time, it just depends on how the person does it). The links to the old questions gives the OP the opportunity to see what answers were given in the past by users that may no longer be on Fluther. To me, it’s just a way to give the OP more answers to their question. I don’t see it as someone trying to take away the validity of their question or as a way of saying they shouldn’t have asked it.

This is exactly my problem lately! Who really cares and why is it so stinking important to point out “see this similar question”? Does it make you feel important? Does it make you feel special to tell someone they’re un-original? Why does it matter? It’s a question. If you don’t want to answer it, then don’t. If you’ve answered a smiliar question and feel the pressing need to say so, keep your mouth shut because chances are nobody cares.

@WillWorkForChocolate What I would like to know is if anyone ever looks at the links that are provided. I never do.

@jonsblond I always do.

@jonsblond ; i always do too, I have to know what everyone has to say!

When I see a new question I remember from the past, I provide a link to it as a service to all users. It gives them a choice if they want to see what everyone has said about, or not.

It has absolutely nothing to do with wanting duplicates removed, but rather with wanting to share the most answers possible.

Everyone is free to look or ignore, as they see fit. I can’t imagine why anyone would mind being given that choice.

@YARNLADY A lot of us “mind” because it’s done far too often and it’s at a really annoying point now.

@YARNLADY Absolutely agree with you. I don’t mind repeat questions if it’s been a while. I flagged a question once that had been asked by the same user only a month before; it was removed. Someone even PM’d me about it saying the user had asked so they could answer it. wut However, I want to see links to the old questions. Dare I say, this seems to be the way the majority feel, if you want to get technical. It’s nice to compare the answers. So go ahead and ask! If you have an issue with the links provided, too bad; it isn’t against the guidelines and rather than assume the person is trying to be rude, why not give them the benefit of the doubt in that they’re just trying to help.

@YARNLADY Thank you for your input. What prompted my question was a comment made on a different question of mine. A user answered, then said “this question is asked every year”. It felt like a dig at me. It didn’t seem helpful at all. Links are fine if you are truly trying to be helpful, but if a user comes in just to make a statement, I don’t see the use, other than to poke at the OP. interesting how one of this user’s friends decided to mock my question tonight by asking the very same Q. Tell me that’s not personal. yeah right~

@jonsblond

“sigh…don’t you know that question was asked already? Back in 2007, when we had 20 members…you’re such a noob…try using the search…or do what I did, implant a chip in your brain that has the entire history of Fluther on it, including Ben and Andrew’s social security numbers and Christmas lists from 1985..”

I’d like to know how long people think Fluther will last if we are never allowed to ask the same question as “RandomMember123”, or whatever the case may be. There have to be an infinite number of questions that one person would inevitably share curiosity with someone else on. It probably isn’t very nice of me to say so, but if you’re annoyed with repeat questions.. maybe you’re spending too much time here. I know that the questions that annoy me, like the classic “Why did I dream about my crush last night?”, only annoy me because I tend to answer them when I see them. That’s my own fault, not the person who really does genuinely want to know what other people think.

I’m not sure either. It might be a waste of time to respond to an old question anyway since some of those users might be gone or those questions not followed any longer.

I agree, it’s kind of annoying. When I see someone totally not helping and being off topic by being all book of revelations and stating that the question has been asked before, I’m all like, what do you think you’re the only one who noticed this question was asked before? Are ya some kinda enlightened genius?
I mean Christ. Refreshment is good, especially for older questions. I mean, things move, new faces come in, old samurais return, we can’t just relegate the entirety of the community’s knowledge to some old ass question that nobody’s gonna notice anymore, especially not the way Fluther works with them. I mean you can’t really bump em or nothing, so just ask again. Not saying old questions are bad, but they don’t get much attention, even though we all know they’re there, right?

I would think, this being more of a social site than a technical site, that Fluther has no rules against it, despite the new feature letting you know what questions are similar to what you’re asking.
So why do people do it? Party pooping fuckwads, that’s why lol.

That said, I’m a hypocrite, I’ve done it before; but it was accompanied by a link, just as a point of references for good answers, rather than being all Answerbag style.

@Symbeline You’ve made a really good point here, there is a world of difference between “This is a duplicate question” and “You might be interested in seeing other answers to this similar question”. The one is rude, and the other is helpful.

Personally, i like repeat questions. Many of the questions were asked long ago and those members are, in many cases, no longer here. I really enjoy reading the answers of my friends etc. Answerbag would not allow repeats and did not like that…!