Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 17
Like Tree62Likes

Thread: So much info - Searching SRP efficiently

  1. #1
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Niagara, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    2,767
    Thanked: 550

    Default So much info - Searching SRP efficiently

    I am often overwhelmed by the amount of information contained on SRP. It’s likely that most/all of the questions I would like answered have already been dealt with somewhere in the bowels of the forums and threads.

    It seems that many long time members get frustrated with members asking questions that have been answered many times before. Based on my own experience, those repeat questions get asked because newbies either do not know about the search function or do not know how to nail down a search to get a set of results focused on what they want.

    When I do a search, I initially get way more links to info than I can comfortably process. Wading through the linked threads to find what I am interested in takes a lot of time.

    So, I thought it might be useful to have a thread that focused on how to use the search function of SRP to efficiently locate information. What I did not do, is make sure this wasn’t the focus of an already existing thread - wouldn’t that be ironic?
    David
    “Shared sorrow is lessened, shared joy is increased”
    ― Spider Robinson, Callahan's Crosstime Saloon

  2. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to DZEC For This Useful Post:

    Haroldg48 (12-12-2018), sharptonn (12-12-2018), whoever (12-12-2018)

  3. #2
    Razor Vulture sharptonn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Lone Star State
    Posts
    25,827
    Thanked: 8588

    Default

    Indeed, with the last and final name-change we need to train the Google to find links. Using the search makes it work better and better.
    I often relate to new members it is important to do this before asking questions.
    Not only does it familiarize us with terms and procedures, it really helps to separate good advise from notso good as we do ask.
    One can also learn who is more knowledgeable around here as well.

  4. #3
    Senior Member blabbermouth Haroldg48's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Clayton, NC USA
    Posts
    3,341
    Thanked: 866

    Default

    I agree with both of you wise gentlemen. I often use search when I am stumped and think of it, but basically being lazy, it sometimes seems easier o start a thread with a question. That approach impedes learning, because when you us search, targeting your question, you often find very good advice from the past, that you would never get unless you were very lucky to still have that person from the past see it and answer the same way again.

    Hope that makes sense.
    Just call me Harold
    ---------------------------
    A bad day at the beach is better than a good day at work!

  5. #4
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Diamond Bar, CA
    Posts
    6,553
    Thanked: 3215

    Default

    Yea, searching can be difficult and frustrating at times on this site. I don’t know how the search criteria is set up, but I suspect that much of the problem is that information is buried in a totally unrelated titled thread.

    And even when you know the title of a thread, the advanced search will not find it. For example, I often refer folks to a thread, “Second Try at Honing-Seeking Opinions” if you search those words the advanced search will not retrieve it.

    1. This is the response I get. “The following words are either very common, too long, or too short and were not included in your search:
    "second-try-honing-seeking-opinions"

    Yet, searching those same words on Google, the thread pops up, first hit.
    Last edited by Euclid440; 12-12-2018 at 02:39 PM.

  6. #5
    Senior Member blabbermouth markbignosekelly's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Egham, a little town just outside London.
    Posts
    3,725
    Thanked: 1074
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default

    Pretty much everything you need to know is here: https://shavelibrary.com/w/Shave_Library

    The way I see it is, questions, even repeated questions are good as it keeps the Palace alive. If everyone only used the search button it would be a very boring forum indeed.

  7. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to markbignosekelly For This Useful Post:

    outback (12-12-2018), Steel (12-13-2018)

  8. #6
    Senior Member blabbermouth RezDog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada
    Posts
    14,383
    Thanked: 4820

    Default

    The search function works great on my laptop but not very well on my iPad.
    Also sometimes if you look first, you can get the question refined first so you are asking about specific things and not vague things. No one wants to try to answer how long is a piece of string, but get the question to more specific parameters. . .
    Steel and outback like this.
    It's not what you know, it's who you take fishing!

  9. #7
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Idaho Redoubt
    Posts
    26,947
    Thanked: 13221
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Ask the question

    If it is well covered you will get the links that we think to answer it best
    If it is an evolving idea your question could get many answers and start a good discussion on it

    Being perfectly honest the only question I don't like seeing is "What is the Best......." I try and stay out of those
    "No amount of money spent on a Stone can ever replace the value of the time it takes learning to use it properly"
    Very Respectfully - Glen

    Proprietor - GemStar Custom Razors Honing/Restores/Regrinds Website

  10. #8
    The original Skolor and Gentileman. gugi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    17,410
    Thanked: 3906
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    We have two searches. The first is the one built in the software and is available in the 'advanced search' button. I think it's a simple query of the database for the search terms and the only ranking on the results is by date.

    The other search is that toolbar with the magnifying glass and that's google's search of our site. They index all of our content and then use machine learning algorithms to rank the results by 'relevance'.

    But at the end of the day we're a community and nothing can compare to actual people
    This is the real wealth of our forum!

  11. The Following User Says Thank You to gugi For This Useful Post:

    outback (12-12-2018)

  12. #9
    Skeptical Member Gasman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Colorado Springs
    Posts
    10,473
    Thanked: 2182

    Default

    The title of a thread is key IMO. When someone wants to ask a question about a subject like Shave Angle then titles his thread "just wanting to know..." It doesnt help anyone when trying the search.

    Searching is good and ive done it a lot, but what i get back from the search is way too much or not what im looking for. Sometimes i get lucky.
    outback and MichaelPz like this.
    It's just Sharpening, right?
    Jerry...

  13. #10
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Niagara, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    2,767
    Thanked: 550

    Default

    Would it be a good idea to offer a tutorial on how to create a search using the various options available in the advanced search function? There are drop down menus that narrow the scope of a search and folks can use AND, OR and - (NOT) to filter the results.
    David
    “Shared sorrow is lessened, shared joy is increased”
    ― Spider Robinson, Callahan's Crosstime Saloon

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •