When will computers figure out how to delete a double?

July 19, 2007 8:59 PM

Soooo...what happens when we get a much better post on the exact same topic just a few minutes later?
posted by allkindsoftime to Etiquette/Policy at 8:59 PM (37 comments total)

From what I recall seeing in the past, the later post is still considered a double. Is there any other recourse than for the later poster to add his links as comments in the first FPP?
posted by allkindsoftime at 9:00 PM on July 19, 2007

A few times the first poster has conceded that the second post was better, and graciously volunteered the first post to be deleted.
posted by Brittanie at 9:02 PM on July 19, 2007

The better one stays, the other gets nuked. The loser optionally whines about it in Metatalk, and gets pelted with rocks and garbage.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:04 PM on July 19, 2007 [2 favorites]

All I have is some shale and compost, is that cool?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:10 PM on July 19, 2007

Two posts enter, one post leaves.
<cue the Decapod 10 national anthem>
posted by blue_beetle at 9:11 PM on July 19, 2007

While I think it is obvious which one is better in this case, it is not always so clear cut. First one should stay and second one should be a post in the original thread. Unless, of course, the first poster agrees to be nuked.

Maybe it could be gamed on the computer to see which is the optimal post to leave up.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 9:11 PM on July 19, 2007

right now, i'm working on a computer program that will solve this game once and for all and post unbeatable fpps
posted by pyramid termite at 9:12 PM on July 19, 2007

damn you, johnnygunn, damn you
posted by pyramid termite at 9:12 PM on July 19, 2007

Let us know when it's working. We'll try it out on the comments first.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:17 PM on July 19, 2007

WHO RUNS BARTERTOWN?
posted by loquacious at 9:17 PM on July 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

Yay, a solution to droughts! Next up, famine!
posted by Eideteker at 9:18 PM on July 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

It seems the tradition has been to keep the first one..

However, in this case the question isn't relevant. The second isn't really a double, because it is about solving games in general. Meanwhile, the first is a crappy NewsFilter post.
posted by Chuckles at 9:20 PM on July 19, 2007

and then a solution to twisters ...
posted by pyramid termite at 9:21 PM on July 19, 2007

I've double-posted with a better post a couple times, and mine were deleted.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:24 PM on July 19, 2007

Wow! Two posts on near-identical subjects mere minutes apart! And... somehow... the world hasn't... ended?

We will have to recalibrate all of our theories, comrades.
posted by Kattullus at 9:29 PM on July 19, 2007

A few times the first poster has conceded that the second post was better, and graciously volunteered the first post to be deleted.

As the East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94, OP of the first post, has done in the comments of the second.
posted by shelleycat at 9:32 PM on July 19, 2007

Actually, on rereading they don't specifically do that, just mention that they should. Hmm.
posted by shelleycat at 9:33 PM on July 19, 2007

It seems we have been left home alone.

*grabs ingredients from the kitchen and mixes up flour, porridge and orange juice soup on the new carpet*
posted by Samuel Farrow at 9:51 PM on July 19, 2007

I vote for the second post.
posted by inconsequentialist at 9:57 PM on July 19, 2007

Us suffer bad. Want justice. We want Thunderdome!
posted by quin at 10:02 PM on July 19, 2007

It seems we have been left home alone.

*makes prank calls*
posted by amyms at 10:06 PM on July 19, 2007

Delete them both, I say.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 10:06 PM on July 19, 2007

What's any of this have to do with kabaddi?
posted by slogger at 10:06 PM on July 19, 2007

Can the first post be closed but not deleted?
posted by BrotherCaine at 10:10 PM on July 19, 2007

It's very frequent that the first post wins, but I think that's a bad idea, at least if they're within an hour or two of each other. I'd rather see taking the time to construct a really good post rewarded. What we get, instead, is the rush to get something up quick.

Now, if the prior post is a day or two old, I don't think it should be removed. And in the case of competing GOOD posts, the first should stand... but a superior second post should override a rushed first one, IMO.
posted by Malor at 10:17 PM on July 19, 2007

The second one is a lot better, and East Manny has given the nod, so let's go that direction.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:19 PM on July 19, 2007

Can the first post be closed but not deleted?

Alas, we have no such functionality. I've linked to it in the survivor, though.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:23 PM on July 19, 2007

And now for the elusive triple post of a double, with a primary deletion followed by an underhanded dismount for the gold!
posted by blue_beetle at 10:29 PM on July 19, 2007

Is it wrong of me to want animated Master-Blaster gifs in this thread?

Really, really want them?
posted by dreamsign at 12:54 AM on July 20, 2007

Is it wrong of me to want animated Master-Blaster gifs in this thread?

Yes.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:33 AM on July 20, 2007

The truly proper thing to be done in situations such as these is to have everyone listen to NPR on the way home from work. Now go look at my post about Brad Paisley.
posted by carsonb at 5:18 AM on July 20, 2007

Here we go again?

63088 vs 63091
posted by gomichild at 6:25 AM on July 20, 2007

You know the law: Two men enter, one man leaves.
posted by chunking express at 7:03 AM on July 20, 2007

Six of meh, a half dozen of whatever.
posted by y2karl at 7:29 AM on July 20, 2007 [2 favorites]

Two post enter, one post leave.
posted by iamabot at 9:18 AM on July 20, 2007

post industrial?
posted by infini at 10:24 AM on July 20, 2007

It depends which poster is in the cabal has the most details in the post.

Whew, almost gave it away
posted by misha at 1:30 PM on July 20, 2007