Searching Before Posting

October 4, 2001 10:02 AM

Haven't been here long, but I've noticed double posts occur on nearly every thread, usually followed by a "shit ... I double posted" post %}

How difficult would it be to add a quick search through the previous posts in a thread such that if the same post had already been made it wouldn't post it again?

Or would that just crunch the overtaxed server too much?

posted by walrus to feature requests at 10:02 AM (5 comments total)

It's from people resubmitting the form instead of waiting. I have to create a unique ID/transaction system, where every posting box has a unique identifier, which gets logged into the db, and new posts are checked against that.
posted by mathowie at 10:40 AM on October 4, 2001

That's a great idea, Matt, but as walrus suggested, wouldn't that tax the db?
posted by jpoulos at 11:52 AM on October 4, 2001

Yes it would tax the db server a bit more.
posted by mathowie at 12:04 PM on October 4, 2001

There's already a search on the URL happening, isn't there?

Oh, wait, I totally misunderstood your solution, which is quite good.

As a temporary and not as good solution Matt, could you hijack the comment form's "Wait" JavaScript, or does it flash to an infamous white screen and come close to timing out?
posted by cCranium at 9:13 PM on October 4, 2001

You know, I've been on Mefi over a year and double posted about once. Just wait, baby. Technology isn't always the answer.
posted by owillis at 11:02 PM on October 4, 2001