Since we are part of the larger Stack Exchange family of websites, I knew duplicates would be an issue well covered already. Duplicates about duplicates on two Metas, oh, the irony.
Required Meta Stack Overflow reading here and here and here and here.
My preference going in to this was to see users asking and answering duplicates lose reputation when the duplicate was closed. I don't care as much now, though I still wish more would spend time improving existing Q&As. Merging can only be done by a select few, but we can all edit and improve questions. Do so, it lessens the burden for moderators.
I propose a 'De-duplicator' badge, or some other way of rewarding those that take the time to seek out and link to dupes. This takes a lot of effort, many of us do it religiously, and there is no recognition nor reward granted.
Rewards need to be based on a very high percentage of your dupe flags being accepted (maybe 90-95%?), to discourage reckless flagging.
- 20 Dupes closed in one day with your 40 flags? Not bad Tiger. Here's a bronze.
- 200 in one month? Is that a silver badge in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
- One thousand duplicates flagged correctly? B-I-Double-G-I-E De-Double-duplicator come on over here and get your gold medal.
