Search the Forums?

In my opinion, and I understand that this strictly is nothing more than that, I think that the moderators are far too strict. Not with moving or renaming certain threads, because I understand that has to be done.

However, if a newcomer asks a quetsion about, say, the huge icons on the top right area of everybody's destops, they should get an answer. You can't type "huge icons in top right of desktop" in the search. Trust me, I just tried it. I got one response about wallpaper changing. Which shows the efficiency of the search engine.

The search system is flawed, and at times can be extremely frustrating. It can be impossible to find something, even if it does exist. For example, if someone says "can you give me these icons?" And people reply to that, saying "I have number 1, 6, and 8," then that entire thread is not going to show up in a search, since the names of the icons are never used. I am not, however, writing this to attack the search engine. I am writing this because having a question answered is a lot less work. The entire idea behind this website is interaction with other people in order to benefit everyone. So why, when a n3wbie asks an obvious question, is he/she told to search right away?

The moderators take the time to say "thread closed, search the forums," but they won't simply say "it's avedesk." Then, when another n3wb comes along wondering what the "huge icons are in the top right corner of everybody's desktop," maybe he/she will get an answer with the search.

What's so harmful about having the same information repeated a few times? The only effect that would have would be to make the search work better.

Time and time again I have come across people asking simple questions, and being told to search, instead of receiving a one-word answer. I am a relatively new to the aqua-emulation scene (about nine months), and it took me way too long to find out that those huge icons in the top right corner of everybody's desktop was avedesk. I even had avedesk, and I still didn't know. Who would have thought that a dashboard emulator would be able to do that?

I know this is way too long. But I feel like this website was made to create a community, not a search engine. There's nothing wrong with having the same icon in several different threads - it only makes it easier to find. Maybe I'll get suspended for writing this. If I do, it just proves my point. But I think that I have a legitimate argument, that definately needs to be taken into consideration. The reason we are all here is to help each other, and receive help. Not type words in the impressive-looking search bar.

#386522

Well its not just searching the forums, its posting in the correct one too...

Thread Moved

#386524

You just excellently proved my point. There is nothing wrong with putting my comment in "general discussion," regardless of the rules, which no one actually reads.

#386528

No offense, but deal with it. Nothing's going to change, no matter what you say.

#386529

Oh my fault, should I close the thread for disagreeing with staff?

If you can make a post ranting about searching and how no one does it, then we as staff can certainly rant when people don't post crap in the right forum.

#386530

Also, there's this new invention. It's called the Private Messaging system in which you can personally ask someone for something without asking in a thread.

#386532

No offense, but deal with it. Nothing's going to change, no matter what you say.

Things change when necessary.... and remember kiddies... this is just an Internet forum... rather insignificant in the grand scheme of things... I am sometimes amazed at how serious people take this stuff.

#386533

I was being sarcastic jef.

#386534

@Paralex: Wow, you make this community feel really friendly.

@Timan: You can rant all you want, and I will never complain. But moving my post is not ranting. Moving my post is a perfect example of what I think is too strict. Would anyone have cared (other than mods and admins) if my post had have been in general discussion?

#386535

While I do agree the search engine could be improved. Often as you eloquantly illustrated people are too lazy to change or be more specific in their search terms.

Type in huge icons Mac & you'd find the answer within the first page. Went even one further by using a popular search engine called 'google' I entered your terms and the fourth link directed me to an excellent emulating guide that also points out avedesk.

The mod's don't always respond that way & most often are fairer than need be. As a member I become sick of hearing the same old sad question that could have been answered if people actually used the tools the site provides which also includes threads that are stickied.

Obviously you never even bothered to read much about avedesk because that is essentially the one of the base descriptions.

#386536

@Paralex's second post: how would a first timer have any idea who to pm?

#386537

@Paralex: Wow, you make this community feel really friendly.

Well, I guess telling the truth makes me unfriendly.

@Paralex's second post: how would a first timer have any idea who to pm?

For example, if they see an icon they want in a screenshot, they can simple click on the person's username and click "Send Private Message to ". And when you Private Message them, you simply ask them a question and they might (or might not) give you a message back. I'm really sure that this is common sense, even to the new comer.

#386538

@SirSmiley: its nice to have something explained to you. If you have enough time to argue with me, than you have enough to write: "avedesk."

#386539

Simple math then. How many members are there? How many new each day? If every new member asked the same or similar questions repeatedly then this board would suck.

PS. I type 100 wpm.

Edit: Normally I am...guess partially I was

#386542

then answer the question, and then delete the thread. Problem solved. a Mod could say

"its avedesk. thread closed."

#386543

I've seen them do that more often then not. In fact I try to do it when I can (feel like it) and provide the link. ie Members helping members

#386545

*there ARE people who ask questions without first searching

*some of these questions CAN be answered through an 'obvious' keyword search

*some of these questions CANNOT be answered as easily--unknown or misleading keywords

*some new members (ok, the majority) DO NOT read the rules

fine.

SOMEBODY should ensure that these people search first, read the rules, or snip the ss preview, etc.--- these are the administrators, mods, or owners.

what really pisses me off is when a member

1) takes the time to read the question/post

2) knows the answer

3) rather than help the person out, he/she acts like a mod and berates the person

EDIT: Sarcasm is real friendly.

#386546

I agree with everything you just said sunb1rd. All I want is less #3 situations. And you too sirsmiley. members helping members.

#386547

Excellently put sunb1rd.

People should keep in mind "If you have nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all".

#386548

hum, this thread makes me sick...Rmreeder, you complain about the search sytem, do you have a new idea of how they can improve it?

About moving the thread, well, sometimes we need an order in a forum, i dont have any forum but I can say that this thread is in the right subforum.

BTW... nice Polemic Thread

#386551

@BlueMarlboro: Actually read my post before attacking me please. I specifically stated that "I am not attacking the search system."

#386556

The search is only as smart as the person using it.

Perhaps you'd like to compile a list of newcomer questions in which the search function could recognize certain words in a sentence and automatically direct to a software suggestion here on the board.

Such as:

"big icons" could somehow be directed to the avedesk thread.

Prioritized search stickies, if you will.

#386559

This reminds me a funny story of how I once tried to search for the string to use to point a shortcut to "My Computer". I thought I would be really smart and use the search function, so i typed in "My Computer" and hit enter.

Lo and behold I got the message:

The following words are either very common, too long, or too short and were not included in your search: my

The result was that I was searching an internet forum for the word "computer"- talk about overkill.

I then thought "Hey, why don't I put my serach query in inverted commas". Of course back then the search engine didn't recognise inverted commas.

The moral of the story is that I understand the frustration some people feel with the search engine, but the Mods are often kind enough to give some direction before closing a thread and I like it like that.

#386560

I don't know why everyone keeps thinking that the reasoning behind posting the original thread was calling for a change in the search. I clearly said that it was not. All I want is for mods and admins to be a little less hasty in closing threads, and answering a person's thread first. And yes, the search IS only as smart as the person using it. That's the problem. I know, however, that very little can be done about that.

BTW, there a lot of great mods, who do a great job answering questions. I don't mean to generalize.

#386561

Then why complain if you have no suggestion for fixing it other than "those mods are mean?" You can't exactly change a mod's personality, but you can modify the board functionality to accomodate newcomer ignorance.

If that were the case, this thread would never have taken place; and you or whoever would've figured out and been using avedesk nine months earlier.

#386565