Duplication on multiple forums

[jeffbird]

Being a newcomer, I am not too familiar with correct procedures on your forums. I recently posted a thread on the general interest forum and, when it didn't generate a lot of responses, one member suggested I should also post it on one of your specialised occupation (military and navy) forums. However when I did this the moderator immediately locked the second thread, saying he wanted to avoid duplication of effort. Did I breach forum rules or should I have gone about this differently.

- jeffbird

[MarkJ]

Duplication of posts causes problems for both the poster and those who may wish to assist with the question.
As the poster of the original question, it means you have to watch two seperate threads about the same question and for other member, it may mean they are duplicating searches etc which others have already done on another thread.

The AUP (Acceptable Use Policy) for the forum - the "rules" if you prefer - do state -

" Cross-Posting

Posting of the same message to more than one forum is not allowed as it clutters the board and causes confusion. Duplicate posts will be removed. "

However, we try to avoid removing duplicate posts in the main and prefer to close them and add a link referring members to the original post. This is what happened to your thread regarding John McMillan.

In such circumstances - where perhaps a thread would attract more attention in another forum section - the Moderators will often move the thread using their own experience, but in other cases, the poster can ask a Moderator to move the post for them - which we will do as soon as possible, usually straight away.

We don't worry too much if a post or thread is in the wrong place or duplicated - we simply try to ensure that a members thread gets the maximum response and assistance, which is why things sometimes get moved or we will close a duplicate thread and place a link to the original in it.

Mark

[v.wells]

Never fear of making mistakes jeffbird! We have all put posts in the wrong forum. Our wonderful moderators move them if requested and sometimes the thread turns into something else and they move it when it makes sense to.

And Welcome to B-G , it won't take you long before you become seriously addicted to us!

[Mutley]

Hello Jeffbird,

I was the moderator that closed your thread.
Threads are rarely deleted on BG, they sink to the bottom of the pile but are still there. In time to come, months, years even, someone may come across one of the threads and think, Oh! this is interesting. They may then search to find answers for you without knowing that the answers may already have been found on the other thread. By closing one and directing people to the other you will still get the replies regardless of which forum the thread is found on.

You can always 'nudge' your thread to the top of the new posts whenever you wish by responding to your thread yourself either with new information or just, "hi guys, anyone found anything for me?" or words to that effect.

Good Luck

[jeffbird]

Thanks all. It now makes perfect sense.
cheers

- jeff