Small Upgrade On The Way

[AB Editor]

We're just adding some links to the AB social profiles (for those interested) and adding a "related question" feature.

The latter is a bit "dumb" at the moment, and runs a direct title search to produce results. We will tweak this in the future to produce more nuanced results.

Let me know if anything is on fire over the next couple of hours.

All the best,

Ed

[AB Editor]

"The "related question" concept only really works if posts are tagged according to defined categories."

Or restricting the search to the category.

"However, with this implementation it might encourage posters to use meaningful titles for their posts."

That'd be nice!

[AB Editor]

"We don't (surely) need every "good morning people" related thread on the GM thread ... "

As with many things on this site, it's not all about Chatterbank! :) As a general rule we don't design things for Chatterbank.

[boxtops]

Thanks Ed - re the colour suggestion.

I can see why you've closed my thread, are you closing the others too, to avoid replication and referral back to this one?

[jno]

perhaps there's a case for trialling this on Q&P, where it would certainly be useful, before its nationwide opening? I suspect it will actually take time to get it right there - a question labelled Radio Times may end up packaged with a list of RT crossword questions from 1928 - but once it's sorted there it should be prepared for the worst any other section can produce?

[AB Editor]

"I can see why you've closed my thread, are you closing the others too, to avoid replication and referral back to this one?"

I am when I spot them!

[Canary42]

At the risk of becoming boring, I like it :)

[vulcan]

Somebody has just opened a thread asking for help on buying a new laptop. The related questions refer to buying bicycles.

[AB Editor]

"Somebody has just opened a thread asking for help on buying a new laptop. The related questions refer to buying bicycles."

Well, it's all commerce. :)

[boxtops]

Ed, I'm not being precious about my thread, honest - but anyone can search "good morning early birds"...... I reelly reelly don't like this Related thing, apart from in Q&P and crosswords I can't see the point of it.

[Bazile]

I think matching related threads ( currently ) to a new post ; is a bit like where we are with voice recognition technology .

[AB Editor]

"but anyone can search "good morning early birds"......"

But a lot of new members, and people who could be new members if they knew the extent of knowledge available on here, don't know this. Search is almost exclusively used by a very small section of the community for

"I reelly reelly don't like this Related thing, apart from in Q&P and crosswords I can't see the point of it."

Well, at least that's something. As I said earlier, removing it from Chatterbank wouldn't be the worst idea :)

[ChillDoubt]

It is a little too broad spectrum in some instances. Can't remember which thread it was but I was reading one earlier and the first related question involved advice on purchasing a bicylce.
The one below it was asking about relationship advice!

[vivandorron]

G'afternoon Ed....I think I have cottoned on to what you have told me and apologize for having possible cross-stitched the thread.

Ron.

[wiltsman]

Hi Ed - As it's programmed at the moment, this 'related question' feature is just not working.

As an example have a look at Bob901's question, 'Week in Hand', 16:05 Weds 09th Jan 2013. The 'related questions' shown against his question bear no connection with what Bob was asking. They appear to be just random questions plucked from the bowels of your computer.

I'm not against tweaking AB if it improves the site, but with respect, I think until you get the 'badges' issue sorted out, you should put this new feature on hold.

Kind regards

[Svejk]

If nothing else this thread shows up (in every sense) the number of people who jump in with answers/posts without bothering to read the previous answers.
In crosswords I've seen people post identical answers 2/3 days later. Number of posts they would have had to wade through 5/10.

[factor-fiction]

Whilst I agree that it isn't working well I think some posters on here have not read what the Ed said, namely "the latter is a bit "dumb" at the moment, and runs a direct title search to produce results. We will tweak this in the future to produce more nuanced results. "
Maybe, though, it would be better to hide the results until it is working better, if only to cut back on the number of posts on this 'related questions' topic

[naomi24]

Ed, don't know if it's anything to do with the changes, but I've only been logged in a little while and twice already this morning I've had the 'Answerbank of not responding' message, the usual frozen screen, and the 'recover webpage' message flash across the bottom of the screen. That's not happened for ages. (IE9).

[AB Editor]

Thanks for letting me know Naomi.

[emmie]

don;t know if it's related myself, but similar to Naomi,

[AB Editor]

We haven't been able to reproduce yet.