Duplicate posts

[DrDreReturns]

Can you do something to stop duplicate posts (like this example)? It should be easy - if the more than one copy of the same message is received in the space of a few seconds only add one of them. It's embarrassing!

Hi there DrDre! Interesting question. The short answer is yes it is possible but we don't do it. Basically because on a thread that went OP: AIBU in thinking pancakes should be banned? 1st reply: YABU 2nd reply: YABU 3rd reply: YABU, etc etc obviously we would lose the weight of responses and some people's posts wouldn't appear.

That sort of thread tends to occur more frequently than ones where someone accidentally posts twice.

If you do find you've got a duplicate post, though, just hit the report button above the duplicate and tell us and we can nip in and delete it for you.

But if the same poster posted the same thing within a matter of seconds you'd know it's a duplicate! Obviously if it's a different poster you wouldn't remove them.

DrDre. AFAIK these duplicate posts are just accidents frequently caused by a glitch either with your own device or sometimes with MN. They aren't the end of the world and, frankly, MNHQ doesn't have time to monitor every duplicate post.

Actually, MNHQ won't even know about it until someone alerts them.

I imagine you weren't around a few years ago when a lovely and well-liked MNer started to use her new - as it was subsequently called - TwatPhone? She ended up posting 30 or 40 duplicate posts on a number of threads for a while. It caused great hilarity - and the MNer herself laughed about it.

I don't think anyone minds, we all know it's just accidental.

As Iona said, just 'Report' and MNHQ will delete the duplicates.

Yes I understand that Fru, but they could be removed at source automatically very easily without any monitoring. I'm a programmer, its not a big ask. I appreciate its not a major issue.