Posted by Gazornenplat on 11/11/05 13:52

Janwillem Borleffs wrote:
> There's nothing wrong with cross-posting.

OK, so why don't we all cross-post to all the groups? Because then all
groups would be the same, that's why.

Cross-posting is an evil because when it is used, it is almost always
abused. There is usually some idiot with a question about JavaScript,
cross-posting to a number of PHP and MySQL and ASP groups, or some berk
with a really simple question posting to a group for advanced php
professionals, or a little message "i want learn php will ur helping
soon urgent reply plz now" sent to 30+ groups.

If I see the same message in 2 or more groups, I assume that it has
been sent everywhere, might well be already answered by someone posting
just to one group, and so I ignore it, and anything else I notice by
the same author.

There is a place for cross-posting, to be sure. If I had a problem
specific to using mysql in a php environment, then posting to the most
appropriate php group and an appropriate mysql group seems in order (if
I can't find a php/mysql group). If there is a (non-advertising)
announcement regarding PHP in general and you are the only person to
know about it, them tell everyone - no problem.

And if someone DOES cross-post, then often the replies aren't
cross-posted, so you can (literally) lose the thread.

Cross-posting homogenises groups: every cross-post reduces the
individuality of both groups. You might argue that both groups have,
essentially, the same purpose - but they are different communities.
Cross-posting to 3 groups is not like getting 3 quotes for having your
house painted, because people will go out of their way to help. It's
like ringing three taxi firms for a taxi, and taking the first one
which turns up, and stuff the others.

And as for multi-posting...

Ian

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