I recently had my 2nd thread locked

[BigOleDummy]

for being a duplicate of another. Question. Is there a way to find out if my threads are duplicates before I try to post them? I looked and looked for this one and could find nothing. I don't start many threads so this is kind of worrisome to me as I don't want to screw up *blush* . Love it here and don't want to get banned or have my account curtailed because I can't figure something out. I AM a BigOleDummy you know ;D

[mr_lebowski]

1. I don't think duped threads being locked counts against you like getting posts removed

by jury decision ... which is to say, not at all.

I could be wrong ...

You can try the site search function ... near the top right of the screen, at least on PC.

[PunkinPi]

8. Dupe threads that are locked don't count against you. nt

[madaboutharry]

2. I didn't realize they still locked threads for that.

But I don’t know anything either.

[PunkinPi]

9. Only dupe posts in LBN. nt

[Hoyt]

3. Not sure why some "duplicates" get locked, while others proliferate.

Not sure I see the harm in duplicates, especially if thread title is specific enough to allow most people to ignore any duplicates.

[RKP5637]

4. I just do a site search sometimes to see if already posted. If it's something really popular/important

often for me at least it's already been posted. If you post in late breaking news, need to be sure it really is late breaking news and the source will have it listed as such, etc.

[customerserviceguy]

7. I wish that site search function

actually worked. I've wanted to go back to a thread that I'd seen a day or two earlier, and simply can't find it.

[RKP5637]

10. Yep, it can be flakey! n/t

[Maeve]

5. The only place that normally happens is LBN

You need to do a quick search before posting in that forum--try hitting the "Title of discussion thread" link to put them in alphabetical order and compare that to your headline, or the "start time" to see if something similar is already there.
And you aren't going to be in trouble for that kind of lock--it happens to most of us in LBN at some time and isn't a major issue.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

6. Latest Breaking News is the only forum with a no dupe rule

"Statement of Purpose
Post the latest news from reputable mainstream news websites and blogs. Important news of national interest only. No analysis or opinion pieces. No duplicates. News stories must have been published within the last 12 hours. Use the published title of the story as the title of the discussion thread."

Locked dupes there (or anywhere) have no impact beyond the locked thread. Hidden posts (either OPs or replies) will count against you. Five or more within 90 days will disable your ability to post. Posts that are alerted for TOS reasons are sent to a jury. If the jury votes to hide, the post is hidden.

In short dupes make work for the main forum hosts. That's all.
See the link: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=about&forum=1014

If you'd like to be a host...
You are eligible to serve as a Forum Host if you have a 100% chance of serving on a Jury.
This means that you must:
-Have posted more than 2,000 times
-Have 200 or more days of membership
-Have posted more than 20 times in the last 90 days
-Have had zero hidden posts in the last 90 days
-Be a Star Member

For now, no worries, you're fine as frog hair.

[Skittles]

11. I wouldn't worry about it

I learn a lot from locked threads because I see them first, then am directed to the originals