Please don't close new Threads

[Mikawa Ossan]

When someone starts a new thread, please let it live or die on its own merits. Please do not close them down.

I understand the view that if a topic already exists, there is no need to start another thread for the same topic.

Still, please look at it from a regular member's perspective. Most of us have not been here long enough to remember or even know about the old threads. The search feature is often the furthest thing from our minds when we start new threads, and even if we did use it, it's too much work to sift through the zillions of results that come up just to start a fun thread.

Killing the new threads kills conversation and has a deleterious effect on morale. Why should I start a new thread if I know that it might be closed just because there was a similar thread 2 years ago?

If you absolutely must stop new multiple threads, may I at least suggest MERGING them into one thread instead of closing the new thread altogether?

Thank you.

[jeisan]

i tend to just merge them...

[Uncle Frank]

i tend to just merge them...

or maybe just post link/links to similer threads and say:

For more infomation on the same subject, see: (with links listed)

I have to admit, when I use search, tons come up to look through. It has to be a bit discouraging for a new person to get shot down when they first post. ON THE OTHER HAND... as an old timer , it does drive you nuts to see the same question or subject come up hundreds of times. Maybe shoot the newbees down with NERF bullets (links & merges) would be kinder?

Uncle Frank

:? :clueless:

[Dutch Baka]

@Mikawa, can you give us some examples of threads that were being closed?

Same here, I also try to merge them!

[RockLee]

Merging seems to do the trick :) Locking the old one (or deleting) and moving the posts from the old thread into the new one works for me too.

We encourage to use the SEARCH button actually, to save the trouble of creating X of the same threads ;-)

[Mike Cash]

Scolding people for not using the search feature is something I don't do, for the sole reason that the search feature is total crap.

[Mikawa Ossan]

@Mikawa, can you give us some examples of threads that were being closed?

Same here, I also try to merge them!
It was Duo's post on this thread:
http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27974
which prompted me to start this one. That plus a general 'feeling' that threads get locked quite a bit around here.

I'm glad to see that all of the staff who have responded thus far say they prefer to merge, and I'm also glad that the 'offending' thread has not been locked at the time of this post.:cool:

[Dutch Baka]

It was Duo's post on this thread:
http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27974
which prompted me to start this one. That plus a general 'feeling' that threads get locked quite a bit around here.

I'm glad to see that all of the staff who have responded thus far say they prefer to merge, and I'm also glad that the 'offending' thread has not been locked at the time of this post.:cool:

I merged that thread http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?p=408305#post408305

Btw... WHERE IS THAT OFFENDING THREAD>>> I WANT TO CLOSE SUCH A THREAD:okashii::blush::blush::blush::blush:

[Elizabeth]

I noticed the weirdness of closing similiar threads the other day with this one on the peace sign as well. If you're going to do it as a mod, at least be consistent. Where's the fairness in singling out a brand new member with a practice that goes practically unnoticed by all of us everyday in the language, culture shock love and relationship and other sections where we're not talking about breaking news. :? This and all other forums would break down and die without some degree of repetition and new voices being added to the dialogue each time. Killing them prematurely only serves to fuel that process.

Closing a thread I get the feeling is almost always too subjective, this was just the most recent example that stood out in a negative way for me.

http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?p=406888&highlight=peace+sign#post406888

[Kinsao]

I favour the merging approach.
A fair number of duplicate threads tend to come up in the music section, and back in the day when i had powers (lmao, makes it sound like i was prime minister! XDXD..), i just used to merge them. Most times, people are actually quite happy to find the pre-existing threads. ^^ Of course, posting links can work too, and is seen as less like "doing the poster's work for them", but merging also serves the function of keeping the sub-sections tidy. :cool:

[Dutch Baka]

Closing a thread I get the feeling is almost always too subjective, this was just the most recent example that stood out in a negative way for me.
http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?p=406888&highlight=peace+sign#post406888

But there already was a thread about this, and to be honest, to merge this poster his post into the excisting thread, like this for example:

Post #15
Peace sign
I have noticed that many Japanese and other asian chicks give the "peace sign", two raised fingers when a photograph is taken. It seems extremely prevalent.
I was wondering why this sign is given and whether it means the same as the peace sign the hippies gave in the 60s and early 70s.

is this a 'cool' thing, what is it all about?

The answer on this poster his/her question will be... READ THE POSTS ABOVE



... looks really weird... So what would you sugest for as thread like this?

[Elizabeth]

But there already was a thread about this, and to be honest, to merge this poster his post into the excisting thread, like this for example:
Post #15
Peace sign
I have noticed that many Japanese and other asian chicks give the "peace sign", two raised fingers when a photograph is taken. It seems extremely prevalent.
I was wondering why this sign is given and whether it means the same as the peace sign the hippies gave in the 60s and early 70s.
is this a 'cool' thing, what is it all about?
The answer on this poster his/her question will be... READ THE POSTS ABOVE
... looks really weird... So what would you sugest for as thread like this?
That is always the way it is going to look after a merge. Maybe editing that post to say Merged thread or something below the original text would be helpful. This happens constantly in the Japanese subforum as well and if past links are provided that normally ends the discussion. It looks much worse imo to lock a thread on the first member's post with a cursory note to use the search function next time. I'm pretty certain I would never have returned to that kind of welcome. :relief:

[Mikawa Ossan]

That is always the way it is going to look after a merge. Maybe editing that post to say Merged thread or something below the original text would be helpful. This happens constantly in the Japanese subforum as well and if past links are provided that normally ends the discussion. It looks much worse imo to lock a thread on the first member's post with a cursory note to use the search function next time. I'm pretty certain I would never have returned to that kind of welcome. :relief:
I agree completely!

If the first thread that I ever started (here it is, if you're curious: http://www.jref.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19537 ) had been closed with some comment to use the search function, I certainly would have thought twice before posting at Jref again! And that's just the point.

We should cherish our new members and not treat them like unwelcome guests. New members are the lifeblood of any forum, as the old ones get busy or lose interest and leave.

[RockLee]

It looks much worse imo to lock a thread on the first member's post with a cursory note to use the search function next time. I'm pretty certain I would never have returned to that kind of welcome. :relief:Most new members (if not old members) don't even bother to look up the forum rules or think about using the search button as it is too much hassle. We only encourage them to use it/ reminds them there is a search-button. ;-)

[Uncle Frank]

I wonder how long before this thread gets closed, LOL. It seems to be slowly rolling downhill into the jaws of "thread closed".

Uncle Frank

:blush:

[Dutch Baka]

I wonder how long before this thread gets closed, LOL. It seems to be slowly rolling downhill into the jaws of "thread closed".
Uncle Frank
:blush:

with post like this it will be closed frank, because this has nothing to do with the topic :blush: :p

[Iron Chef]

I rarely close a thread unless all other options have exhausted themselves...

[Kinsao]

I know this is completely offtopic, but it's nice to see you, Iron Chef... seems like you've been not around so much lately, or maybe I just wasn't reading in the right threads. :hey:

[Iron Chef]

Wow, thanks for that unexpected comment. Nice to see you too. Yeah, i've been pretty busy lately with work and all (who isn't these days). I don't log-in or post as often as i'd like but i'm still lurking these boards, heh. Anyways, thanks for noticing. 8-)