The 'Search' function

[C.G.]

Hm, the search function has worked fine for me for years. I often use it to provide answers to others, who could have used it to find the answer themselves.

[DedEye]

It's true; the search function build into the website is crap. However, one of the users here has as his sig a link to Google narrowed down to just Calguns; it works much better.

(You can also just go to Google and type "site:http://www.calguns.net xxxx" where the xxxx is what you want to search for.)

[xrMike]

It's true; the search function build into the website is crap. However, one of the users here has as his sig a link to Google narrowed down to just Calguns; it works much better.

(You can also just go to Google and type "site:http://www.calguns.net xxxx" where the xxxx is what you want to search for.)

That's interesting... If the Google search functionality really does work that much better than the same search on Calguns, wouldn't it be better to disable it on Calguns, and direct everybody to use the Google method instead?

Wouldn't that increase Calguns bandwidth/speed for everybody? Or not?

[gosparx]

I have had VERY mixed results using the search button. Like I said it crashes or often comes back with nothing. This morning it seems to be working just fine. But it's also 12:15 in the afternoon and not 8pm at night.

What is every interesting is that I have often ended up using Google, and with better results and it's even more interesting that most of the time the answer I get on Google IS a Calguns.net thread! One big difference with the Google search is that it takes me right to the page and hi-lites the passage I am looking for.

And I do apologize for posting this on the "general gun page", it probably would have been better on the "off topic page", but MOST questions that get the "USE THE SEARCH BUTTON" are gun related questions.

This isn't going to stop people from asking easily answered questions, but I do hope that it slows people down from sounding all arrogant and screaming 'USE THE SEARCH BUTTON" to some poor guy just asking a simple, although often VERY import, question.

[-hanko]

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Re-fixed it.

The search function here may bite. If I had an ar question, I might try first searching on arfcoms. If it were a bp question, I might find the black powder equivalent to calguns...google may be helpful there

I'm thinking lately that SOME newb's might be too busy to search, a post last month said the same thing. If they're to busy to do a little research, why should I spend my time hand feeding them?

I'd suggest re-reading http://64.151.69.37/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=88386, if you can't find it search under "newbs"

-hanko

[rkt88edmo]

I agree - sites with more users and specific focuses will help most of those questions

CA legal? - calguns
Glocks? - Glocktalk
ARs - arfcom
FAL? - Falfiles
AKs - AK.net (?)
General - The Firing Line/The High Road

Re-fixed it.

The search function here may bite. If I had an ar question, I might try first searching on arfcoms. If it were a bp question, I might find the black powder equivalent to calguns...google may be helpful there

I'm thinking lately that SOME newb's might be too busy to search, a post last month said the same thing. If they're to busy to do a little research, why should I spend my time hand feeding them?

I'd suggest re-reading http://64.151.69.37/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=88386, if you can't find it search under "newbs"

-hanko

[C.G.]

I'm thinking lately that SOME newb's might be too busy to search, a post last month said the same thing. If they're to busy to do a little research, why should I spend my time hand feeding them?

+1.

[apbrian112]

i've also used the search button with much success... when i first joined i spent many hours on here reading up on all the laws having to do with OLL's and the such. and many of those hours were spent perusing the many new threads started by those unable to search for themselves.

the only gripe that i have with the forums is that A LOT of the questions could be answered by having a sticky section that covered more of the redundant questions in each of their respective subforums. i know there is a FAQ/"new to calguns? check here first!"... the problem is, that most new posters don't check that forum, but instead dive right into the more popular subforums.

[aplinker]

This is the way I see it...

If you're new to forums, it REALLY helps to say something like, "Where do I get started? Can someone point me in the right direction?" Then you can get really good info. There are lots of us who don't mind providing information to them.

It's just sometimes they refuse to read the info given, as though it should be easier than that.

Re-fixed it.

The search function here may bite. If I had an ar question, I might try first searching on arfcoms. If it were a bp question, I might find the black powder equivalent to calguns...google may be helpful there

I'm thinking lately that SOME newb's might be too busy to search, a post last month said the same thing. If they're to busy to do a little research, why should I spend my time hand feeding them?

I'd suggest re-reading http://64.151.69.37/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=88386, if you can't find it search under "newbs"

-hanko

[gosparx]

I guess what I might suggest that if someone asks a question that has been asked a 1000 times, either be helpful, or just ignore them and let someone else answer their question.

[apbrian112]

I guess what I might suggest that if someone asks a question that has been asked a 1000 times, either be helpful, or just ignore them and let someone else answer their question.

i'm sure that most of the people here do this very thing... just ignore and move on... i try to provide links or info that'll be benificial to the OP while reminding him that a search would have netted the same results.

[gosparx]

As an example why I still think telling someone 'use the search button' is not a valid answer, recently there were a number of people who asked who Iggy is.

A number of people responded with 'use the search' while the other have gave a quick cliff notes version of who (or should I say 'what' he is) and then gave links to a specific thread that was useful.

Just out of curiosity I ran a search on "Iggy" and got 500 hits! Most of which had nothing to do with him, but just had his name.

Maybe someone needs to make up a 'flow chart' showing the life and times of Iggy??!??

[scootergmc]

As an example why I still think telling someone 'use the search button' is not a valid answer, recently there were a number of people who asked who Iggy is.

A number of people responded with 'use the search' while the other have gave a quick cliff notes version of who (or should I say 'what' he is) and then gave links to a specific thread that was useful.

Just out of curiosity I ran a search on "Iggy" and got 500 hits! Most of which had nothing to do with him, but just had his name.

Maybe someone needs to make up a 'flow chart' showing the life and times of Iggy??!??

Well, hopefully the newbies would figure out how to search titles only thereby only giving them seven results, one of which is "WHO IS IGGY?"

The problem here isn't searching, just knowing how to search...

[gosparx]

The problem here isn't searching, just knowing how to search...

Good point.... just a little difference between 500 and 7.