Cross-Posting To Here And Email Lists

Question

[Sean Davis]

I know this is WAY off-topic, but I am curious as to what folks think about the level of cross-posting here and on email lists that are somewhat more specific; I suspect many of us follow both. I have seen several questions that are asked (in some cases nearly verbatim) on Biostar and on an email list. In some cases, the email list has already answered the question. Is there any guidance about the correct way to respond to such queries here? Is a link to an email response to the question considered rude?

[Andra Waagmeester]

This question is more appropriate on: http://groups.google.com/group/biostar-central

[Casey Bergman]

This thread has already been discussed on the Biostar Central Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/biostar-central/browse_thread/thread/2b128dd99d317703/946227e50b3229b2?lnk=gst&q=bergman#946227e50b3229b2

[Michael Schubert]

The way that it has been handled here was mostly that cross-posting is fine as long as you link it and summarise solutions you get from the ML.

[Sean Davis]

Thanks for the pointers to the biostar-central group. That about covers it.

Answer 1

[Giovanni M Dall'Olio]

Try to avoid cross-posting if not necessary.

If you absolutely need to do it, declare it when you write both messages. For example, start the two messages with the phrase 'crossposted from: ...'.

crossposted from: biostar/......

Hello, I need help for...

Moreover, if you get a correct answer in one of the two places, report it in the other place; so people won't waste their time answering a question that has already been solved. In general, avoid wasting other people time as much as you can.

Answer 2

[Istvan Albert]

Copying Casey Bergman's comment to an answer:

This thread has already been discussed on the Biostar Central Google Group: