why don`t people use the SEARCH facility

squeaky

maryb wrote:

sorry if this is a stupid question and yes, I promise I have read the stickies, but I have seen a few people refer to bookmarking a thread. Does this just mean adding it to Favourites in Internet Explorer or is there a facility on the forum itself?

I do use Internet Explorer to save interesting threads to save me having to do so many searches but if there's a better way of doing it, I'd be grateful for a pointer

Yes, bookmark is the same as "add to favourites".

And, no, there's no similar function on the forum.

HTH

chardonnay_2

honestly, if it annoys you don't read the thread! due to the book and word of mouth this part of the site will continue to be popular, i hope this thread doesn't put people off just cos you're annoyed.

also no-one knows others backgrounds, some may have learning difficulties, or lower intelligence therefore perhaps we shouldn't be too quick to chastise.

squeaky

MarkyMarkD wrote:

The search facility on this site is rubbish.

Sorry to be blunt, but it is.

I am sure people don't realise this (or at least, most people don't) but Google is far more useful for searching on MSE (or indeed any similar site which has a useless search engine).

It works like this.

If you want to look for "freeze milk" as earlier suggested, type this into Google:

"freeze milk" site:forums.moneysavingexpert.com

It will bring up lots of threads on the site containing those special words "freeze milk" in a phrase, and not lots of irrelevant stuff.

It's also quicker than the site's search engine, and it works without falling over.

Give it a go!

Yes, the search is rubbish, nobody is going to argue with you on that one; but the tips given above and ones pointed to in links can help members to get better results out of it.

It's also, as has been said, the reason why our Indexed Collections can be very helpful.

As for google... I think I'll just quote "somebody" from a much earlier thread...

Actually I've been a little disappointed with the google searches. The one you used there gives 15 hits (by post) across the entire MSE site.

A simple search on this forum alone (Old Style) gives 25 THREADS and goodness knows how many hits you'd get using advanced search and display by post.

Still, it's yet another tool in the battle to find things in our ever growing forums

MarkyMarkD

I'm not sure I understand your point, squeaky.

The "freeze milk" example someone else raised makes the point very well.

The forum search on "freeze milk" reveals 4 threads, none of which appear to be relevant at all.

The google search on "freeze milk" site:forums.moneysavingexpert.com reveals 8 pages of posts, many of which seem to be relevant.

I don't see the point in suggesting that people make the additional effort to use advanced search on the site when Google are far better at indexing things as it's what they do for a living.

My point is that Google searches find more, but what they find is relevant. The site searches find less, and most of what they find is irrelevant.

Agutka refers to millions of irrelevancies from a Google search - I don't believe that applies if you specify the site you wish to search as I've suggested. Obviously any generic Google search without a site specified is going to bring a broad mix of relevant and irrelevant results, but that's a different matter to what I'm proposing.

squeaky

My point is that it's been my experience that despite its shortcomings, a properly worded search here on MSE, using the tips given, generally out performs google.

Agutka

MarkyMarkD wrote:

Agutka refers to millions of irrelevancies from a Google search - I don't believe that applies if you specify the site you wish to search as I've suggested. Obviously any generic Google search without a site specified is going to bring a broad mix of relevant and irrelevant results, but that's a different matter to what I'm proposing.

Someone mention my name? I was replying to the post that despaired of people not googling for information - but instead asking in the forum.

I do like your search though, I've never seen that before. Thanks.

Phie

squeaky wrote:

Yes, bookmark is the same as "add to favourites".

And, no, there's no similar function on the forum.

HTH

Off topic I know, but p'haps helpful?!

You can subscribe to a thread if it really interests you though!

Here's how...

1. At the top of the thread click on THREAD TOOLS
2. Then click on SUBSCRIBE TO THIS THREAD

[

3. Next chose if you want to be notified of any replies



4. Click SUBSCRIBE
5. TA-DA :T :T



To see if there are any new replies in your subscribed thread Click on USER CP and it will bring up a list of all threads that you are subscribed to.

HTH
xx

furndire

SDennerly81
That is really helpful I didn't know that about the thread tools bit. I will have to go and explore the display mode now, and see what it does.
I often read instructions, but they don't sink in!!!! - pictures say a thousand words.

I think CFC hit the problem squarely on the head - not everyone is PC literate.

MATH

CFC wrote:

Math, I appreciate you edited your post - but I really think that comparing people asking for help on here to your kids is going too far. If you don't want to answer somebody's question, you don't have to. Just leave it to someone else who doesn't mind answering it.

What good advice. I took it about a year ago actually, which is why I now disregard 75% of this board and rarely post. I've noticed that some question threads are on the board for the best part of a day sometimes before people can be bothered to read/answer? I'm not the only one skipping all the done to death posts. Unfortunately if these posts are allowed to prolifigate the gems won't be worth seeking out and people will leave (as many have) the OS board, taking their wealth of knowledge with them. Leaving a board full of questions and no answers

squeaky

Also see the MSE A-Z guide by sra on this. Quick link straight there:-

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=36632