Searching

[Caladon]

Being able to search a users past posts and their threads.
If I type Caladon in the search field then I do get the threads I have posted in, or started, way back to 2004 and beyond, but it is in no order AND only brings up threads that have the word Caladon in them... just happens my name is not used in everyday speech. What if someone wanted to search a user called The?
A more complex searching system and user profile system would be good.

[jno]

I agree. I sometimes want to find an answer I gave to a similar question a few months ago and have to spend ages trawling through every single mention of the subject by anyone. I'd like to have a 'Search my personal archive' facility - but only available to me once I'd signed in, not accessible to any passing stalker. So it should be linked to the Threads I'm Involved In tab, I guess.

[netibiza]

We've been asking this for ages....

[Robinia]

Yes, that's a very good idea, only yesterday I gave up looking for an old thread after trawling through several pages.
Love your idea too jno - being able to find something specific in my own drawers would be helpful.

[B00]

Not when we know what you keep in your drawers Robinia!!!

;-)

[shazsnell]

When I sign in I can go to my profile, underneath there are boxes to click on, Threads I'm involved in, My Questions, Q's I gave answers to etc.

[Caladon]

It would be nice to be able to click on a users id and see their posts. Some people are quite knowledgeable and it would be interesting to see what threads they have contributed to.
It is hardly stalking as this website is only about the transfer of knowledge.
It is just a hassle, as most of you had said, having to spend ages going through hundreds of threads to find a particular one.

[Robinia]

yes, shazsnell, we all have those but some of us talk a lot <cough> like BOO <cough> and it takes ages to go through them to find a particular thread.

[shazsnell]

Note to self ,read quetsion FULLY before posting an answer. :-{}

[Octavius]

The search facility is tedious. I never use it. It's all in me head. I'm bonkers me.

[jno]

people often do insert little autobiographical snippets into their posts. If anyone were able to get them all together they might well be able to find out more than the user ever really intended. For instance, with the aid of past posts, a CCTV cam and a GPS apparatus I can locate dot hawkes to within 7 metres at any given moment.

[Hard@it]

I have never used a search facility only gone back over previous stuff, would it not be better to have a section which would allow you put in a definite one or two word question like "television", " eiffel tower", or whatever ?

[jno]

this is the sort of thing I meant; notice the last sentence...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,192 4647,00.html