Do you merge or lock similar threads?

When a thread is posted and there is already an existing one do you just merge the new one or lock it? I usually merge the new thread into the old one but sometime I will lock it depending on a few reasons.

 

It depends on the situation. If it looks like it might be a reply more than anything, then we'll just simply merge it with an existing thread, if it's a case of duplicate threads, then we'll just lock the extra threads and kindly remind the offender that we already have a thread going and we'll link them to the existing topic.

 

Usually, I just lock it and move it to the forum trash bin. I am not a huge fan of merging threads, and that's why I just dump them in the bin

 

Yea, I merge when its fit for being a reply, but if not then I just lock it.

 

Well, sometimes a person can start a new topic thinking it's a new discussion, but then a thorough search of the section can reveal that it's more than likely a reply to something else, so really a merge and friendly reminder would be all that's needed.

 

I think its better to merge the threads but in some situations, its better to lock or even delete the thread. But merge is always the best option.

 

Yea always prefer merging threads, but as I stated above sometimes its best locking them as it might not be much of a reply when you merge it.

 

Yeah, theres no point merging a thread if it contains pointless posts. Just fills the thread up quicker.

 

Depends, I do both but more often than not I'll merge. Prefer merging to locking.

 

Yea, locking just stops the discussion so thats why I also rather merge than lock.

 

All depends on the circumstances and each posts content, so i can't really give an exact thing i would do.

 

I usually will merge them, but sometimes it is better to lock them, it all depends on the situation

 

I rather merge but I find myself locking them most of the time as if I had merged them it wouldnt have added much to the discussion.

 

I've yet to have this issue. So far I've only had to split threads that branched out a little too much.

I think if I ran across it, I'd go the merge route. I don't see a reason for locking the new or old thread. As they are the same topic, it makes most sense to merge them together and allow them to work with one another.

 

I will try to merge them, but like the others have said if it wont add much to the discussion I will just lock it.

 

Yea merging a thread is the best thing to do. You wont have this problem until your forum starts to grow, and threads start to repeat themselves.

 

If it is exactly the same and there has been no replies I will trash it and pm the author to explain my actions, if there has been replies then I will merge and put a post to say topic merged.

 

If the posts are opinion pieces then I like to merge them to make one topic with lots of different opinions on a certain manner. If it is a news topic then I'll just delete it as there's no point have two saying the same thing.

 

No need to trash it though or lock it, merge it with the other topic and set up a redirect.

 

Apparently I have a much different opinion about this issue than almost all of the replies here. Surely it can't be because my situation is different than yours. I have a niche forum that offers support to professionals in a specific industry and the consumers and DIYers of those products and services. Some of you seem to fall in this category.

My feeling is that Google, et al, places more importance on a website with LOTS of good content. There's some weight given to age of the content though, so newer content blocks rate better than older content blocks - even if an old thread gets a few new replies added to it. Google provides the date of the content with the excerpt. I tend to skip following links to old content and know others do too.

I do not allow staff or members to tell people with questions to "search for it." I've been given that response on forums before and, when I do the searches, I find a number of results are just more of the same: members and staff telling noobs to go search. On my forum, I don't care how many times the same questions are asked. Almost always, the content of those questions and answers are different than what has been previously posted. Search engines like this and it has helped me get on the first page of results for a lot of things in my niche.

One of our rules is, don't post replies to older topics unless you are the OP. Start a new topic, even if it is very similar to existing topics. Leave topics that haven't received a reply in 30 days or more alone. This keeps threads short enough for the average forum user to scan through quickly and search engines indexing better quality content. When they index several threads of similar content, this makes us look better - you've all seen those "additional" results listed under the main result on Google and others.

We also split threads when they go off-topic. This keeps the existing thread focused and creates new threads with different content. And since we don't punish people for replying to an old topic, even though it is a rule, we fix their "mistake" by moving their reply to a new topic. Sometimes we will merge topics too. If a new member asks several different questions about a single project, but starts a new thread for each question, we merge the whole group together to make it easier for others to help them.

These are the differences in my philosophy of managing my forum. It works for me. Thanks for "listening."

Best R'gards,

Jim