Is there a policy, written or unwritten, regarding repeat questions?

Ask away for me! ;-)

No, it seems to be up to the moderators.

If it is too recent, I find it annoying. If it was a year or so ago, I don’t mind.

I don’t think there’s an actual written rule about it. For a long time a lot of old timers used to bitch about new people joining and asking stuff that had already been asked. (hell maybe they still do and I’ve just stopped noticing) IMHO its fine as long as the question wasn’t too recent.

Generally, if two or more similar questions are asked within 2–4 weeks then they get modded (all but the original, obviously).
Repeat questions with reasonable time between them are absolutely acceptable for the reason you mentioned – to get feedback from newer users who may not have been around or users that missed the question when it was asked the first time.
Having said that, please don’t take that to mean everyone should go through questions from years ago and re-ask them just to ask them…. please. Pleeease.

I believe the mods also have a PM conversation with folks who ask the same question over and over, with slight variations on the wording, or when the OP suddenly remembers that the person in the question is only theoretical and not about them, so it appears that there are two sets of questions going on, one set about them, and one identical set about their pretend friends. The mods are pretty good about schooling certain folks when they post multiple similar questions and then try to make it seem like their questions are not related, when clearly they are. Thanks mods!

Wouldn’t it be a grand party to meet all of the theoretical people on Fluther?

As Morpheus said to Neo Some rules can be bent, others broken. I don’t know who welds the duties as Oracle, but I have seen so many questions on exactly the same thing but worded slightly different they might at well be the same de facto question. Does he love me; how to I know he loves me; how can I tell he loves me, does he love me if….; if he does this; dose that mean he love me, bla bla bla…. How long is too long and what is the same question asked last week but repackaged is quite nebulous. I guess one ask a question and look at it as a crap shoot, the roll of the dice.

@Hypocrisy_Central Each of the love angst questions may sound the same, but the details vary widely, as do the “What does this dream mean?” questions, as well as many other similar sounding questions.

The only true duplicate questions I’ve seen are Jelly celebrations or a topic that showed up in the recent news. If the moderators don’t catch it right away, usually a fellow Jelly does and points it out.

@bob_ Personally, I’m fine with duplicate questions, as long as there is a bit of a gap in when they were last posted. The “How did you choose your avatar?” and “How did you choose your Fluther name?” always hold interest, especially when there has been an influx of new members. While I may not answer every time these duplicates show up, they are still worth following in my book.

Doesn’t bother me at all @bob_

I see repeat questions constantly, and I often see in the details that which you mention. We gotta hear what the new blood has to say, and as for the older members, life goes on and things change. Fluther is supposed to be all intelligent and complex, and so it knows that the views of a human being cannot be relegated merely to some dusty old ass question, especially on a site where shit can’t be bumped.

Consider your irony safe and legit.

@Symbeline My irony would feel safer if it were held gently in your arms.

If you mention in your question that you’ve asked a similar question in the past and are interested in updates or new responses, it’s more likely to stay (unless, of course, it’s an unbearably common question such as “Could I be pregnant?” or “How do I jailbreak my iPhone?”).

I second all of the above…..
But secretly I believe it depends on what jelly ask the question.

@AmWiser All jellies are equal, but some jellies are more equal than others?

@bob_ All jellies are equal, but some jellies are more equal than others? By default all Jellies are equal, but the site is ran by humans of which are part of the community, flaws are inherent. There are suppose to be no cliques but again, the place or ran by humans so de facto cliques do manage to form; even if those in them do not recognize they are in them. Some Jellies I know have had many questions evaporate than they believe should have. Since the process has seemingly no modicum of transparency, who is to know what or why their question disappeared. Other Jellies feel they are not recognized, or treated with as much respect as they believe they should, or that others are just answering them to be antagonistic. As in the work place if you are a super you more than likely give the workers you have more of a bond with more slack than those you don’t know well, or do not get along with; if they were late or broke policy you’d write them up quicker and be less likely to give them a pass. Does this happen with why one particular question is yanked and another sails right through, could be. Was it intentionally done? I would hop not unless very rare occasion. Is it probable? The site is ran by humans and humans are not perfect; it could happen or be happening just not detected, realized, or acknowledged.

Thanks @Hypocrisy_Central, my thoughts exactly plus more… But that’s for another post when I find time to post.:0)