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Cross posting and Hijacking of posts

bobhc

bobhc

Excel Ninja
IT is not a big problem on this forum, but cross posting and hijacking post’s does happen.

Faseeh has closed a post because of cross posting and I agree with is comments as to why he did close the post 100%. Everyone who uses the forum does so on a voluntary bases and there are some members who go that extra mile in answering questions, all have their own lives to live outside of the forum and for posters to cross post in the hope of getting others to answer is in my mind an insult to those who have taken the time and trouble to answer the original post. It is not always obvious that someone is cross posting but if you do think it is happening then do not post to the question but let the Ninjas know.

As for those that hijack someone else’s post because they think their question is similar, all they achieve is to diminish the quality of the Original Posters question and confuse the answers, also by burying their question in some one else’s they will not get the answers they could of as forum members who originally looked at this post and decided they could not help will not re-read so answers that could have come forward will not. Members have different areas of skill in Excel and a post with a good title will get better results than a post that is buried.

Forum members have shown their commitment to answering post and this commitment tends to take place over other matters, a commendable trait and not one to be reined in or curtailed, but it would help to clarify board etiquette, if when you see an hijacked post you do not reply to it in someone else post but a few lines posted to remind the forum member to start a new post.
 
Thanx Bob


All your points are well put and very true.


All of this and much more is covered in http://chandoo.org/forums/topic/phd-forum-posting-rules-etiquette-pls-read-before-posting
 
Hi Bob ,


My take on this is that we can take two points of view :


1. The person who does the cross-posting and / or hijacking , is truly ignorant of forum etiquette ; I can understand that when I am desperate to get my problem solved , my overriding interest is to get a solution ; most of the cross-posting / hijacking may be by first-time posters , not regular ones.


2. The person who does the cross-posting and / or hijacking has violated some sacrosanct rule.


Which one we take reveals something about us too !


We can all afford to be nice ; whenever I don't wish to answer someone , I say so clearly ; others are perfectly free to answer that question.


There are other forum administrators e.g. Dave Hawley of Ozgrid , who runs his ship very tightly ! We can decide to follow him , or we can decide to be different , the choice is ours.


Narayan
 
Good day Narayan


I do believe that if the site where to be run with a very strict attitude then some of the "spirit" that makes this forum unique would be lost, but as I said in the post I do not think it would be much trouble to ask someone who is posting in someone else post to start their own thread. This would achieve two things the OP would still get his question answered without it being muddled with off centre answers and the new poster would achieve clearer and probably more questions.
 
I don't think there is any advantage of being Excel Nazi's

But I also think that a minimum level of discipline must be maintained or else the forum degrades into a general free for all with no structure


I think were in a nice middle position at present
 
Good day Hui


Could not agree more, to run a strict site would ruin the site and forums but we do need as you say a minimum level of discipline
 
Hi All,


Consider a Scenario as said by Narayan:


"I am in hurry and i was to get my question answered in less then a minute, i see a similar thread and i cross-posted without bothering to read "Three Green Sticky Posts. Since it is cross-posted no-other forum member replied to it. What impression will a new member will get??"


In my opinion, he will wait, wait .......wait, and take the message / conclude that "I/He posted a question that didn't get answered from chandoo.org/forums" That is what i can foresee.


In My Opinion, It is better to inform such user in polite and gentle manner that you have made a mistake and for that you should start a new thread and never do it again.


Reminding and closing such threads will also send a message to other new members that there exists some posting etiquette and rules for this forum and to know how to get quick and max responses from this forum.


Being gentle and polite is essential in any case.


Regards,
 
Good day Faseeh


Quote "In My Opinion, It is better to inform such user in polite and gentle manner that you have made a mistake and for that you should start a new thread and never do it again." thats exactly the point I was making, just to inform users that a new post of their own is what is required.


If we reply to hijacked questions then the posters have no incentive to post correctly and get more response, but in my opinion the worst part is the OP has his question beeing "watered down".
 
What do you do if you have a question, so search the posts for a solution, find one that seems to be the correct topic but run into a problem. You cant post in that thread. If you post a new thread you will be asked if you have done a search as this topic has been covered before. Just hypothetical, but it could happen. I guess you just have to explain exactly what you have already done and refer to the thread and explain your problem clearly?
 
Lymm

It is recommended in the Guidelines that you give as much info as possible

If that includes making mistakes it is better to say so early and not waste responders time


Please remember that all the help is is donated for free, it isn't a paid or subscription service
 
@Lymm


Hi


What ever our Ninja's Discuss they are correct from their side and it is good thing for us and Newly joined members also


if you have a problem and you searched then after you got the solution from that thread and you have some doubts then please start a new thread explain your problem and link the searched thread which is better to understand the problem to Ninja's and who will like to solve the problem


Thanks


SP
 
Good day Lymm


Quote "I guess you just have to explain exactly what you have already done and refer to the thread and explain your problem clearly? "


Spot on, thats all you need to do, start your new post with a clear and to the point title and explain your question and just mantion that you have searched and could not find an ansers so therfore the question.
 
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