Sydwayz

...specifically the SEARCH tool?

It seems like there are 50 new threads on the EXACT SAME 3-5 TOPICS each week.

"what tires do I get"
"headlights blah blah blah"
"column lock blah blah blah"
"stereo help"
etc. etc.


How about a big fat attention grabbing HTML block that instructs (new) users how to use the search function?




I'm a moderator on another forum; have been there for 15 years and almost 21000 posts, and we don't have this problem.
I think the only thing these repeat topics do is push the advertisers threads to subsequent pages, and then they have to bump them up again.
It's a frustrating never-ending cycle.

4XLR8N

I've never had much success with the search functions in CF.

I use Google and, if I want results specifically from CF, I use "corvette forum:" in the search string.

But yeah, I hear ya, a lot of the same topics...

Nice thing is that most CF members are nice enough to tolerate the repeats and help out anyway...maybe with a nudge toward searching by giving links to helpful threads.

MikeG37

I use my phone viewing this site 90% of the time and the search function is useless. If I hit search the box pops up almost completely off screen in the lower right corner, when I try to scroll to it the thing vanishes.
When I'm looking for something here I use Google with "Corvette forum" in my search.

Black 02

If everybody searched for their answers, this forum would be nothing but vendor ads. Also, as new people reply through the years, new, or better, solutions are found to common problems. While it does get old reading about some topics that have been asked about hundreds of times, no one is forcing you to click on those threads.

You know what bugs me more than a common question being asked? People replying with "why don't you search" instead of trying to help them out. Many of these questions are simple, but they're asked by new members. If they get that type of answer, they're less likely to want to come back to the forum and participate.

Vanover

This is more than just a forum.it is a brotherhood.ill answer the same question a100 times if it's asked.as far as searching for the answer,isn't that what a forum is.what is your other forum?

calvins

I'm with Black 02. I don't answer a lot because by the time I see the posts, someone, or many someones have already chimed in and answered. If not, and I know the answer or have a strong opinion, I'll pipe up.

I agree that there are always new ideas and viewpoints. You're never too old to learn something new and as said, if not interested, just don't look.

As to the search function, yeah it's pretty bad; that's why like most, I use Google.

RoninC5

Agreed- although on some threads we don't exactly seem/act like a "brotherhood" we are. Also, some of those repeats may still be important questions to the OP and the interaction is beneficial. I know quite a few people have helped me out here so if I see a LMC5 question for example (and 20 people have not jumped in already) I'll try and help and "give back" a little as I was and still am a newbie... However per the original question- if you just Google LMC5, you can read for hours...

pewter99

yes, but people don't care its easier to just post

BAT

Ah, if only I had a nickel for every time someone started a thread about using the search function.....

Sydwayz

www.offshoreonly.com

Sydwayz

Yeah, but is there one on the first page every day?

Sydwayz

I agree that phone browsing this site is a little tough. It's easier on my other forums.

Suggestions:
DL and use https://www.tapatalk.com/
It's free, and offers a lot of customization.

Use the Chrome browser App for your phone, vs. anything else. I've tried them all.

neutron82

I always use the desktop version on my phone and it works pretty decent, much better than the mobile version anyway... I agree that it does get a bit old but I'll still try to help if I can

Acid666

The problem is likely not the search function itself, it's how to search. I know how to find things because I know what search terms to try. Sometimes your search isn't always black and white. Sometimes you have to search for topics that kind of lead to a certain response that will then lead to an answer. Sometimes a search yields so many results that you end up sifting through 17 pages of posts on a topic and never find a definitive answer. And if you think you've found the answer to your problem, someone's right below it countering their answer saying it's not the same for their case.

Searching is a fine art. Sometimes it's straight forward. Sometimes you have to dig and it's too cumbersome to figure out who's giving valid information. I don't mind people asking common questions. It helps sort out all of the damn Vendors refreshing their sales threads.
Also, I don't come here to chat. I don't have time to burn reading through people's opinions on bs like "what's the ugliest mod on a C5", "Who loves their C5?", and "Forgestar Lightweight Deep Concave Flow Forged Wheels for Chevrolet Corvette C5". I come here for answers. I search, and usually find them. If see a new thread with some information I may happen to know, I chime in.

jackthelad

To be frank I am more annoyed at the constant repeating of vendor ads in among users discussions than owners trying to find something out.

My pet peeve is people who spend the money to buy a Vette and want to look after it themselves, but don't/won't spend the small amount of cash and buy the Service Manuals. C5's and up are complex vehicles and the manuals are indispensable, IMO. My very first "accessory" purchase, BTW.

Skrilla

Im with you in that. People get emotional over a question in a post lol. Direct that energy on something positive or ignore it. That's why forums are here to ask questions and most importantly to POST.

Sydwayz

I disagree. Find a thread related to what your issue is, and expand on it.
Create a 'manual' of sorts with tons of info about said topic, rather than 500 different threads with tidbits of information.

Vette_DD

Well, this forum has been here 17 years and has 51,000,000 posts. Maybe that's why a search is a little more difficult than in other forums. Also have over 400,000 members.

Fast Cars & Horses

I haven't had very good luck searching directly on this site, but like someone else said, I Google the problem and add corvette forum and get all the answers I need.

I don't post a lot, but I do a lot of searches and I've learned to do a lot of things myself from the forum members over the years, even back when I had C3's and before I joined the forum. I think I'm just one of many, many people who do not post with questions on every little thing, but take the time to search it out and usually find an answer that way. Google and You Tube are my friends!

BTW: It's a brotherhood for sure, with a few sisters thrown in to make it interesting!

Sydwayz

I didn't post as a competition, just for comparative sake. I'd venture to say the active C5 section is about the same as the other forum I compared it to. It's 16 years old; while CF has been owned by IB for a lot longer, OSO only for about 6 years.

I rarely go to the other sections of this site, as I don't have a need to. (I'll ALWAYS be a C5 owner.) But the other sections have their own personalities as well.

As such, how can we make the C5 Section more user friendly and/or better for searching and correlating information?