Vanity On Duplicate Threads

Free Republic ^ | 3/1/04 | Admin Moderator

[Preech1]

This is just a reminder that before one posts an article, one should check to see if the article has been previously posted in order to avoid duplication.

Duplication causes several problems. Just like the old Monty Python skit about spam, if the same thing is posted over and over, it can drown out other valid posts. It needlessly consumes system resources. It fragments discussion.

In general, moderators will pull duplicate postings when we are alerted to them or when we notice them. This has the benefit of eliminating the "spam" effect and it helps keep discussion from being fragmented. However, it does not really save system resources, and it can be frustrating when one is about to reply to a thread and it vanishes (due to being a duplicate). A better solution is for people to take care to ensure they are not posting a duplicate.

To avoid duplicate postings, some things can help. First, when posting, search to see if the article has already been posted. Load up the "Latest Posts" page and scroll down it to see if the same article is there. Check the sidebars. And use the FR search engine.

Second, do not change the title of an article when posting it. Doing so makes it less likely that another searching to see if an article was posted will find the earlier copy.

Third, don't be in a rush to "be the first" to get an article up. Really, is there a big need to do so?

Also, here is a tip for using the FR search engine. Only words that are four or more letters are examined, so searching on "Pim" or on "CIA" will not accomplish anything.

Finally, I will add that not all duplicates are removed. On the day an article is published, if several hours (four or more) have passed since the article had last been posted, we will tend to leave it up if it is reposted (unless it is still visibile in a sidebar) to make it so that people who don't scroll back several pages will not miss an article of current relevancy. However, this should not be overdone or abused or this may change.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOPICS: Announcements; Free Republic; Your Opinion/Questions; Click to Add Topic KEYWORDS: DUPLICATES; PULLING; SEARCHING; Click to Add Keyword --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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[Preech1]

Heeheehee...sorry, don't take it personally...

[JeepInMazar]

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE.

[ZGuy]

Oh, it is sooooo tempting to copy this and repost it!

[BlueLancer]

I'll have the Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, eggs, and Spam, please ...

Can I have that without the Spam?

[Preech1]

Go for it...

[TomServo]

Hey! You! Get off my cloud!!!

[eureka!]

Already posted: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1088414/posts

[Preech1]

Lets Bump THIS thread to the point where the two are indistinguishable...

[SaveTheChief]

Hmm... Maybe I should post a vanity on pointless vanities.

[McGruff]

Already posted here. Please do a search before posting.

[EggsAckley]

Great to see this posted. Especially the part about changing titles. Despite all the times you have told them to NOT CHANGE TITLES, nearly every day articles appear with editorialized titles.

I will reiterate: DON'T CHANGE ORIGINAL TITLES.

[Preech1]

BTTT

[Publius6961]

DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE.

Thank you for the warning. I was going to...

Never mind.

[TomServo]

Lets Bump THIS thread to the point where the two are indistinguishable...

We'll have to go in shifts....

[Preech1]

I didn't change the titles...

[Hanging Chad]

Is this a vanity about vanities?
Are you masquerading as an admin moderator?
Are you the thread monitor for today?
Who died and made you sheriff?
Inquiring minds want to know

[Preech1]

Hmm...to answer your questions, in order...um, yes, no,no,and nobody died that I am aware of...(Is that how one becomes sheriff? I always wondered...)

[Redbob]

It seeems to me I've seen this warning before...

[EggsAckley]

I didn't say you did.........~</;o)

[Preech1]

Really? I thought it was an original thought of mine...Just goes to show you that there is nothing new under the Sun...