Shenan
Fri Apr 04 18:22:52 PDT 2008
For the original conversation in its entirity:
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers/browse_frm/thread/6434023eb751fab5/a03c5f7b235949f6?lnk=st&q=#a03c5f7b235949f6
** Notice this is just the link for the conversation that was started by the
original poster in ONE of the MANY newsgroups. If it had been crossposted
as opposed to multiposted - they would all contain the same information and
discussion and still be seen by everyone in each of the individual
newsgroups as well.
01steven wrote:
<snipped>
> So, what do I do????!!!
Malke wrote:
> You have multiposted this all over the newsgroups and you have
> lengthy answers in several of them. See below for why multiposting
> is Bad and find the answers in the other groups.
>
>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossposting
>
http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm - multiposting
>
> If you have forgotten where you posted or can't find your post, use
> Google Groups Advanced Search and search for your name
01steven wrote:
> Thanks- I know I've posted this in a few groups. In my experience
> it's the only way of getting a decent answer. As proved in this case
> whereby although I have 'lengthy answers' as you said, they're not
> offering anything I don't already know and if my original post had
> been read properly these sort of answers wouldn't have been posted.
John John (MVP) wrote:
> Multi-posting wastes everybody's time, including yours! Instead of
> getting a concerted effort to help you solve your problem you are
> getting answers which may have already been provided by other
> respondents in other groups. Additionally, if a potential helper
> reads a reply from another poster he may be able to add supporting
> information or additional information to clarify the previous
> answers. When you multi-post none of this happens, it is truly a
> waste of time, many helpers don't bother offering help once they
> see that a post has been multi-posted, instead of increasing your
> chances of obtaining help you decrease them.
01steven wrote:
> Appreciate your opinion, but I have to say I have had a lot of
> experience in forums and simply don't agree with you at all!
> You get lots of people who ONLY look at one group so this way you
> maximise your chances of getting a result!
Incorrect.
Multiposting is manually posting the same message in several newsgroups
individually.
Crossposting is posting the same message in several newsgroups all at once.
Let's say you have access to three newsgroups. We'll call them A, B & C.
You wish to post in all three of these newsgroups because you feel your
topic is relevant to all three and you know that some people who frequent A
never go into B or C and so on for each of those who might be in any of the
single or multiple newsgroups. What would be the most efficient way to make
sure everyone in all three newsgroups sees your posting and can respond to
it? Crossposting or Multiposting?
Crossposting.
This allows (just as multiposting would) everyone in each of the three
newsgroups to view your original message. The difference comes when people
respond (with a proper newsreader) to your original posting. If you
crossposted, they will respond in ALL three newsgroups - no matter if they
have ever or will ever actually open any but the newsgroup they actually
read your posting in. This is good for you (you can usually just check one
newsgroup for ALL answers from the three newsgroups you crossposted into)
and good for those answering (less bandwidth used downloading a message they
read in another group, they get to read responses from people they may have
never ran into as they do not go into one or more newsgroups that these
people may only visit, etc...)
Multiposting means you have to check all three newsgroups and you have
started three seperate conversations. They have no relationship to one
another but you.
Equate it to being in meeting with 3 other people. You and person one are
in a conference room in New York city. Person two is in Australia and
person three is in Spain. Crossposting would be like teleconferencing with
the three people. You and person one are in the same room - no problem
there. However - if you multipost, it is like asking person one a question,
catching a flight to Australia and asking person two the question and then
catching a flight to Spain and asking person three the same question. Then
you have to go back to New York city to get Person one's answer... Same for
the other two. If you crossposted (teleconferenced) - you can ask the
question while in the room with Person one (and on the phone/video
conference call) with Person's two and three and they all hear and can all
participate in the same discussion about said question.
Having multiple people answer the same question where they can all see the
answers will help ensure you get the correct answer or many correct answers.
It cuts down on inaccuracy because somone else may chime in and say that
someone else is incorrect. Truthfully - there is little disadvantage in
crossposting (other than the fact that many people do it all the time and
without thinking.) Mutliposting has little to no advantage. It usually
annoys people who read the same message more than once, can lead (more
readily) to incorrect answers and does not allow for cross-group discussions
that might lead to a better answer than even hoped for.
Just look at your profile... And how many newsgroups you posted
(multiposted) this same question to and how different the conversations
went....
http://groups.google.com/groups/profile?enc_user=IcWAlBcAAACB7RI0i8IiqxXvKryRRLknHqZiDvCVswhrZ6TQxKj0ww
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html