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On every forum there is an inevitable repeat or simultaneous posting of two similar threads. There are simply no exceptions to this rule, but Gaia's ED (as of late, I notice) has become ridiculous for repeats.

My simple question is this: is there any way to propose an idea to stop repeats? "Newbs" are apparently not being educated about repeating another subject merely because they did not "see it". Realistically, deep down we all know that we want to create our own little thread to control. With this in mind, we should be fair and nice to those who repeat, but still educate them to look for a similar topic first.

I have seen at least six topics addressing homosexuality, all of them similar in wording and point of argument (if it all). There is NO reason for this to happen, and leads to congestion, which then allows spammers to feel safe in the mountain of similar threads.

If something drops to the 5th page or lower, I'd say people probably have forgotten about it. I just don't see the point in having the same topic addressed in five topics per page. razz

the problem i see with that is that just because something is homosexually related, posting in there to say "hey, what is the morality of lying about being homosexual?" when the topic at hand (most likely) is "morality of being homosexual" could derail the topic and cause mass confusion.

I think it is inevitable that people would become confused with only one thread for each topic.

It'd be akin to a homosexuality subform within ED, or an atheism subforum. All I can see coming from such stickied threads is factionalism, like miniature guilds. Not sure.

Personally, I would not mind repeat threads if the old thread has fallen behind the third page. If a newbie post a repeat thread, I would link them to the previous thread then let the repeat get closed. Necroing is okay if the poster really has something new to add, but the problem is that most necros are posting a point that has already been addressed.

In a way, that's being worked on for a homosexuality thread. Progress is slow, but it is being worked on. I can't comment much on it though, as it's other people who are doing it. It's a little difficult though since homosexuality is such a broad topic. It might as well be a topic on "the Bible" as a whole. That would be too broad, and it'd be chatterboxed if it wasn't specific enough.

So anyway, it's being worked on. There's hopes that it'll be stickied or what not so there'd be fewer threads on that. 3nodding

Simple solution - temporary bannings from the ED area for every repeat thread you post. A week for the first, two for the second, a month on the third, forever on the fourth. If you haven't caught on by then, well, you don't belong anyway. For a more complete explanation of how this would work, see my proposal in How are we going to help the ED?

Also, stickied super-topics for homosexuality, Internet dating and such - single threads with link compendiums, common facts, well-composed arguments (written by the ED's finest for the ED's finest at as unbiased a level as possible) and lists of relevant topics. ON THE TOP OF THE DAMN PAGE. That ought to catch some eyes.

It would help getting topics that should be discussed into light more, I mostly see is threads on homosexuality, I do think putting into one area would be better. It might curb the amount of threads created on this topic for repeats.