"A question has been asked once before on TMP..." Topic

Does that mean that no one can ask it again?

There are an awful lt of pedants here, who think that just because THEY have the thread (from October 2010…) on file, that the topic can never be brought up again.

So what, if it has? The topic is dead and old, because it is dead and old. If no one has replied since November 2010, what makes you think that the issue has been settled?
Newbies don't know that it has been answered. Frankly, with the TMP "search" engine, you can have no faith that it can be found. OPs file it under the daftest Boards. Sometimes the "logical" title is not used.

I have no problem with posting previous TMP threads that covered this topic, but please do not assume that because it has been answered in the past, it is no longer open fir discussion.

What if you were a history professor, and got very tired of sophomores asking the same damn thing every semester? What would you say? "I ANSWERED THIS VERY TOPIC 2 YEARS AGO!!!!!" That is very helpful.

Spelling is another reason why things don't turn up in the search engine. Sometimes I try common misspellings just in case.

Thank you, John. I agree with you. I don't know how well the search engine on the site works. I have seldom used it. But I agree with you. Sometimes an old question will evoke new answers and new points of view that would never come out if " see the post from 5 years ago" were the only acceptable option.

Besides as some of the members tire of answering the same old question, others can help their self-confidence by answering the question this time with their knowledge.

All kinds of benefits to repetition!

Didn't we have this discussion before?

I wasn't raised with computers, so when I started asking questions I didn't even know there was a search function to use.

So can I start my "GW Hatred?" thread once again?…the one from 2005?…

No such thing as a stupid question, especially the one that has been asked before. If someone does not want to repeat an answer, just link the old post and it can move back to the top of the pile. I am old. I forget everything.

What was the question again?

No such thing as a stupid question…

BS!

Yes there is…I work in IT Tech Support…I can dispel that myth…

It's ok to ask the same question again, if it wasn't answered before. But the poster should have the common courtesy & personal responsibility to not waste other people's time with a question that could have been answered by them taking the time to do a 30 second search.

it seems a little silly for people to get upset at discussion, on a discussion board…

It's ok to ask the same question again, if it wasn't answered before. But the poster should have the common courtesy & personal responsibility to not waste other people's time with a question that could have been answered by them taking the time to do a 30 second search.

I totally and completely disagree. Why should "Did the militia in the AWI carry flags?" NOT be brought up again? Even if the poster is aware of previous threads that "answered" the issue?

Whose time is being wasted? Mine, even thought I have answered it a few times before? ("It depends…" is the short answer.)
I for one do NOT mind answering it again, and do not consider my time to have been wasted.
Even if the question is "Lee or Grant?" or "Wellington or Napoleon?", there is absolutely no reason why it cannot be asked again.
I do it, knowing full well it has come up before. Perhaps, I enjoy the conversation!

If you think YOUR time has been wasted, why did you click on the new thread? So that you can say that your time was wasted?

given that I have no way of knowing if my 'new' to me question has been addressed – I will not hesitate to ask away

I don't know if this has been covered already, but if a question has been asked once before on TMP does that mean that no one can ask it again?

Meh. I Google the subject instead of using the Search here to see if it has been posted before on TMP.Then if so Copy and Paste my previous response(s) if I had made one in it to the "new" thread. Works better. Robert

I don't think it is bad to post a question even if the question has been asked a month ago. It doesn't bother me, if I can help someone I'll be glad to answer again. That being said when there are 3-7 topics on the same subject in the same day it is a bit of a different story.

Srsly, OFM, Whiskey tango foxtrot?

WHAT question are we talking about?

We need more data to address this topic.

And I need more VSOP.

Carry on, converse among yourselves, I shall return presently…

I forgot to mention that I don't have a problem when others point out that the subject may have been discussed before if they post a link to the previous discussion so that those interested can read more. Robert

THIS oughta score me some stiffle axcion…

Sorry, that last message was a repost somehow…

Ask what you want…as many times as you like. Someone will probably point out it's already been asked. If they are helpful rather than just 'being superior' they will link to the previous thread. This may help as you haven't been able to find the thread.

If instead of help you just get a lecture, like the spelling and grammar 'help' then just ignore it.

Meh

I can look up members and titles, but going through the posts causes the whole thing to time out. So I am probably asking questions that have been asked before, but given that I cannot check …

What about making up a really large FAQ?

I am puzzled as to how someone's time can be wasted by another person asking a question that MIGHT have been asked before and also how it would show lack of courtesy to ask that question.
There are fewmet loads of topics that I breeze by on this site, no one compelling me to click on them and view discussions I have no interest in. (Yes, I am looking at YOU Naploleonics and anything on the subject of Steampunk.)
So why does someone click on a subject that they KNOW has been answered to everyone's satisfaction back in 2008?

OFM +1

Not this again:

TMP link

Sorry, that last message was a repost somehow…

^^^irony.

"There is no such thing as a stupid question." Now, stupid answers, that's another story.

David G.

As google indexes nearly every tmp thread, just search using google…

Jaz
6sided.net

The TMP search can offer up different postings, have used Google a couple of times but usually comes up what I already know is on TMP. Sometimes a original posting doesn't answer all what someone needs, new information, sites or examples of what someone else has done reasons new questions since even a new posting on a old thread may not generate all the responses needed.

If a question has been asked once before on TMP does that mean that no one can ask it again?

There's a really sad phenomenon that has cropped up with the advent of search engines: people have become more rude and unwilling to respond with helpful information, so instead they act like superior horses arses and offer completely worthless responses like, "Why don't you just Google it."

I always want to reply, "No e? I can do that? Wow--I never knew that…"

I can't speak for others but when I ask a question in a hobby forum like this, it's because I want *fresh* information and I want interaction. I have most likely already researched the subject and am looking for information that I couldn't find in my search. I really don't care how many times the question has been asked--if I need the info, I'm going to post the question again.

I, as I'm sure do others, have a ceiling of tolerance for reading old posts. When I hit that ceiling or I can't find what I was looking for, I'm going to go directly to the vast, live pool of experience of fellow hobbyists and ask. Somebody will have the courtesy and decency to contribute helpful information.

I can understand why a person might not want to answer a question when they know the answer. Dozens probably read most questions and just pass right by.

Why some find it worth the effort to snipe I have no idea. Some strange insecurity thing, I expect.

Dantes Cellar,

You get my vote. I wholeheartedly agree with your comments.

I would like to add my dismay and sadness at the number of TMPers who view those threads that contain marvellous painted figures, or wargame battles, or that provide interesting information and the miserable so and so's cannot even leave a message of encouragement or thanks to the provider.

I am sure that face to face, at a show or shop, they would at least mumble a thanks to the provider. I think, especially where the viewer number has reached over 100, that frankly is shameful.

Thank you.

134

I agree with Dantes Cellar too.
I see TMP as a community, not as an encyclopedia. I consider a lot of people here frinds that I will never meet. Asking if the 67th Legion wore gold or silver earrrings is not the point. Asking friendly people is.