Posted on 10/26/2015 3:10:01 AM PDT by Crazieman
Just throwing out an idea based on an observation.
In all my years on FR, watching the duplicate threads show up, and the users insisting they searched for existing articles.
I believe them. The problem lies in the default searching option in my view.
Change it from keywords to title.
The title search is vastly more useful and is what I use to detect duplicate articles, and I suspect the same to many of those that enjoy pointing them out.
In my observation, many duplicate articles are a result of inaccurate or incomplete keyword lists that don't quite literally have the entire title of the article embedded in the keyword system.
I think (hope) that most that end up eventually posting duplicate articles are performing searches on unique words or pairings that are in the title of the article, but are neglecting to select "Title" on the dropdown menu, rather than keyword.
I want to put forth the idea that we could probably reduce duplicate articles by changing that default setting to title, rather than keyword.
Or I might be just crazie.
(1) sometimes the FR PTB approve duplicate articles---particularly if its a compelling issue. Even the most dedicated FReeper might miss something important......so having a duplicate is an advantage.
(2) When searching titles, the best results are achieved using key words.....using as few words as possible in the search box.
Also, do a title search by one of the main words, not a whole title search, as you might transpose a letter or mis place a space. then it won’t show up.
I always do a search by key title words.
My issue is that duplicate posters do a search by not selecting title at all. They’re relying on the goodwill and intelligence of the original poster and subsequent ones to incorporate good keywords.
Nailing a duplicate post by title keyword is easy. But what I suspect is many don’t even click “titles” rather than leaving the defaulted “Keywords” which is always incomplete.
To summarize, keywords will ALWAYS be incomplete.
Titles will not.
And, while you’re at it, change the default “order by” from relevance to “post time.” I’ve never searched by relevance.
Or how about this: have the posting page do a search for the URL of the article you are posting and warning you that it already has a posting?
Embedding the title in keywords is definitely not the way to go.
The rules say “title search” and that is what should be done. Personally, I’d like to see an author search capability. It might help. That can currently be done if the author is entered as a keyword, e.g. marksteyn or vdh, but it requires consistent manual application and is often missed.
Keyword abuse is rampant and needs to be reined in.
Note also that syndicated columnists may have their article appear under a different title in each venue. Posting a cross-link comment helps tie these together.
I’m not looking for putting the title in keywords. Like I said, I’m asking for defaulting the search feature to “Titles” from “Keywords”
I feel it would be most helpful in reining in duplicate posts.
Honest FR Policy ping. :)
I have made a few posts in the past complaining that the keyword search should not be the default option. The default should be a Title search.
Happens to me.
Another nice feature to have, would be to have a short/two minute edit function, after hitting post.
I have been a FReeper since the early 90s. I have done numerous searches, using key words from an article or headline I’d seen here on FR. I never EVER got one good reply. All I ever got from a search was the internet equivalent of a blank stare and “no habla englais”. So I gave up on that, long ago.
I agree.
I agree with the OP and another gripe I have is you type a word or two in the search window, then choose title from the pulldown, and the search words aew erased and replaced by *title.
You have to change the pull down to title first, then type your search words.
I agree 100%. But people don’t seem to search for duplicate threads anymore. Sometimes even when it’s blatantly obvious there’s the same thread already posted.
It’s just pure laziness. I gave up on the search engine a long time ago. Instead I switched to article view to scan the day’s new entries to see if an article had already been posted. With the current higher access speeds there is no excuse for duplicate postings. I hestitate to ascribe dubious motives as a rule, but do notice that some of these seem to be concious that efforts to derail the original posts that have responses the second poster is not in agreement with. Just sayin’.
Amazing! Jim Robinson has only been a Freeper since 1997! 8^)
I try and do a title search on the single most significant word of a title.
Thanks for the correction. I guess it was Drudge I latched onto in the early 90s. It was during the GHWBush/Clinton/Perot days, and on to the blue dress and cigar fiascos.
I guess I don’t have a clear date when I found FR, but it had to have been early, in the days of FR’s beginning. Anyhow, when I did discover FR, I soon made it my news source, and all these years, seldom even looked at Drudge any more.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.