Do you use the Fishlore search?

I think the forum search works pretty well here with the latest several iterations of the forum software. I use it all the time.

I think I need to do a better job of alerting new members to the search feature (and maybe how to use it?) since we get a lot of threads where the topic has been answered previously.

What about you? How often do you use the search feature? If not, please comment. Is it too difficult? Didn't know about it, etc?

 

I use it a lot, the advanced search is particularly useful as you can refine what results you’ll get, ie search by thread rather than posts etc there’s a treasure trove of information just waiting to be found

 

I use it a lot. Usually I head there first and if I don’t get it answered exactly or the last answer was an older post I might rehash it to get some fresh answers.

I think the queries are pretty good as well. There is a planted tank focused forum I’m on that I try to search on and it seems hard to find relevant posts. On here I do not have that problem at all.

 

I use it a lot. I try it before Google for most fish things. But I won't lie, sometimes I'm lazy and I don't search before posting my question.

 

there’s a treasure trove of information just waiting to be found

Yep! Your post reminds me of an idea that I had about adding a widget to highlight random great threads we've had here over the years. Tons of them! I need to think through the details of that first though.

 

I search occasionally, but most of the time I just search google and a fishlore thread pops up.

 

I use it most of the time.

 

I have used it occasionally but normally I don't ask questions....I am usually just answering them....over and over and over again

 

I do use it, but I do not always get the result I'm quite looking for. I like your idea, Mike. Hopefully you can get it established, but the amount of work you do on here is already amazing.

I have used it occasionally but normally I don't ask questions....I am usually just answering them....over and over and over again

Oh, mattgirl I (or anyone else on Fishlore, for that matter) will never have to be concerned about cycling, as long as you are on Fishlore. All Hail mattgirl!

 

Everytime I googled something, google would lead me straight to these forums. So now, I just skip a step and just search the forums.

 

I use the search function a lot.

 

I have found that sometimes the natural language search capabilities of google tend to nail me to the right articles and forum posts better than the built in search. It is definitely not a knock on the search capabilities though on the forum tool itself, just Google has a few extra resources lol.

 

I mostly use it to add to older threads i started pr post to frequently. I find it much quicker to use search than any other way on my phone.

 

Not usually, unless I'm searching for a thread that I know exists and that I want to revisit. Otherwise I'll use a google search with specific terms which will provide results from a multitude of forums including Fishlore.

 

Only when I'm trying to find a specific thread from a while back

 

i use it to find specific forum categories without clicking a buncha stuff. one of the first few results is usually in the category i need

 

I use it most of the time but sometimes if i cant find something i will search it on google and add fishlore to the end of it

 

Only used it a few times to locate old posts of mine that I wanted to update. Other than that, I don't use it.

 

I've never noticed it :/

 

I use it occasionally to find old threads or threads from certain people

 

I use it all the time. I used to use it a lot to find my own threads, but the new "Find threads" feature takes care of that (AWESOME feature btw).

 

I use it quite a bit. Mostly because I don't want to ask a question that's been asked a hundred times before and have someone put me to shame by telling me that this has been discussed before.

 

I use it quite a bit. Mostly because I don't want to ask a question that's been asked a hundred times before and have someone put me to shame by telling me that this has been discussed before.

Please don't feel shamed. Personally I think it would be rude to tell someone something has been discussed before. I don't think there is a single thing to do with this hobby that hasn't been asked before. If folks didn't keep asking the same questions that have been asked before I feel the forum would just shrivel up and die and it would turn into a read only forum.

 

Please don't feel shamed. Personally I think it would be rude to tell someone something has been discussed before. I don't think there is a single thing to do with this hobby that hasn't been asked before. If folks didn't keep asking the same questions that have been asked before I feel the forum would just shrivel up and die and it would turn into a read only forum.

I appreciate the response mattgirl...I agree with you 100%.

I think the best part of this forum is the community of people who feel the same way. I suppose that I'm not being completely fair to think that something like that is likely to happen here. From everything that I've seen, this is a very welcoming, warm, and embracing community of fish lovers who I am proud to be a part of!

 

I have used it occasionally but normally I don't ask questions....I am usually just answering them....over and over and over again

Thank you for your service!

Please don't feel shamed. Personally I think it would be rude to tell someone something has been discussed before. I don't think there is a single thing to do with this hobby that hasn't been asked before. If folks didn't keep asking the same questions that have been asked before I feel the forum would just shrivel up and die and it would turn into a read only forum.

Yeah part of what I love here is the interaction and being able to help people while also not just reading an essay but reading an everchaning opion from actual people.

 

I use it sometimes, but only when I need to search something. Or i just go on google and fishlore is usually first search.

 

One of the first places I go when I'm looking for info on something, doing research, or before posting a question.

Can usually find good information this way, not always what I want, by helpful.

 

I use it so much. More often than not I will look there before Google.

 

Issue with search is relevance, followed by the fact so many people never finish their conversation and a thread gets locked. I've tried searching for various threads by name that I recall seeing and they end up being a good ways down the list. Alternatively I'll search a medication, treatment, or build idea and someone started a thread on it, never finished and it got locked out so you can't ask about the outcome. The advanced search is awesome though, I use it to search myself in addition to other users to see if we have been in the same place/time during conversations in the past, and many other details.

 

I use it a couple of times, mostly to check if a question I'm about to ask was already asked by someone else.

 

I use it a lot, but there’s so many results there that it can take a long time to find a specific post. Still very helpful and a huge amount of very useful information!

 

I didn't know it existed! I'm glad I do now and will be using it before asking new questions.

 

I use it quite often when trying to find information on certain topics it comes in very handy when you want to find the info, and key words and it also I noticed goes by the newest date first. its great to have here.

 

Two options I wish were included in the search are "older than" and "date range."

There are times when I do a search for a thread I've read, but there are so many new posts/threads containing my search criteria that all the results are from 2020.