Search within comments? February 11, 2008 10:30 PM Subscribe
I apologise if this has been covered before, but is there a way to search within a given users comments? I want to find a link I posted ages ago, but my search terms are way too general for a regular MeFi search.
We have a version of this working behind the scenes, but we're wrapping up a whole bunch of fixes to the main search right now so it'll be rolled out after that (maybe by the end of the week).
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:55 PM on February 11, 2008
posted by mathowie (staff) at 10:55 PM on February 11, 2008
Thanks ALongDecember, but still no luck.
And thanks Matt, that would be a truly wonderful pony!
posted by maryh at 11:03 PM on February 11, 2008
And thanks Matt, that would be a truly wonderful pony!
posted by maryh at 11:03 PM on February 11, 2008
Translation: this feature is 98.6° F.
posted by mumkin at 12:31 AM on February 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by mumkin at 12:31 AM on February 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
My longest-running requested feature, I think.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:31 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:31 AM on February 12, 2008
This will be awesome for scanning opponents' comment histories for hypocrisy.
posted by grouse at 3:33 AM on February 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by grouse at 3:33 AM on February 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
I have no idea how these people got their comments wedged into their scanners, or why.
posted by languagehat at 5:42 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by languagehat at 5:42 AM on February 12, 2008
Note: this feature is shit hot.
*takes temperature of shit*
posted by middleclasstool at 6:07 AM on February 12, 2008
*takes temperature of shit*
posted by middleclasstool at 6:07 AM on February 12, 2008
This will be awesome for scanning opponents' comment histories for hypocrisy.
Which is one of the fixes we're working on.
What's it called when someone starts rooting through someone else's comment history like a truffle hog to get that perfect AHA zinger from something someone said half a decade ago? We'd like to discourage that behavior, even as we'd like to make search much much better.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:18 AM on February 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
Which is one of the fixes we're working on.
What's it called when someone starts rooting through someone else's comment history like a truffle hog to get that perfect AHA zinger from something someone said half a decade ago? We'd like to discourage that behavior, even as we'd like to make search much much better.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:18 AM on February 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
I think it's often referred to as "trawling," (that truffle hog business thing) but I'm not sure why I think that.
posted by cgc373 at 6:50 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by cgc373 at 6:50 AM on February 12, 2008
What's it called when someone starts rooting through someone else's comment history like a truffle hog to get that perfect AHA zinger from something someone said half a decade ago?
I would call it looking for evidence for an ad hominem historiam argument - e.g., attacking the person who states the comment on the basis of something they said in the past, rather than attacking the comment itself.
I don't think it is necessarily invalid, BTW. Certainly everyone has the right to change their minds on matters of substance. But it is not uncommon to see someone post callouts on MeTa against people doing things that the poster him/herself has done in the past. Glass house, stones, etc...
posted by googly at 7:16 AM on February 12, 2008
I would call it looking for evidence for an ad hominem historiam argument - e.g., attacking the person who states the comment on the basis of something they said in the past, rather than attacking the comment itself.
I don't think it is necessarily invalid, BTW. Certainly everyone has the right to change their minds on matters of substance. But it is not uncommon to see someone post callouts on MeTa against people doing things that the poster him/herself has done in the past. Glass house, stones, etc...
posted by googly at 7:16 AM on February 12, 2008
Which is one of the fixes we're working on.
Thanks a million times for that. I'd adore having full search capability of user comments, but for some users here that'd be like giving a shotgun to an alcoholic monkey.
posted by middleclasstool at 8:01 AM on February 12, 2008
Thanks a million times for that. I'd adore having full search capability of user comments, but for some users here that'd be like giving a shotgun to an alcoholic monkey.
posted by middleclasstool at 8:01 AM on February 12, 2008
I would call it looking for evidence for an ad hominem historiam argument
I believe that anyone trawling through my posting history looking for something that they can use against me, will quickly discover the works of a megalomaniacal misanthrope who likes his booze and has a penchant for suggesting violence as a first course of action in situations that may not warrant it.
To anyone who discovers this, I can only say that my account was hijacked all those times. In reality I am a likable sort who always says 'please' and 'thank you' and nearly never stabs people 'cause it's funny.' I'm an amiable guy who you would feel completely at ease with working behind you with a power-tool. The kind of person who you would never think of being a 'biter' let alone a 'chewer'.
In other words, you have nothing to be afraid of.
Trust me...
posted by quin at 8:44 AM on February 12, 2008
I believe that anyone trawling through my posting history looking for something that they can use against me, will quickly discover the works of a megalomaniacal misanthrope who likes his booze and has a penchant for suggesting violence as a first course of action in situations that may not warrant it.
To anyone who discovers this, I can only say that my account was hijacked all those times. In reality I am a likable sort who always says 'please' and 'thank you' and nearly never stabs people 'cause it's funny.' I'm an amiable guy who you would feel completely at ease with working behind you with a power-tool. The kind of person who you would never think of being a 'biter' let alone a 'chewer'.
In other words, you have nothing to be afraid of.
Trust me...
posted by quin at 8:44 AM on February 12, 2008
I trust you, quin. You liked the Firefly fanfic without even knowing who Brust was. That's quality aesthetic sensibility, right there, mister.
posted by cgc373 at 9:33 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by cgc373 at 9:33 AM on February 12, 2008
Which is one of the fixes we're working on.
What's it called when someone starts rooting through someone else's comment history like a truffle hog to get that perfect AHA zinger from something someone said half a decade ago? We'd like to discourage that behavior, even as we'd like to make search much much better.
Wait... Lemme get this straight: You're going to make search better, and then immediately neuter it to thwart a hypothetical misuse that isn't even explicitly forbidden? Wouldn't it be simpler (and more respectful, and hence leading by example) to come right out and say "rooting through someone else's comment history like a truffle hog to get that perfect AHA zinger from something someone said half a decade ago" will get your comment deleted? Then add a "Naughty Truffle Hog" flag and delete away. 'Cause speaking only for myself (and the sockpuppet I rode in on), I'm far more likely to root through someone else's comment history like a truffle hog to praise that perfect comment someone said half a decade ago that I can't quite remember. We don't need Nanny Search, thank you. Better just not to develop a feature than to roll it out with disdain for your users.
posted by False Dichotomy at 10:08 AM on February 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
What's it called when someone starts rooting through someone else's comment history like a truffle hog to get that perfect AHA zinger from something someone said half a decade ago? We'd like to discourage that behavior, even as we'd like to make search much much better.
Wait... Lemme get this straight: You're going to make search better, and then immediately neuter it to thwart a hypothetical misuse that isn't even explicitly forbidden? Wouldn't it be simpler (and more respectful, and hence leading by example) to come right out and say "rooting through someone else's comment history like a truffle hog to get that perfect AHA zinger from something someone said half a decade ago" will get your comment deleted? Then add a "Naughty Truffle Hog" flag and delete away. 'Cause speaking only for myself (and the sockpuppet I rode in on), I'm far more likely to root through someone else's comment history like a truffle hog to praise that perfect comment someone said half a decade ago that I can't quite remember. We don't need Nanny Search, thank you. Better just not to develop a feature than to roll it out with disdain for your users.
posted by False Dichotomy at 10:08 AM on February 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
False Dichotomy, I don't think you actually got it straight, is the thing. There's pretty much no reasonable technical way to prevent people from going meanspiritedly spelunking. We know this, and I don't think Jessamyn was suggesting anything like a Nanny Search; in fact, feedback to people who do for whatever reason seem to be being jerks is probably exactly and specifically the course of action open to us.
"We'd like to discourage that behavior" is a literal statement. We'd like to discourage it: hey, people? Please don't do that. Please don't be jerks. Most of you are never jerks at all; as for those of you who are sometimes jerks despite being pretty fundamentally okay people? Please try not to be jerks about this, okay?
"Which is one of the fixes we're working on" is what is known in some circles as a joke. There is no fix. It'd be impossible. We know this.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:28 AM on February 12, 2008
"We'd like to discourage that behavior" is a literal statement. We'd like to discourage it: hey, people? Please don't do that. Please don't be jerks. Most of you are never jerks at all; as for those of you who are sometimes jerks despite being pretty fundamentally okay people? Please try not to be jerks about this, okay?
"Which is one of the fixes we're working on" is what is known in some circles as a joke. There is no fix. It'd be impossible. We know this.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:28 AM on February 12, 2008
Thanks cortex - I thought ya'll had gone mad there, for a moment. Sorry for the misread, jessamyn. I should have known better.
posted by False Dichotomy at 10:40 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by False Dichotomy at 10:40 AM on February 12, 2008
Love the idea of a "Naughty Truffle Hog" flag though...
posted by Rock Steady at 10:42 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by Rock Steady at 10:42 AM on February 12, 2008
Sorry for the misread, jessamyn. I should have known better.
That's okay, with improved search capabilities I can hold it against you FOREVER.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:44 AM on February 12, 2008
That's okay, with improved search capabilities I can hold it against you FOREVER.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:44 AM on February 12, 2008
There is an implicit joke in "holding [x] against you," which I suspect False Dichotomy is too much the gentleman to exploit, and if he's not, I'm preempting it, so it's a wash.
posted by cgc373 at 10:51 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by cgc373 at 10:51 AM on February 12, 2008
Yeah - I'm not actually searching for additional ways to piss jessamyn off. FOREVER.
posted by False Dichotomy at 10:57 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by False Dichotomy at 10:57 AM on February 12, 2008
If I stop commenting, no one can hold my comments against me. So long, all.
posted by Plutor at 11:20 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by Plutor at 11:20 AM on February 12, 2008
Dammit, and I was looking forward to holding your comments against your friends and family and random passersby.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:22 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:22 AM on February 12, 2008
It was pretty good, Plutor. About two minutes. Next time, try taking deep, fast breaths, like Ed Harris in The Abyss, almost hyperventilating.
posted by cgc373 at 11:23 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by cgc373 at 11:23 AM on February 12, 2008
I support the addition of a Naughty Truffle Hog flag. Strongly support.
posted by grouse at 11:42 AM on February 12, 2008
posted by grouse at 11:42 AM on February 12, 2008
If I said you had a beautiful comment would you hold it against me?
posted by vronsky at 4:38 PM on February 12, 2008
posted by vronsky at 4:38 PM on February 12, 2008
I support the addition of a Naughty Truffle Hog flag. Strongly support.
Yes. And much the better if it's never explained.
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:22 PM on February 12, 2008
Yes. And much the better if it's never explained.
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:22 PM on February 12, 2008
I support the addition of a Naughty Truffle Hog flag. Strongly support.
Yes. And much the better if it's never explained.
Exactly, and then after a year or so, we see what is it being used for, and then codify that that is what it is for. Like the (probably apocryphal) landscape architect who waited to pave the paths on a college green until after the first snow, to see what paths the students naturally took.
posted by Rock Steady at 4:01 PM on February 13, 2008
Yes. And much the better if it's never explained.
Exactly, and then after a year or so, we see what is it being used for, and then codify that that is what it is for. Like the (probably apocryphal) landscape architect who waited to pave the paths on a college green until after the first snow, to see what paths the students naturally took.
posted by Rock Steady at 4:01 PM on February 13, 2008
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site:metafilter.com "posted by maryh"
in Google help?
posted by ALongDecember at 10:45 PM on February 11, 2008