Can't send two of the same message

Development

AI-generated summary

The discussion revolves around the inability to send duplicate messages in a topic via the Discourse API, as posts with identical content are blocked unless the user is an admin. macdja38 notes that the API works initially but fails on subsequent identical posts. zogstrip confirms this restriction and humorously questions the use of a discussion platform for chat-like repetition. Falco suggests posting as an admin and then changing the author, but macdja38 finds this undesirable. Stephen advises avoiding duplicates by using pinned announcements or targeted groups. macdja38 clarifies the context is topic-based, not PMs, and zogstrip emphasizes that repetition with identical wording is ineffective and counterproductive.

1

If I create a post in a topic using the api here it works the first time but does not work on subsequent requests till the raw is changed.

2

Yes, you can’t create posts with the exact same content as another post (except if you’re an admin).

3

I have an admin api key? Any way to have the rate limits & permissions from that apply but still make the post as the user?

4

You will need to post as admin and then issue another API call to change the author.

5

Users will see the post being sent by the admin user then changing users though… that’s not ideal. Is their any better way?

6

Yes, if the message is identical then don’t send duplicate PMs. Post it as a pinned announcement.

If it’s only going to a subset of users create a group and category which identifies them if one doesn’t already exist.

7

I’m talking about messages in a topic. With thousands of posts in a topic, it’s conceivable that the same thing may have to be said twice by the same user, no?

8

I hope you’re not using a discussion software as a chat software :wink:

In a discussion, repetition can be useful but only if you do it right. If you want to get your point accross, saying it over and over using the exact same words won’t work (and often has the opposite effect). You hve to put yourself in the shoes of your audience and adapt your words accordingly.