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The message for a duplicate question is wrong:

This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.

The correct action is of course improving the current question, not asking a new one. The misleading recommendation to ask the question again is completely wrong.

We moderators cannot edit that text, so it has to be fixed by someone else. :)

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  • nice catch.....
    – Bainternet Mod
    Commented Aug 6, 2013 at 14:27
  • Some of our users stepped into that trap already. I was wondering why, that’s how I found it. I don’t read those messages usually. :)
    – fuxia Mod
    Commented Aug 6, 2013 at 14:29
  • 2
    Not so sure about it. On Stackoverflow we have the same close reason so it's perhaps useful to take a look on meta there, too. Please take a look here: Duplicate explanation should encourage improvement of original - the answer suggests the OP sees a message that invites her to edit instead of asking a new one.
    – hakre
    Commented Aug 6, 2013 at 16:28

1 Answer 1

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I think this doesn't even go far enough:

This question has been asked before and already has an answer

From our experience with users who ask the same question again and again, I suggest something near to this:

This question has been asked before. If it has been asked by you, then please don't ask a new one, but improve your existing one. If the question has been asked by someone else and doesn't meet your needs, then go on and ask a new one.

I know it's not perfect, just a hint to take that into consideration as well.

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  • This is wrong. Most duplicates are asked by other users. The text should explain how to improve this closed question.
    – fuxia Mod
    Commented Aug 6, 2013 at 14:34
  • 3
    @toscho Not wrong. Like this one from just now. Happens often enough that I think it should as well be part of the notice.
    – kaiser
    Commented Aug 6, 2013 at 14:36
  • If someone duplicates her/his own question, we can leave a comment and delete that question.
    – fuxia Mod
    Commented Aug 6, 2013 at 14:45
  • Well, it wasn't deleted, but marked as duplicate :)
    – kaiser
    Commented Aug 6, 2013 at 14:48
  • 2
    Tempted to flag this as duplicate just for fun
    – GhostToast
    Commented Aug 6, 2013 at 18:07

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