I Don't Like Your Search Engine

I just wanted to post a quickie regarding my experiences with the search engine.

- There aren't any, I've stopped using it.

My only grip about this website is the search engine. I wish it had a format, maybe an addition of arranging the results by chronological order. This could be by 'date created' or 'popularity - stars/flags' or 'no. of replies'. Maybe you could implement a filtering mechanism. I don't know, something, anything.

Currently you use the search engine and you're presented with a list of strangely arranged similar topics. How useful that thread is, nobody truely knows until you open each and every single one of them. A painstaking and tiresome process (slight exaggeration).

The reason there are so many duplicate topics is (in my mind) one of two possibilities.
1- The postee could not be bothered to use the search engine
2- The postee used the search engine and still couldn't decipher what he was looking at

Another thing, I have tried a couple of times to bring back to life old threads that have only recently grabbed my interest. In short, nobody cares about them. They will continue to collect dust following my brief encounter. Why is this happening? Because everybody is obsessed with the creation of and collaboration in new threads. Why is this happening? Because over 'x' amount of years the user has been exposed to the daily creation of duplicate threads because the search engine is tedious.

What can ATS do here? I just wanted to vent my opinion.

Note: I apologise if this has been posted before. I used the search engine and got lost in the abyss.

That's a good idea to have the search engine have some sort of order to them.
It's sad too when there are some really good dusty older threads that don't get brought back to life. I'll still post on them, regardless if they get any action after my post.

Why are you hassling google man?

Bill Gates doesn't have anything to do with google.

a reply to: angryhulk

Maybe you could implement a filtering mechanism. I don't know, something, anything.

Ever tried google?

originally posted by: peppycat
That's a good idea to have the search engine have some sort of order to them.
It's sad too when there are some really good dusty older threads that don't get brought back to life. I'll still post on them, regardless if they get any action after my post.

If the search engine allowed the user to generate more meaningful results we would certainly see a reduction in duplicate threads. Older threads would gain interest and subsequently threads would have more substance. In turn the website would have more substance.

'Adult Entertainment' websites have better search engines.

a reply to: angryhulk

I use this on google:

site:abovetopsecret.com then a space then a search term. Works well for me. ATS search engine is well known for being a potato.

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: angryhulk

Maybe you could implement a filtering mechanism. I don't know, something, anything.

Ever tried google?

I'm offering my opinion on improving this website. Why should a user need to leave ATS, to search the ATS forum history using Google when there may be a solution to prevent outbound traffic?

a reply to: angryhulk

Why should a user need to leave ATS..

Thats the first thing I do when someone brings information about subjects or events.

Digging for truth is part here and part there. All search engines have problems, learning to use the ones that find the information you need and then bringing it here is key.

I think it's a great idea...which brought these ideas
to mind...

It would be nice if there was a way to have the
date under the title heading so we could see
when the initial topic was posted without having
to click on the post & maybe an automatic color
change of the letters in the headliner for
Breaking News after 24 hrs since it is no longer breaking?

Cheers
Ektar

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: angryhulk

Why should a user need to leave ATS..

Thats the first thing I do when someone brings information about subjects or events.

Digging for truth is part here and part there. All search engines have problems, learning to use the ones that find the information you need and then bringing it here is key.

Yes, you need to leave ATS to research a topic. That isn't what is being discussed here.

This is about knowing what is already in circulation on ATS, how active that thread is/was, when it was created, when the last post was, what forum it was posted in, how many replies/views/stars/flags did it receive, etc.

This is about aligning those threads with the thread you hoped to create. Will it be a duplicate? Couldn't you just reactivate an older thread?

This is about finding a thread that interests you, with ease, and contributing to that thread.

originally posted by: angryhulk

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: angryhulk

Why should a user need to leave ATS..

Thats the first thing I do when someone brings information about subjects or events.

Digging for truth is part here and part there. All search engines have problems, learning to use the ones that find the information you need and then bringing it here is key.

Yes, you need to leave ATS to research a topic. That isn't what is being discussed here.

This is about knowing what is already in circulation on ATS, how active that thread is/was, when it was created, when the last post was, what forum it was posted in, how many replies/views/stars/flags did it receive, etc.

This is about aligning those threads with the thread you hoped to create. Will it be a duplicate? Couldn't you just reactivate an older thread?

This is about finding a thread that interests you, with ease, and contributing to that thread.

There are many times I would like to contribute to a subject that has already been posted but are super old threads that even though the topic is interesting, folks have totally lost interest. I feel like the newer content would have to be far more vast than what was already started in a thread and yet I have only a small difference to contribute.
What you are stating makes so much sense.
It would be nice to get some discussion going back on a lot of the older threads.
I was thinking about how it would be nice to have more time stamps on the personal wall where one's posts are listed earlier, because I was looking for a post I made many many posts back.
Time stamps on the search engine would be super helpful.

a reply to: laminatedsoul

Yeah, BG is into mosquitos these days. Imagine a mosquite using a search engine, right?

a reply to: angryhulk

Agreed, it is so frustrating that I am willing to write them a new one for free.

a reply to: angryhulk

I agree with you

The search engine is, sorry to say, garbage.

I wish it were more like a Google search engine with a tool to search in terms of "most recent" viewing

And the key words search is not very useful either.

I prefer to search for topics with a time function associated with my search

a reply to: angryhulk

A lot of us never use it. Question Google slash(/)ATS and your answer will come up there for ATS.

Been this way for years....

originally posted by: Jonjonj
a reply to: angryhulk

I use this on google:

site:abovetopsecret.com then a space then a search term. Works well for me. ATS search engine is well known for being a potato.

That used to work great, I've used it in the past too. But I find that it doesn't work nearly as well as it used to. I suspect Google has crippled it somehow, it's either that or they're not crawling ATS as much anymore, or there not displaying as much of what they have. I can't explain exactly why it doesn't work as well as it used to, but it doesn't.

a reply to: angryhulk

Couldn't you just reactivate an older thread?

Wen you post a reply in a thread it appears at the top of the 'recent posts' page and the 'live' page. Thats loosely called 'bumping' a thread , resulting in fresh activity (maybe).

If an older thread interests you and you want to 'reactivate' interest in it, reply to the op and a few other posters there, especially the ones that added substantially to it in the first place. Their posts in a thread can be reviewed all at once by clicking on the "little green man" at the bottom of a members avatar and "view posts in thread" selection in the drop down menu.

Once you add the replies in the thread, the members that posted there and the op might reply, all this activity will show up on the 'recent posts' page and maybe rekindle some further interest.

Its an uphill climb, I've done it, it works sometimes.

Hope that helps.

You cold also think of a fresh approach to 'said dead thread' and start a new thread, linking to the old one in your OP. Updating information on the subject is welcome if you play it right, the mods will allow it.

originally posted by: mysterioustranger
a reply to: angryhulk

A lot of us never use it. Question Google slash(/)ATS and your answer will come up there for ATS.

Been this way for years....

It shouldn't be though.

originally posted by: Skywatcher2011
a reply to: angryhulk

I agree with you

The search engine is, sorry to say, garbage.

I wish it were more like a Google search engine with a tool to search in terms of "most recent" viewing

And the key words search is not very useful either.

I prefer to search for topics with a time function associated with my search

Whether I'm searching for a car, or watching porn, there is always a functioning search engine.

ATS should be able to provide this.

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: angryhulk

Couldn't you just reactivate an older thread?

Wen you post a reply in a thread it appears at the top of the 'recent posts' page and the 'live' page. Thats loosely called 'bumping' a thread , resulting in fresh activity (maybe).

If an older thread interests you and you want to 'reactivate' interest in it, reply to the op and a few other posters there, especially the ones that added substantially to it in the first place. Their posts in a thread can be reviewed all at once by clicking on the "little green man" at the bottom of a members avatar and "view posts in thread" selection in the drop down menu.

Once you add the replies in the thread, the members that posted there and the op might reply, all this activity will show up on the 'recent posts' page and maybe rekindle some further interest.

Its an uphill climb, I've done it, it works sometimes.

Hope that helps.

You cold also think of a fresh approach to 'said dead thread' and start a new thread, linking to the old one in your OP. Updating information on the subject is welcome if you play it right, the mods will allow it.

I understand all that. I explained the issue in the opening post.

"Another thing, I have tried a couple of times to bring back to life old threads that have only recently grabbed my interest. In short, nobody cares about them. They will continue to collect dust following my brief encounter. Why is this happening? Because everybody is obsessed with the creation of and collaboration in new threads. Why is this happening? Because over 'x' amount of years the user has been exposed to the daily creation of duplicate threads because the search engine is tedious. "