(Vanity) Suggestion for FRs IT Dept. re: duplicate posts

me | 8/29/07 | me

[the_devils_advocate_666]

I would think that FreeRepublic is primarily a database driven web application. When someone creates a post some table or tables are update with 5 basic pieces of information:

1. The post being replied TO
2. The user posting the message (FROM)
3. The contents of the post
4. A timestamp documenting when the post was created

Given these bits of information how hard would it be to simply not allow posting a duplicate of 1, 2, and 3 within a certain time threshold of 4 (maybe 1 minute)? Why not spend the hour it would take to implement this and save everyone the embarrassment of duplicate posts and the subsequent annoyance to others?

[the_devils_advocate_666]

Give me the source code and I'll do myself for you.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

Uh oh, that's gonna hurt... "do it myself"

[the_devils_advocate_666]

Uh oh, that's gonna hurt... "do it myself"

[Tijeras_Slim]

This really isn’t your day. ;)

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

Even simpler.... (I love simple)

Just put a little client side script that disables the post button after it has been hit once.

[MrB]

Doesn’t look like you got it implemented... double posting and all...

[ladtx]

Example of a duplicate post?

[the_devils_advocate_666]

You think there might be a chance I did that on purpose?

[the_devils_advocate_666]

I’m not sure, but it may be possible to create a duplicate post by doing a simple refresh... I’m about to give it a try.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

Nope, that didn’t do it.

[Pistolshot]

Naw. Doesn't work that way.

:)

[spunkets]

"I'll do myself for you."

You on Sen Craig's campaign team? "Why not spend the hour it would take to implement this and save everyone the embarrassment of duplicate posts and the subsequent annoyance to others?"

It would slow down the server, because each and every post would reqiure the extra time it would take to do the search and compares. That effect would be magnified by more folks hitting the reply button again, because the page didn't change quick enough for them. If folks are embarassed, or annoyed, they can use the phone book to locate a variety of psychiatric options.

[MARTIAL MONK]

How about a feature that appears at the top of every page in large flashing red letters:

MARTIAL MONK IS A MORON WHO JUST POSTED A DUPLICATE. SIC 'EM

No one would ever post a thread again.

[Wuli]

I doubt that the the text, the “content” of the post is any type of highly indexed database field.

If the “content” is in a field of its own, that field is most likely either a “memo” type field or a single unlimited string that includes, bit by bit, the formating as well.

It would not be indexed in such a way as to say in one question - if string x = string y.

Determining duplication of the entire text of a post within FRs available means, most likely requires a looping sort and search operation that must, word by word, find all the words in the text and find them in the same sequence.

I would not recommend FR spend the effort to do it. Besides the cost, it will likely greatly slow down the length of time from submission of a new post to its appearance on the viewable pages.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

It would slow down the server

I'm not buying that. Index the appropriate columns on a table or two (if they aren't already) and the required SELECT query would certainly not cripple the database server.

[txhurl]

It has to do with a counter.

[JAKraig]

For a while it seemed that every time I would reply it would get duplicated. I was not hitting the post button twice, I was very careful not to do that.

[JAKraig]

For a while it seemed that every time I would reply it would get duplicated. I was not hitting the post button twice, I was very careful not to do that.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

I doubt that the the text, the “content” of the post is any type of highly indexed database field.

I doubt it, but I do not know the database engine they are using or the datatype of the field that stores the "content".

[Xenalyte]

When someone creates a post some table or tables are update with 5 basic pieces of information:

The post being replied TO
The user posting the message (FROM)
The contents of the post
A timestamp documenting when the post was created

I can't possibly be the first to note that this is only four things.