Is it important to contribute to older Fluther posts?
Asked by
ipso (
4481
)
June 19th, 2010
Section A
I should think the “shareholders” of the site (including all jellies who love this site) would prefer some effort to go into improving older posts as an ongoing concern.
What percent of your time do you spend searching, reading, or contributing to old posts?
What amount of effort, if any, do you think should go into that?
What’s the party line? What’s the word on the street?
Section B
Let’s use this very question as an example. I found this older question. As pointed out there, it’s assumed those jellies are gone or have stopped following the question. It seems to me posting there would be fruitless in getting current community feedback, but in the same breath I’m sure there are a few of you who feel this post is redundant noise (as well as being old hat). Is there a feed/view somewhere that shows activity to old posts, even if there is not GA showing in the community feed?
Section C
What about this? Q:“What is your favorite piece of art?” If I identify an older question and find I have something to contribute – a lifetime of research and pondering – and feel it may be of some value to someone – why would I necropost and contribute if skinny few are going to hear it – and it’s improper to ask the same question – and possibly not kosher to ask the same question in a slightly different way?
I’m new to the whole Q&A site thing. What’s the scoop?
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4 Answers
I don’t know if it is “important’ to do so. I just do sometimes. I answer old question just because they are compelling or just because I feel like it or just because they’re old. I don’t know why other people do it. I just answered your question because it had been almost a half an hour and no one else had answered it. People answer questions for their own reasons, I guess and I answer questions for my own reasons.
Old questions are pretty much dead questions, although occasionally someone finds them and answers them. Anyone who is still following the question will get notification that there is a new answer, and can choose to look at it if they want.
Old questions get recycled regularly, so if you see it in an old question, just wait a few days and you’ll probably see it in a new question.
If you absolutely positively have to say your say right now, you have two options—you can ask and answer your own question (which, while not illegal, is bad form), or you could go to another website where they allow you to post your opinions or stories without having to answer a question.
Most of us never stop following old questions we’ve contributed to, so if you post an answer to one, whoever’s still following it will see it. Also, anyone searching on that topic in the future (through Google or here) will find their way to the old question. In that sense, I do think it’s important to answer even ancient threads if you have something to contribute.
We do get duplicates all the time, and so long as there aren’t already 50 kajillion of the same question already out there (2012, anyone?), and it’s been a while since it was last asked, it’s ok to ask it again. This is especially true of questions like “What is your favorite piece of art?”, because the base of members changes over time, so you’re likely to get different answers each time it’s asked.
So far, I’d say you’re doing just fine. :)
Thank you @augustlan, and all, for taking the time to reply.
OP wrote: Q:“Why would I contribute?”
A: Because he doesn’t have any choice.
Oh – the OP originated from YARNLADY’s post here.
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