Why some people keep posting similar discussions? Is mylot search function going against our expectation?
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
China
April 16, 2010 4:33am CST
Hi, friends. I don't know whether you've noticed this or not, but i have to be honest with you guys. I'm really really IRRITATED now. Only a few minutes ago, i read a discussion with almost the name topic as one of my discussions. This makes me wonder whether the mylot search function is working toward our expectation, or it is only utilized when people pursue reward. Some of you may attribute this to newbies' ignorance of mylot guidelines. But this mylotter who started a similar discussion as i did has already made over 100 posts, so he/she should not be considered a newbie in strict sense. Then, what's his/her purpose? He/she seems to put everything occurring to his/her mind down without searching first. I've no idea whether his/her discussion will get deleted since i'm quite ignorant of how mylot deleting system works. I'm just thinking why people can't spare a few minutes to go over guidelines, which is likely to benefit them.
3 people like this
11 responses
@setsuna26 (2751)
• Philippines
16 Apr 10
I think some newbies here are not aware that certain discussions were posted already and on their innocent mind when the post something for them its still something new. If the one who posted the discussion just posted around 100 posts then theres a big chance that he or she is not aware that somebody else already post something like that.Dont worry my friend if you encounter those kinds of repeated discussions then just try and ignore them.It wont hurt to just answer something else instead of that repeated discussion instead.
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
17 Apr 10
Yes, you're right. They seem to be excited about every idea that comes to their mind, completely unaware that such a topic might have already been discussed long before. I'm really bothered by this, but there is nothing else i can do to stop this from happening again, as "report" is not the thing i like to do. I figure i should just ignore them and go on with my own posts. How i wish everyone here can do some research before posting new discussions. Thanks for sharing. Have a good day!
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
17 Apr 10
I really appreciate your kind advice. That sounds great. At least it helps me to find out whether they're ignorant of the search function or they did it on purpose. I'll try it later. Best wishes!
@setsuna26 (2751)
• Philippines
17 Apr 10
I think one thing you can do is to still comment on their particular topic and try to tell them politely that hey my friend that topic was duscussed already and then maybe you can tell them how to use the search engine to check if the topic was indeed taken already. Some people are just ignorant of these basic rules so if we help them out i think it will work as well. try it im sure you will be even feeling good if you help someone correct their mistake. 
@charylady (419)
• Philippines
17 Apr 10
oops! i'm a newbie and i started 2 discussions only to find out (too late) that there were already similar topics. i was aware of the guideline about searching first but where do i search? how do i use the mylot search function? i would welcome tips on how to make my mylot experience enjoyable and fruitful. thanks :)
@climber7565 (2579)
• United States
17 Apr 10
OH I know what you mean. I have noticed some post requesting similarities and in fact one came through similar to mine too. But is all good the game is about originality and if they don't have imagination, you know that will not go too far. Don't let that get to you.
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
17 Apr 10
Thanks, climber. Your words somehow ease my anger. I'm thinking perhaps i'm too sensitive about this. After all, such things can happen to everyone as there are good chances that we may be thinking of the same topic at the same time. But it gives me a kind of feeling that my thoughts got stolen away from me, which makes me uncomfortable.
@madteaparty (2748)
• Japan
17 Apr 10
I have been noticing this for months, and is the reason why I'm using Mylot less lately, as I feel like I have read every discussion at least 3 times and that doesn't appeal to my interests 
.
I hope your post can inspire people on doing the effort of searching beforehand
.
I hope your post can inspire people on doing the effort of searching beforehand @chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
17 Apr 10
I'm feeling the same way as you do. It's hard for me to find interesting discussions to respond, especially recently. It seems as if people have run out of creative ideas and there is nothing else they can discuss but repeat old topics again which may attract newbies' attention, but to members who have been here for quite a long time, it's all disappointment.
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
18 Apr 10
No, you're not alone in feeling this way. Actually many people have such a dilemma. They really want to participate in discussions and get their voice heard, but the problem is they can only find a few discussions that really engage their interest. This is not difficult to observe. You must have noticed many veterans are less and less active these days. On the contrary, some newbies seem to be too active, yet they are frequently violating mylot guideline by either starting discussions with similar topics or just talking about nothing but money.
@bystander (2292)
• Philippines
17 Apr 10
that situation is endemic -- almost or nearly similar topics getting posted. i don't really know what is being done about it. probably, it is allowed, to give responders a broader choice in making a comment or response. they may want to respond on a topic posted by you on a topic but not on the same topic posted by another mylotter. it's preference on the one who posted but not on the topic. weird, but it seem, it is happening at mylot. but because of that... i have stopped posting new topics... for a while... i just respond and comment...
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
17 Apr 10
Hi, bystander. Hope everything is fine with you. Honestly, this discovery really frightens me from posting new discussions, fearing that mine may be considered as a duplicate of someone else's. Strangely, this discussion similar to mine has received a lot more responses than mine. I'm even a little bit jealous:-).
@bystander (2292)
• Philippines
18 Apr 10
i have had the same feeling when i saw such duplicities, even worse, when a similar situation that happened to you (posting a certain topic) also happened to me (an almost similar post getting more responses)... since then, i have not posted any new topic anymore and just participated in the discussions... just imagine, you thought hard for a topic and someone just picks up from where you started and gets good markers for it! ahh, it happens in many places... also in mylot... anyway, my friend, have a happy day... that's life... and it won't get better until it gets better...
@thersdae_me (327)
• Philippines
17 Apr 10
Yes I also observed that. I just finished posting a response to one comment and after a few hours, I found another discussion of the same topic.
Last week, I was responding to a topic also and I suddenly lost my internet connection. Since I was really interested to post my view on said discussion, I searched for it but was surprised to see first another discusssion of almost the very same title but around some days ago. Still, I posted a response.
Maybe they don't know or maybe they really want to open said discussion themselves and just played "blind"..lol
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
17 Apr 10
Thanks for responding, friend. Only they themselves can tell what's their real intention of posting similar discussions. This has been my second time of seeing a duplicate discussion of mine. What's more strange is those two similar discussions are all posted by two of my mylot friends. Some people suggest me to report, but i don't want to do it for fear that it may hurt my friends' feelings. Maybe i should just leave it out there and do not upset myself about it any more.
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
16 Apr 10
Although the search function works fine, there are so many thousands of people here on an hourly basis that many discussions seem to be duplicated. However, there is no excuse for someone duplicating your discussions, and you can report the violation.
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
17 Apr 10
Thanks for your attention, friend. Actually, i'm a little bit doubting about the search function. I don't know whether others once ha the similar experience, but i tried to search similar discussions before starting mine, the search result showed zero similar discussion. So i started that discussion which ended up being deleted. When i saw that discussion similar to mine, i tried to convince myself that the starter also did some research and he didn't meant to duplicate my discussion. But who knows the real case.
@worldbestwriter2008 (1633)
• Philippines
17 Apr 10
I think the reason why this thing happen, It is because the user doesn't have enough time to search similar discussion., some of them are excited to replies to the discussion which they believe to be interesting to them.
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
17 Apr 10
Oh, yeah. They are too busy to search first. Maybe they are just filled with so many inspirations that they need to get them written down immediately before they slip away. But is this a realiable excuse? Who can believe it? People can spare time to search simply for getting rewards, but they can't even spare a minute to find whether there are already similar discussions out there.
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
16 Apr 10
the search function works fine
and yes someone with 100 posts is still a newbie
it may be ignorance but its probably more due to just plain laziness
if you think there is a chance the discussions may get deleted than dont waste your time on them
just go on about your business and keep posting your own stuff
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
16 Apr 10
Thanks for responding, friend. That's exactly what i'm doing now. I won't waste my time any more on any discussions that have the possibility to get deleted. What i don't understand is why many people are reluctant to spare a few minutes to read the guideline. If they start topics that have already been discussed many times, not only their own discussion gets deleted, but those who respond will be influenced too.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
16 Apr 10
I believe that one of the main reasons that this happens is because of the fact that people think of something and they want to get it written down before they forget about what they were wanting to talk about. I know that I have been guilty for doing this in the past. It is hard to deal with when it is your discussion that is duplicated, but then again, most likely the later discussion on the same topic is going to be the one that ends up getting deleted.
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
17 Apr 10
I have my own share of this guilt, but it only happened once. It was about several months ago when I suddenly got an inspiration in my mind and instantly started a discussion. Of course, i didn't forget to search for similar topics before posting mine, but the search result showed no similar discussions found. Then one of my friends, who himself is a veteran here, reminded me that this discussion had a good chance of getting deleted. I told him i searched. But the next day, it was deleted as he had told me. I felt sad of course, but i took it as a lesson and so far i have no other discussions being deleted. Now the worst thing is this duplicate discussion i'm refering to was started by one of my mylot friends, and i felt embarrassed to tell him. I wonder if he read this discussion or not. It would be better that he realizes it by himself.
@kaylachan (71519)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
17 Apr 10
Most people realize doing a lot of posting is the way to get paid. Its the quickest and the most effective method of receiving an honest payment. But, what ends up happening more then likely is people like that are aware of their options but chose not to use them. Its that simple or so it seems to me.
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
17 Apr 10
Perhaps you're right. We are suggested to search for similar topics, but it is not something compulsory. So i think i can't really put blame on that person as he has every right to skip that important step. But again, i think he's a little bit selfish in doing that. Assuming that his discussion gets deleted, all the people who respond to his discussion will be affected too.
