If you have a good answer to a question that has been asked before, is it OK to recycle it?

Some questions tend to pop up regularly around here. I don't know if that's because the search features aren't fully enabled - or people just like trying to get different answers. If a question you have answered before is being asked by a different member, do you have any problem with recycling your old answer or seeing someone else do so?

I'm not so concerned with fact-oriented questions, (what's the capitol of Algeria? Etc. ) as these answers obviously will not change.

Asked by CarpeNoctem 58 months ago Similar Questions: answer question asked recycle Recent Questions About: answer question asked recycle Amazon > Askville.

Similar Questions: answer question asked recycle Recent Questions About: answer question asked recycle.

I was thinking about this just the other day, as I used an old answer of mine again. I asked this question once and all who answered said they did re-use answers. They were careful to note that, when they did, they changed a little something or mentioned that that their content was being recycled.

At the time, it seemed reasonable to me to say it was a recycled answer. Enough time has passed and I’ve done this enough now that I think you don’t need to say you’re using an answer over. What purpose does it serve, really?

The original answer is probably buried by now, or the asker wouldn’t be asking the question. And even if she did see it and wanted more answers, it was up to her to specify in her question that she wanted new answers. Sometimes the answer needs to be changed a bit.

The new asker may be coming from a different perspective than the previous one, something may have changed in your thinking since you wrote the original answer, or you may just want to make your answer more personal to the asker. I think it’s great when people do that. So, yes, I think it’s fine to use an answer over again.

In fact, I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t. If something you once wrote is still true, there would be no reason not to say it. And if you’d already said it the best way you could, it would be a waste of time to try to find a way to say it differently.

Sources: Personal opinion .

I think so, as long as you acknowledge yourself as a source. Often with weight-loss questions, I will want to say pretty much the same thing, but it takes a good amount of time to make a good, coherent write-up. So I'll cut and paste my old answer, but acknowledge that I took it from there, and then add commentary as necessary to personalize it further (so that they have everything they need at their fingertips when they come back and look at their question).

I'd also add a link to the other question, just in case the asker wants more ideas and viewpoints.

Yes... Yes I think it is okay to recycle your own writing! But not someone else's! I don't usually do this, because each question seems a little different to me.

But I have taken parts of past answers I have written and altered them, usually adding details, so that they fit the current question. Once common Baby Question I have done this with is "how do I feed my 6 month old solids". One caution, when you are doing this make sure you take time to read over the question and answer and make sure the answer fits the question.

You wouldn't want people to say, "what is he talking about", and give you a bad rating.

Copy as you wish, but if I were you I would first notice the asker. I did this before. And yes, the ability to search any questions would have helped tremendously.

In the survey Askville sent to us, that is one of the options listed as "what do you want to implement", and I listed this as one of the "must have now" features. And it should be on top of the home page so that others can see it right away. This way at least most people will search first before they ask.

Obviously, there are always people who don't want to lift a finger, but hopeful they are in the minority. Also, there might be questions that are appropriate to be asked multiple times, for example, you don't get good answers last time around, or you want more than 5 answers for the same question, or you want to sample a different group of people... Just some thoughts. Boxing's Recommendations Recycle!

: A Handbook for Kids Amazon List Price: $7.99 Used from: $3.37 Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (based on 2 reviews) .

1 OK now this is creepy. I was JUST thinking about asking a repeat opinion question because there are so many new folks around. Get out of my head!

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OK now this is creepy. I was JUST thinking about asking a repeat opinion question because there are so many new folks around. Get out of my head!

" "Askville does not let me answer an old question. What is the deal?! " "In Askville, how do I search for a question that may have already been asked?

" "I don't want to know when I ASKED my Askville question, I want to know when someone last RESPONDED. " "What question(s) do you wish someone had not have asked in Askville? Why?

Askville does not let me answer an old question. What is the deal?!

I don't want to know when I ASKED my Askville question, I want to know when someone last RESPONDED.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.