Recent Changes @ FreeRepublic 12-Oct-2001

[John Robinson]

Making changes to the Self-Search function, and in particular, how the database is organized in relation to Self-Search.

Self-Searches should now be lightning quick and should span many months. The current index holds about 6 months of data (all I have available.)

[DoughtyOne]

I would ask everyone to provide productive suggestions on how the all feature could be improved. The all feather is a Godsend. I've wanted something like that for years. Let's recap.

An all feature would remain. If you did not like the all feature, you could disable it under preferences. If you opted to keep it on and someone was abusing it, the moderator could remove the offending party's rights to use it.

These simple adjustments would provide the all feature to those who desired it, and the blocking of that feature for all who didn't. Further it would provide a remedy for the children.

This is an example of a productive solution to the problem. If you all have better suggestions outside of simply removing the feature, please provide them.

[2ndMostConservativeBrdMember]

"All" Seems like the only ones not complaining about it are the ones that haven't used it! LOL

[curmudgeonII]

John, the choices are for you to get rid of that damned all feature, or for me to ignore the self-search feature.
Which is it?

[swheats]

I'm sure Author is grinning like a cheshire cat today seeings how we're all getting our just deserts with the "All" feature. He's no longer suffering alone. I still say "Time is the greatest Equalizer".

[firewalk]

ROTFL!! Thank you, I needed this! :-D

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I like your suggestion, I think it could be a useful tool!

Just set it up so abusers could be whacked!

[DoughtyOne]

Thank you.

[Carry_Okie]

Even if it were under control, it would still be a pain. Ignorant adults will abuse it unwittingly. It's like putting kid in the seat of an F-15. Without training and serious discipline, the tool is still dangerous. It is therefore clearly an inappropriate tool for this forum that is open to all, for now.

Good experiment, bad idea. Learn from it and go on. Put it back in the box, perhaps for later when it can be used in other context. An example of a good time to revive it would be when one could click the ALL and disable it, or if a "Don't flag me on this thread" option were available.

In the meantime, it is usually overgrown adolescents who stress about appearing mature.

[Carry_Okie]

See 411.

[Howlin]

STOP IT, YOU GUYS!!!! You're making me crazy!

[swheats]

I think we all have a sense of humor but you've gone over into abuse. I have to wade through all of your pings to find legitimate pings to me.

The "All" feature is great but please STOP already. You don't have to put me on your ping list. Sound familiar.

[2ndMostConservativeBrdMember]

I like the All feature! I haven't even used it yet. The people doing the most complaining about it are the ones who are abusing it! I think your gleaned suggestions for improvement would solve the problems with the children.

[2ndMostConservativeBrdMember]

I like the ALL feature. When I hopped on today and refreshed my self-search and saw all the replies to me, it made me feel real popular! (o:

[2ndMostConservativeBrdMember]

It's like putting kid in the seat of an F-15. Without training and serious discipline, the tool is still dangerous

Good grief! Do you have any life at all outside of FR?

[Carry_Okie]

I have been thinking for some time about how much easier this could be for John if a set of downloadable tools were available at first signup. One example would be a right click option on a thread to set preferences for how you wanted to be flagged or if you wanted to have the thread hidden from you so as not to be bothered. Another would be a "flag me when this FReeper posts" option when right clicking their name. These would greatly reduce the random looking around.

My guess is that these could be marketable products that John could sell as a separate business. All it would take is a link to a separate page. It would at least be a way for the Robinsons to profit by all this valuable work. Why not make it available as a general set of "Chat Room Tools"?

I still don't understand why a thread isn't loaded as a series of separate records into a temp file so that one only need append it. I guess that is a limitation of the browsers.

[DoughtyOne]

When people enter a thread and post on it, that generally means they have an interest in that topic. Use of the "all" feature under those circumstances is not only warranted, to many of us it's a great service.

I don't deny it can be abused. We're seeing some morons prove that right now. If they weren't doing so, this conversation wouldn't be taking place, because we'd have only been called back to a place we had interest in.

I think it's pretty obvious who not to respond to at this point. Give it a couple of days and this will be corrected.

[Carry_Okie]

Yes.