Thread duplication

[Danitgirl1]

Hi All
I have been thinking of the 'problem' of thread duplication.
What I mean by this is when someone poses a question or otherwise writes about a well worn topic (wigs, epilation, 'am I gay' etc etc).
Now I ma sometimes guilty of this and I wonder why we do it.
I have concluded that (at least in my case) sometimes it isn't necessarily information that we are after, after all if we wanted information we could very easily have searched the forum and/or Googled the topic, but rather we are looking for conversation, shared experiences and interaction.
One of the problems we face is the lack of a community. Many of us cannot just talk to someone about these things... If we did we would out ourselves, so we come here and start random topics because w want to talk, to interact socialise and share.
Ironically these are typically feminine traits so it is interesting that there is sometimes so much hostility when someone raises an admittedly boring topic.
But here is the thing it isn't boring to THEM. They want/need to talk and this is where they can do so...
So perhaps next time we could all be a bit more understanding?
Or am I out of line on this one?
:hugs:
Daniella

[Teresa]

Daniella,
I don't think you're out of line at all !
Some comments are annoying because if the topic is of no interest just give it a miss rather than make some inane comment !
I guess some members may not choose to comment because they find it too sensitive or upsetting, there are possibly more non commenting members than contributing !
If you feel you need to get something off your chest/bust and it's bothering you it's what the forum is here for !

I did have the embarrassing experience of posting a thread in the beauty section and got zero replies ! Maybe there should be some annual award for the various sections, most read, least read etc.

[JeanetteX]

Daniella, your not out of line on this at all, in fact I think you wrote some perfect words. Yes I agree that we all want to discuss our issues with others but we have to remember that everyone is different. Some people fo instance are more introvert than others and will probably find it difficult to break in to a thread so they rather start their own one, especially when they have just joined the forum. Well thats fine with me, lets give them all the space they want or need. After all we all started like this didn't we?

In my particular case I still find it hard at times to get involved in deep conversations because I'm from a non-English speaking country. And believe me expressing deep emotions in another language than your own can be pretty difficult. So who can blame me then if I'd rather start my own thread in my way, even if the subject has been discussed a 1,000 times before

[Teresa]

Jeanette,
I think it's great you choose to be a member here and I think you raise an interesting point ! I know this forum clearly states it's only for English speaking countries but I think it's good to get members Worldwide, Cding has no language barriers we all have much in common when it comes to human feelings and emotions !

So please stick with us and keep your threads and comments coming .

[stacycoral]

Miss Daniella, girl i think you hit the nail on the head, yes i do believe in what your saying, take care girl. hugs.

[JeanetteX]

Dont worry Teresa, I have no intention at all to leave here. This is such a great forum and I have made so many good friends here, including my best girlfriend that I share almost anything with (yes even in English lol).

The only point I was trying to make is how hard it sometimes is for a non-english speaking member to follow certain 'technical' discussions let alone get involved in it. Thats why I perhaps sometimes start a new thread that could be about the exact same subject. But like I said I dont care, I try to do it my way and I love it!

[NicoleScott]

The rules say English language only. It doesn't say only for people from English speaking countries.

[Julie1123]

Absolutely! There's been many an evening where I've sat here trying to think of a post to start up conversations. Just as a means to have a conversation about what we do. Of course I'm always interested in what people have to say as well but I've definitely had that strong urge for conversation.

[Krisi]

If no new threads were allowed on topics already covered, there would be no new posts and the forum could just be made "read only".

There are new twists on old subjects, new members with new thoughts and even new products to discuss.

[Jazzy Jaz]

Also as a newer member i dont know everything that has been discussed in the past and dont have the time to look back at threads from months, years, etc before i came here.

[Suzie Petersen]

Daniella,

This has already been discussed, so do we really have to go through that again??

.........

Just kidding ;-)

In all seriousness, I agree with you and I honestly get slightly 'miffed' when people respond in the negative just because a topic has been around before. While that might be acceptable in a technical forum, for instance "How to repair your lawn mover", this forum, just like you said, has a big social aspect to it and it is the need to communicate and feel part of a group that matters here.

For new members, basically nothing has been discussed before, right! Yes, you can search the archives and find a wealth of information and opinions or just about any topic, and it is fine to suggest that to someone who initiates a thread on an "old" topic, but that doesnt mean that we cant have a meaningful talk about it again, even starting with a fresh input from a new member.

I also believe there can be a strong need to feel like the moderator of a thread now and then. If you start a thread, you get the opportunity to discuss it on your terms and to study the topic, with the interaction from those who chose to chime in, from your perspective. That is a much more powerful situation of engagement than if you "just" comment on the other threads going on. You become a little more responsible for the development of the thread and can explore old or new aspects of the topic.

So bottom line for me, is that there is nothing wrong with starting a thread on anything that comes to mind. If people dont want to talk about it again, they should just leave it alone instead of embarrassing the poster.
I have a few times seen new members post a new thread on an old topic and then be hammered by some of the "old" members. Never saw another post from that new member again! Thats sad! Who knows what damage that might have caused to someone who came here to seek comfort and community.
We are better than that.

- Suzie

[Lorileah]

:dh:Very rarely do threads get deleted if the subject has been discussed before and there is NO active thread that is similar. New people come along and there are large number of threads they may have to go through.

:) Most people don't take time to read or search

[JeanetteX]

Very well said Suzie

[DanaR]

If no new threads were allowed on topics already covered, there would be no new posts and the forum could just be made "read only".

There are new twists on old subjects, new members with new thoughts and even new products to discuss.
I agree with this as well. I try not to spend a lot of time on the internet these days, as I have other things that I'm trying to accomplish. When I look at a thread that has been brought back to the top, and has a lot of posts on it, and was started months and months ago, I usually don't open it. The reason is it is usually a waste of my time, I generally just focus on newer threads, unless it was something that I was following. I notice that many threads are combined with older threads; which have hundreds of posts in them, I never look at them.

[AngelaYVR]

But if someone starts a thread about which way to put on a bra again, I truly hope it is nuked from space.

[Samantha Clark]

:) Most people don't take time to read or search

If the search feature were better, it would be easier to revive dead threads and gain the benefit of previous conversation on the topic. Unfortunately, the search engine has not been very helpful in my experience. If only it was designed for regex.

As to the OP, I agree entirely. I'm here for the conversation and community more than anything else. This CD business can be terribly isolating and lonely.

[michelleddg]

Daniella,

Nooooo, this is not an encyclopedia. It is a safe house for the transgendered. Folks come and go. For some it is the only access to our strange and wonderful world. Threads and topics get played and replayed as new folks come through. If you hang around long enough you find you evolve into a bit of a mentor role. Good mentors do not rail against duplication, they facilitate conversation and if they end up making the same observation over time in 100 different threads, well, that just duplicates real life, doesn't it? Hugs, Michelle

[Robin414]

I agree with everyone as well, a lot of new threads have been here before at some time but that's what conversation is all about, restating the same thing in a slightly different way and that's why we're all here...conversation!

[flatlander_48]

Dg1:

The thing is, Life and our environment are ever-changing. Consider the conversations in our comunity a year ago versus the ones that have happened in the wake of Caitlyn Jenner's appearance. Very different and there are other things that bring about significant changes in viewpoint. Anyway, I think that revisiting a topic is usually a good thing to do.

DeeAnn

[nvlady]

But if someone starts a thread about which way to put on a bra again, I truly hope it is nuked from space.

Why? Do you put your bras on differently than I do? I put my arms through the straps, and reach back to hook it.

[Robin414]

I put mine on like underwear, feet first, soooo what!

[MelanieAnne]

Reviving an old thread after a period of time can get some new input or answers as new people join the forum. But yeah, some people just like to talk about shaving, etc. It's almost a form of mild phone sex. A good example is the recurring "What are you wearing now" threads.

[docrobbysherry]

I think this forum is living proof of Darwinism.:thumbsup:

Topics that have been beat to death seem to disappear rather quickly.:thumbsup:

Except for those cursed, never ending, "underwear" threads!:doh::thumbsdn:

[Lorileah]

once a thread is closed, it is closed. Allowing people to add or revive it would be a huge confusing mess. So it's better to just let people start new ones. BTW what color are your panties?

[MelanieAnne]

BTW what color are your panties?

Said in a deep husky voice. :eek:

[Marcelle]

Hi Daniella,

People come hear for various reasons, some just want to hang and read others to get comfortable with who they are others want to share. Release of thoughts can be quite cathartic IMHO and I find that when new members ask questions or pose topics similar to other ones it is a way to finally express what they have always harboured and were unable to do so elsewhere. That is the way it was for me early on when I first came here . . . it helped me immensely. So I don't think we should begrudge those who start duplicated post but at least try to respond so as to make them feel their thoughts are welcomed.



. . . So bottom line for me, is that there is nothing wrong with starting a thread on anything that comes to mind. If people dont want to talk about it again, they should just leave it alone instead of embarrassing the poster. I have a few times seen new members post a new thread on an old topic and then be hammered by some of the "old" members. Never saw another post from that new member again! Thats sad! Who knows what damage that might have caused to someone who came here to seek comfort and community.

- Suzie

Spot on. I have seen some rough responses of "been there" "beat to death" and while I am sure it was not meant with malice, we should all be cognizant that new folks do not have the level of comfort some us older members have. If you don't want to respond . . . then don't. If you do, just be civil. Heck you could even point out the similar thread where perhaps good answers lie . . . think of it as mentoring. :)


If no new threads were allowed on topics already covered, there would be no new posts and the forum could just be made "read only".

There are new twists on old subjects, new members with new thoughts and even new products to discuss.

Another good point. No subject is truly done to death and new people can bring new angles and stimulate discussion . . . after all that is what a forum is all about . . . discussion :)

Cheers

Isha

[Jeri Ann]

I have never had a problem with threads being duplicated. If I am not interested in a post for any reason, I just move on. Often a new member just doesn't know how to navigate the site yet to do a topic search. When someone initiates a post that repeats a topic they may just be reaching out. If you care, reach back. If you don't, move on.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Dani, The great thing about the threads is that no one is making
anyone read them if they don't want to.:hugs:

As long as I have the mouse in my right hand I can just point and
click away from what I don't want to read.:daydreaming:

[Ashley_K]

Suzie, you hit the nail on the head! I've wondered this same question occasionally, and out of fear of ridicule, I've just not posted because of it, which is sad. We should do what we can to create a culture of encouragement and support, and make that our default reaction. I know that because of this journey, we all feel a sense of vulnerability, and there's nothing worse than risking vulnerability only to be stepped on, even accidentally. And in particular, this forum is frequently one of the last/only places we can go! So we should be careful to not run people off over even small things like duplicate threads. Plus, basically everything talked about in here is a duplicate (there are over 54k threads!) so I just have to remember it's about the community... The first page is basically the main thing read, I'm sure (like Google results)... I think of the first page as a news feed and the pulse of the community.

[Shelly Preston]

The thing about thread duplication is that it will happen.

However sometimes you get a different perspective from a new member who has not seen the topic before.

[Dana44]

I do search sometime yet I find that it is closed or try to respond and it say that it has expired. So new threads are the only way to bring up any old subjects sometimes.