What is Crossposting?

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Could someone please explain to me what crossposting is? Is it when someone makes two similar topics in the same forum? Is it when someone makes two similar topics in different fora?

It is creation of two similar topics, generally in other forums. It is against the site rules as you noticed. Some members attempt to give more coverage to a topic they consider important by posting it to more than one forum but it annoys mods and other members and is forbidden. We will remove such duplicate threads.

Posting the same topic more than once in the same forum would serve no purpose anyway but it does happen occasionally due to bugs with the site software and people don't think their post has been submitted so they hit submit again then discover they've posted twice. Mods usually delete the duplicates as we stumble upon them.

The word "crossposting" goes back to Usenet days when it referred to posting the same topic in one than one newsgroup.

I don't understand why it's wrong. I can see why it would be wrong if it was done on the same forum, it's annoying but to see it posted elsewhere online doesn't bother me. I just don't feel obligated to respond to it again unless I want to copy and paste my response or post my other thoughts I have on it. I have seen same topics posted on two different websites and I have done it myself for more responses. My question is how are they going to know? Unless they do a search on your username (if you have used the same usernames for each forum) or they happen to be on the same forums as you.

On Fetlife it will be real easy to see because all they have to do it click your profile to see your activity and they will see what threads and posts you have made. I don't think they have a feature that allows you to hide your activity from anyone who isn't on your friends list like other websites usually do. Only way to hide it is if you block someone, then your profile will just be blank to them and they also have no way of sending you a message or sending you a friends request.

^ Crossposting refers to making the same post on the SAME SITE. Nobody cares if the same post is made on more than one site.

What if I discuss a topic on one forum and then wait a few weeks to discuss it on another forum? Is that against the rules?

Borderline; it depends somewhat on whether the first posting has dropped down and off the boards. However, most members browse more than one forum anyway so you will likely get all the responses you are going to, besides, some members will likely be irritated to find the same topic reappear elsewhere on the site.