Your Policy on Merging Posts from the Same Member?

[Fergal]

Sometimes members will quote a post in a topic and then reply to it. Then they'll quote another post in the same topic and reply to it. This results in the same member making two posts, one immediately after the other, in the same topic / thread.

Do you merge these two posts when that happens, or do you just leave them as they are?

Generally I merge them, but I'm beginning to wonder if that's the best policy.

Thanks!

 

[AnAccount]

We have an anti-bump deal on the forum. Basically what happens, and I know a few advertisement forums have this, is that if you quote someone, and then you reply to that topic again not long after you submitted it the first time around, it'll make it look as though you've edited your post, I have mixed feelings about that, but mostly I like it, though, because it saves the bother of PMing someone to help with merging the posts or deleting the extra post or whatever.

 

[Joshua Farrell]

For me, it depends on why they posted a second time in a row. If they were to provide extra information, but didn't modify their post, I would merge.

 

[CyberFreak]

On this forum they automatically get merged into each other. If however they didn't get merged, I would merge them, especially if there is more then 2 posts in a row. Some users will use it as a way to increase their post count and other users will copy. Before you know it, there will be some many double posts everywhere, it will look messy and spammy.

 

[Fergal]

We have an anti-bump rule and I wasn't referring to advertising posts, sorry I should have made that clear. I'm really asking about normal discussion topics, where there is no malicious intent or spam intended.

 

[Grumpy]

We have an anti-bump rule and I wasn't referring to advertising posts, sorry I should have made that clear. I'm really asking about normal discussion topics, where there is no malicious intent or spam intended.

Then for me I would still merge the posts, it looks messy and un-neat to let members post twice in a row in the same topic... If you are talking about BAF, there are plenty of modifications available on the vBulletin website to stop double-posting. 🙂

 

[JedoChristo]

If the board does not have a feature like here on FP then i would for sure merge then myself.

 

[David]

I see no need to merge them. Some times it's probably best to leave them alone, especially when they are lengthy replies and it would look more unorganised if they were put together.

If there is no intent to spam and they are mature in their discussion, then I don't think anyone will be offended or leave your forum because of this. I know I won't leave BAF because of some double posts.

One thing to note is that when the 24 hour bump limit finishes, you are still able to make a double post within the rules, so how is that any different from double posting whenever?

 

[Luke]

I think it doesn't really look that clean having a member post twice.

 

[Fergal]

Thanks everyone, I merge most double posts, however, I do look at it on a case by case basis and sometimes leave a double post if I feel it looks better that way.

...One thing to note is that when the 24 hour bump limit finishes, you are still able to make a double post within the rules, so how is that any different from double posting whenever?

David, I wasn't really asking about advertising posts. The situation I was referring to arises most often when members don't know how to use multi-quote and quote two different posts, in one post after another.

 

[David]

David, I wasn't really asking about advertising posts. The situation I was referring to arises most often when members don't know how to use multi-quote and quote two different posts, in one post after another.

I know, I wasn't even talking about advertising posts. I was using FP as an example where you might want to reply to any topic after a set amount of time and you could potentially have two posts of yours in a row. I just find it interesting to note if cases like that would warrant a merge or not, otherwise it would be the same case as yours.

 

[Nuke]

Double posting? I don't mind that...but quote and post in separate posts? WAAAAAT. Never had it happen.

 

[Mik.]

Yes of course I would. It makes it look prettier.