Better search, fewer doubles

November 3, 2001 11:10 AM

I improved the search "previously found" feedback. Here is what you see if you search for something that was posted less than 5 times in the database, and here is what you see if you post a URL that is in there more than that. Hopefully this will cut down on double-posts.
posted by mathowie (staff) to MetaFilter-Related at 11:10 AM (9 comments total)

Very nice, Matt, but perhaps you should put something on that page that says that if you go ahead and post this link, you will be taunted mercilessly.
posted by fooljay at 12:24 PM on November 3, 2001

An enormous improvement, Matt.
I wonder - just a thought - if it would help if front-page posters could(or would be encouraged or made to)add a footnote linking their search queries and results. This would prevent conscientous posters from saying "I searched, folks!" and perhaps make less scrupulous posters from posting without searching beforehand. It would also, ideally, point to similar threads which might contribute to the discussion.


ex: link via whatever.com; Mefi search results here. Two other relevant threads.


All this in less pompous and less academic language, of course!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 1:19 PM on November 3, 2001

Those extra footnotes might cause unnecessary clutter.
posted by tomorama at 1:24 PM on November 3, 2001

Granted, but they might reduce double posts. I guess you'd have to weigh the two. Perhaps some clever person can devise an economical, non-footnotey way of doing it?
posted by MiguelCardoso at 1:28 PM on November 3, 2001

What about 9.11/anthrax/new war posts?

"A bajillion relevant posts here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here..."

:)
posted by tomorama at 1:31 PM on November 3, 2001

Heh, I was going to link all your valuable posts about double-posting(a real refresher course with a lot of good ideas)but then thought twice about it, not relishing the ensuing slaughter...
I confess I love footnotes, references, small print, bibliographies, quotations, citations, links-within-links and even the hated "double jerk". ;-(
Still, another thought: with this new system, if search results would have to be included for your post to go through, it would, at least theoretically, reduce double-posts and not clutter up the front-page.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 1:42 PM on November 3, 2001

Mefi search results here. Two other relevant threads

Internal search engine results aren't interesting and add nothing to the post itself.

The relevant threads may lead to splintering of the discussion or the obvious comeback comment: "well then sherlock, why didn't you post this to those threads as a comment instead of wasting our time here with a new thread?"
posted by mathowie (staff) at 1:54 PM on November 3, 2001

Rats, foiled again.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 3:49 PM on November 3, 2001

You use XP, Matt? Like it?
posted by pooldemon at 12:59 AM on November 13, 2001