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monsoon's avatar

Why do people get so annoyed by questions that have already been asked?

Asked by monsoon (2528points) May 27th, 2008

I can understand if it’s a jailbreak question, but come on. Especially if it’s not a question requiring a concrete answer, why not live and let live?

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

21 Answers

wildflower's avatar

Maybe because the song they identify with most is “Live and Let Die” by either Wings or G’n’R…..

jrpowell's avatar

It is actually one of the only things that doesn’t piss me off. And new people join everyday. I never went back and read/answered all the questions from before when I joined.

marinelife's avatar

I don’t mind if there has been some passage of time. If it was just a couple of days ago, I think that is a bit much.

monsoon's avatar

@wildflower, could be.

And I’m not really new, I just am not on fluther 24 hours a day like some people (not that there’s anything wrong with that). And I am not going to search every single thing I want to ask (particularly, like I said, if it’s not something I need a concrete answer to). I’m just not.

eambos's avatar

I don’t know why people are so annoyed by it. In my opinion it’s fine to ask a question multiple times as long as there will be new answers or stir up new discussion. What I dislike is web somone asks the same iPhone/mac/pc question that was asked a week earlier.

The question you asked about favorite songs is fine to be asked a few times because there are always new people, and people change their minds.

monsoon's avatar

Regarding that post, how would I know that there was a previous post a week ago if I hadn’t happened to be on when it was posted? I’ve actually tried searching for it, and couldn’t find it (given that I wouldn’t know the exact name, so I tried things like “song,” and “song represent”).

DeezerQueue's avatar

Not everyone is annoyed by it, but clearly some are. Why they are is something that I can’t answer, it’s a fairly subjective topic and almost unanswerable. Human behavior can’t always be predicted and is subject to change.

What may bother a person today may not bother them tomorrow.

wildflower's avatar

I did a search for ‘song’ and had to browse 3–4 pages of search results before I saw the one from last week (by which time Klaas had already posted the link) – and it only had 17 answers and probably isn’t active anymore, so in this particular case, I see no reason why you should have avoided posting a new question.

monsoon's avatar

Thanks guys. :) * sniff *

ccatron's avatar

For me, it seems kindof lazy to not use the search feature before posting a question. If you search for a question, you might end up finding more information about what you are looking for.

On the other hand, newcomers might not see an old question that they will have an answer for…in that case, their answer may never be heard…so, if a question is re-posted, that newcomer would have that opportunity to give an answer.

robmandu's avatar

I’m trying to learn not to be annoyed. Think I’m getting there.

I guess what will remain annoying to me are the lazyweb questions, though.

gailcalled's avatar

On the third hand, if the question has been asked before, and those of us who have been around for a long time remember and, it can provide lots of good answers, why not? I never get annoyed; I simply see myself as providing more useful info.

bluemukaki's avatar

I think people get more annoyed by bad questions asked again and again, and that feeling sort of cascades over into some of the good questions which can and should be asked over and over. I like how when a question gets asked again and it’s philosophical you can see how people change and how Fluther’s user-base has changed its opinion.

Mrs_Dr_Frank_N_Furter's avatar

I don’t really care is someone asks the same question as me. unless it is only like 2 days after me though. If it is like 4 days later that is fine with me. I would do the same thing. I’m lazy and don’t really like to have to search for questions. :D

marinelife's avatar

@Mrs._Dr. etc. You? Say it ain’t so.

Mrs_Dr_Frank_N_Furter's avatar

you mean me being lazy? it is sooooo so

da455hole's avatar

i dont know why they to get annoyed there are new people everyday
so there is nothing to get pissed of about!

SeekerSeekiing's avatar

I don’t understand why folks would get annoyed either….why they wouldn’t just scroll on by. I have seen where some folks offer in links—so the asker can get more info. That’s nice.

I also see folks just say it’s been asked before——HERE!!! That seems like an attempt to make themselves feel superior by picking on the asker.

But I could be wrong…who knows. All I know is that I have the ability not to click on a question that has already been asked!!!!

gailcalled's avatar

Reminding the newcomers of earlier version of their questions is not triggered by annoyance or the need to feel superior.. There is lots of information from Flutherers who don’t feel like repeating themselves.. New info can be interesting and informative, of course.

And it is part of the Fluther ethos…a useful tip for the new wave.

StopTheNwo's avatar

Some people on here just have issues.

YARNLADY's avatar

It’s not fair to people who have already answered a question, and now they have to either duuplicate their answer, or go unread. Plus, I hate having to wade through duplicate questions over and over to find the answers. I would much rather have them all in one place.

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