<p><strong>As a moderator I look upon duplicate answers with prejudice.</strong>  Although there's nothing morally wrong with reproducing all or part of a previous answer that you authored (wherever it may have appeared) without specific attribution, there's nothing right about it either.  If something you posted elsewhere might be useful as an answer, <em>link to it</em> instead and provide a synopsis.</p>

<p>By default readers will understand that what is posted on our site is original unless advised otherwise. Violating that expectation can be perceived as deceitful.  Of course non-original materials may be reproduced under fair use guidelines and need to be properly attributed (that is, name the author and identify the publication in which the materials appeared).  There is a spectrum of quotation: at one extreme, we ask that links be explained so that answers can stand alone; and at the other extreme, we ask that an answer that otherwise would be a wholesale extract of other work--even your own--be condensed to a brief summary with a link to the original.</p>

<p>Note that deleting a duplicate post destroys no information whatsoever.</p>

<p>Note, too, that there is extremely low risk in offering a link as a comment: nobody (at least nobody acting in good faith) is going to delete such a comment.</p>
