to think "So what if its been done before, ..

[SacredJuice]

..that doesn't mean its never going to come up again?

Seen loads of posts where you tell your case or ask a question and then someone comes along and screams "Its been done before!" so you are either lying, trolling or asking a silly question. Oh and if its a lovely story, it's definately someone writing a book! WTF?

this has already been done so many times

Don't EVER ask about stylish coats with hoods. It turns out that really has been done before .

But yes, you're right - those "Yawn, search the archives" responses piss me right off. Sooner or later we'll have discussed everything possible and by those rules MN will implode.

I knew this was going to happen

I namechanged especially for this - I am such a chicken. hahahaha

southeastastra

I know what you mean OP. It may have been done before but there are new members joining all the time who won't have seen whatever it is. Those who have can always ignore the thread. If we didn't post things that (may) have been done before there would probably be very little posted.

So after all that rambling YANBU

Surely if everyone who wanted to know anything just spent all day searching the archives then there would be no new conversations, everyone would just get bored and go home.

I come on here for a chat with real live people. I can JFGI if I just want information, but thats not always a substitute for coffee, chat and several live answers from people at the same time.

I guess 'it's been done before' is meant as an indicator that a lot of people won't respond because they are bored of the topic I suppose and possible also an indication that you could try a search if you are looking for advice.

It gets crazy doesn't it?

You will never see anyone telling someone to search archives for a solution on a sensitive case but you will see this on lighthearted stuff as if thats ok.

But what if you search and inadvertantly bump an old but contentious thread accidentally? Will you then be accused of being a troll/stirrer?

It's a public forum. Start a thread if you want to. What really boils my piss are those who comment on a thread but have no actual interest in the OP or any valuable information to add.

As a newbie I did get a bit disappointed by the "oh not again" responses.
But I can see the other side of the coin too - I'm currently watching 2 threads about smacking and 4 threads about other threads (mostly about AIBU) this is the 5 one.
I've only been here for a few months and I already experience deja-vu! (not complaining)

Yes Manic - why read through a thread and then say you are lying or say Idont know? WTF?

Of course you can still disagree with whatever is being discussed

Fair enough to disagree. Especially in AIBU.