Merged Threads - Very Difficult to Follow

Smartasss

Now that we are having duplicated threads merged by the "cleaners" to "make the boards tidy", this does cause difficulties following any specific discussion as all the posts are sorted by time posted, so all the threads are mixed up into one long jumble.

A solution would be to lock any duplicate posts, leaving the original open for further discussion.

The locked post will quickly drop out of site.

(Another solution would be to lock and despatch the duplicate to a dungeon somewhere where locked threads of no value could lie for a while prior to a janitor's visit).

sra

we're all getting used to the new technology. I'll have a little look and see if there's another way to merge threads that makes things more clear

I think you're riight - it may sometimes be better to lock a duplicate thread and put a link to the other thread at the bottom to keep it clear.

I'm sure it'll all settle down and everyone'll figure out the best ways to do things over time

wirm

If people would search it would be helpful!

However I wouldn't merge a thread that has lots of replies. I one has only got a couple of posts then I'd merge it!

bridiej

The problem on the mortgage's board the other day was three or four different threads all asking about the best buy to let mortgages...

I would be easier if people looked down the list to see if anything already posted, just checking the first page of posts would do...

wirm

exactly!

I wish I could get a massive pop-up message that just said "search!!!!!!!!!!!!"

sra

bridiej wrote:

The problem on the mortgage's board the other day was three or four different threads all asking about the best buy to let mortgages...

I would be easier if people looked down the list to see if anything already posted, just checking the first page of posts would do...

It is VERY frustrating.

But one of things i've always liked about mse is that people can do that sometimes. I know plenty of sites where you get really jumped on if you haven't done a big long search to see if something's already been covered.

Pat__3

sra555 wrote:

we're all getting used to the new technology. I'll have a little look and see if there's another way to merge threads that makes things more clear

I think you're riight - it may sometimes be better to lock a duplicate thread and put a link to the other thread at the bottom to keep it clear.

I'm sure it'll all settle down and everyone'll figure out the best ways to do things over time

I agree with on this sra, if there is no other way of doing it.:)

wirm

have a big hand smack them? lol! just kidding!

Glad

I agree with wirm and otherss

it's fine merging a thread if you spot it before it gets posted on but if 2 threads have lots of posts it does make it more difficult to follow,
maybe in those cases the guide could lock the thread and put an edit in the 1st post of the unlocked thread to say "this subject has also been discussed here" with a link to the locked one

jo_b_2

I have to say that I have been using the merged facility a lot on the freebies board over the last few days.

Most of them were for the 02 sims offer. That was posted on about 5 different threads. To be honest, in that situation, it would just get unrealistic for me to try to lock the duplicates and cross-reference them.

I know that merging can confuse the flow of the conversations but most of the comments were either 'thanks' or 'this has already been posted' so not really crucial if they aren't in a particular order.

I assume that I am being referred to as the 'cleaner' as I used the phrase 'tidy up the board.' Just think that having one slightly disordered thread is much better than having 5 duplicate threads. This is the technology that we have been given on the site so I will continue to use it, until I am informed otherwise.