Closing vs Merging

[rockstarzzz]

Looking from pissed off user's perspective: If I created a new thread with lots of information in my first post and if it actually took me 20-25 minutes to just make that first post and then people responded me, we had discussion and then you as a moderator come along and close my thread because one already exists, would I me annoyed more?

I was just wondering as I was reading threads in WP8 forums and thinking to myself. If we know that a certain thread is already discussed a few times and we have a mega-thread, e.g. battery thread, should be just close that thread and make user re-post their saga or be kind and move their 3-4 posts or merge thread with 3-4 posts into the mega-thread so that they can still continue their discussion, just in a new thread? Will that sort of make us look all helpful to just direct their posts in right section/threads than just hammering them and make them re-post in a new location?

Any psychology expert here? - customer satisfaction etc.

 

[Dave Blake]

Keep in mind its all about the time line. If you can get all the posts in the new thread merged without a break that makes sense but if there are posts in the parent thread that will be in the middle of the merged thread that makes a confusing mess of the parent thread. Look through the thread and see if makes more sense to merge or close. Most of the time it is better to close the new thread. Keep in mind that the OP of the closed thread can always copy and paste his hard work in the parent thread. You might even suggest that he do that in the last post of the closed thread.

 

[rockstarzzz]

Yeah that time line is a b****! That was my first ooops moment!

I was thinking *if* a new battery thread does pop up, it would be sometime after today i.e. the day when that mega thread was stickied and posted so most likely the new posts will just be added in the end, but what you are saying makes sense. It will be easier in some cases, just to suggest a copy paste into a linked thread!

 

[stmav]

You're not going to please everyone. I closed a thread that you reported a week ago. Posted a link to another thread that covered it. The OP had no problem and didn't say a thing. But an ambassador reported my post saying I should've merged it. Discussed it with a couple of mods and they agreed close was the way to go. Sent the ambassador a pm stating the reasoning and that it was discussed among mods. Thanked him for understanding. His reply "just merge it". It was left closed and he's probably still bitter. Do what you think is best by the rules. Any doubt poll the mods. As I was told, Dave and these guys and gal will back you on just about everything.

 

[palandri]

.... As I was told, Dave and these guys and gal will back you on just about everything.

Backing each other up is extremely important. It's not unusual for a user to PM you looking for a second opinion on an infraction, an edit, a closure...

 

[HeyCori]

Another aspect to keep in mind is the tone of the thread. Sometimes it's better to close a flamebait thread than merge it with another.

 

[rockstarzzz]

You lot are already like a family with all these backing each other up stuff! *raises a toast*

I did have my share of thank you PM yesterday followed by a very bitter PM from unhappy chap from Android/Crackberry who openly bashed me in Introductions for closing his generic thread. I guided him to Dave's "All about Lumia 920" thread so that he gets a general feel and then go for specifics in separate threads. He din't like it even after my explanation in PM and this morning after sending me a PM suggesting he has put me on his ignore list and isn't intimidated by me at all, he opened fire! However, I think before I could read anything Paladinleeds was very active, edited post and kindly reminded him to not do it - such a family!

 

[Daniel Ratcliffe]

You lot are already like a family with all these backing each other up stuff! *raises a toast*

I did have my share of thank you PM yesterday followed by a very bitter PM from unhappy chap from Android/Crackberry who openly bashed me in Introductions for closing his generic thread. I guided him to Dave's "All about Lumia 920" thread so that he gets a general feel and then go for specifics in separate threads. He din't like it even after my explanation in PM and this morning after sending me a PM suggesting he has put me on his ignore list and isn't intimidated by me at all, he opened fire! However, I think before I could read anything Paladinleeds was very active, edited post and kindly reminded him to not do it - such a family!

I think he'll probably back off when he realises multiple mods are on his case. Going to add him to our Person of Interest thread though, just so all mods are ready to open dual-wielded fire as required.