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Original poster

Why is search function in MN talk so useless ?

26 replies

dustwhatdust · 01/04/2016 23:41

I am at a loss to explain how MN can expect us to use the advanced or basic search function . This has been like this for years and it is so inadequate and downright ineffectual I am amazed that MN Towers believe it is acceptable .
Considering the revenue stream generated from the advertising carried on Mumsnet nowadays that we have been forced to accept over the last 5 years shouldnt we be demanding more from Mumsnet ?

OP posts:

usual · 01/04/2016 23:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Jojoanna · 01/04/2016 23:43

It's rubbish!

SealSong · 01/04/2016 23:57

Yeah it's terrible. At the very least it should have options such as 'sort by most recent' and other useful ways to sort or narrow down your search.
As it stands you get a huge list of results in no date order and very random.
It's really hopeless.

WicksEnd · 02/04/2016 00:03

Yup. It's pants.

Starlingsintheslipstream · 02/04/2016 00:07

Yeah, I thought it was just an iPad issue. I've developed a sixth sense for skimming through them over the years which kind of works for me.

cozietoesie · 02/04/2016 00:17

As I've said before, I don't see how they can set up a halfway decent search function until they introduce a thread-culling policy. Just work out the size of one single search. It's a mind-bogglingly large collection of data to look through.

PotOfYoghurt · 02/04/2016 00:26

Or a search function on the app. That'd be great.

omri · 02/04/2016 00:30

Agree! I do t even bother searching anymore as I always end up frustrated and never ever have a successful search. Btw I'm only ever on the app.

PeaceLoveAndJaffaCakes · 02/04/2016 00:37

Oh please please please a search function in the next app release! I miss it so much

Original poster

dustwhatdust · 02/04/2016 08:49

I echo all of you !

I am relieved I'm not the only one who feels outraged by this inadequacy !

I can understand initially, but why now is it still like this, years later ?

No refining process and advanced search is so painful and laborious .

Come on, can we have some comment from MNHQ please ?

OP posts:

SealSong · 02/04/2016 10:59

Yes come on MNNQ

Palomb · 02/04/2016 11:02

I just use google and it's far better. If you search for 'daffodil mumsnet' or Pom bear Mumsnet' for eg you get a lot of hits.

The search facility on here is dire.

RedToothBrush · 02/04/2016 11:06

I don't think its that bad tbh.

You just need to narrow your search terms by topic or date.

Sparklingbrook · 02/04/2016 11:16

It's rubbish, plus it lies to you.

cozietoesie · 02/04/2016 11:52

I don't think it actually lies to you, Sparkling. It just tries - and fails.

Sparklingbrook · 02/04/2016 12:01

I searched myself once. O found.

forkhandles4candles · 02/04/2016 12:16

Could be a lot better, it's true.

MNHQ

IonaMumsnet · 02/04/2016 16:04

Oh dear. Sorry to hear this is such a disappointing feature of the site. We'd really like to know more about exactly what it is that's so rubbish about it and obviously if there's anything we can do to improve things we will. Is it simply that you don't feel it's bringing back the right results? Or are the results too much to wade through and you need to be able to pinpoint your searches more? Any more info you can give us would be much appreciated.

SoupDragon · 02/04/2016 16:06

It is awful.

The "select topics" part is utterly ridiculous - it doesn't work on an iPad and why it's not a simple check box thing I don't know.

Original poster

dustwhatdust · 02/04/2016 22:15

Hi Iona,

The results on a basic search are so huge and there is no way to refine them Eeverything comes up in a random way , no date, showing nothing in any order or anything helpful, you just have to plough through each entry piece meal .

When you use the advanced search function , it is so time consuming , choosing search by topic having to scroll through the entire topics list including all the MN local sites to choose from and then you can't select them as it doesn't work half the time .

An example : if you are looking for something like the the EU debate you can't just search as it will produce over 500 results as they are all mixed up and random with no form that the searcher can understand .
It forces you to go onto advanced search where just in putting the date period is so fiddly and then choose topics ahhg it's so hit and miss whether it works, trying to transfer the topics onto the other side using the arrows , absolutely pedestrian .... especially when you're using an iPad !

All in all this facility is so bargain basement basic Mumsnetters deserve something better don't you think ?

OP posts:

TresDesolee · 02/04/2016 22:19

Top tip: in the Google search bar, type

site:www.mumsnet.com

(then a space) then your search term. It will return results only from pages on the mumsnet site.

(I never use advance search since discovering this)

EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard · 02/04/2016 22:29

I find that I type in something specific and it returns results for something more predictable whilst asking 'did you mean' ?

The results also come up in a very random order, not chronologically e.g searching just my own name returns results dated 22.3.16, 22.2.15.17.2.14, 30.3.16, 2.9.14 and so . I posted several times today and yesterday and the day before

SisterMoonshine · 02/04/2016 22:33

Oh is it the iPad that makes the 'select topics' bit with > and >> impossible?

MissBeaHaving · 02/04/2016 22:46

I don't even bother with it anymore really,I agree with all pp have said.

Another one wondering if we will get on that works on the App? Pretty please & gin!

HeHasRisen · 02/04/2016 22:50

I was looking earlier for journals and used organiser, planner and diary alongside journal in my search. It gave me threads from 2012 back to 2008.

I started my own thread and someone gave me a link to an old thread on the subject. They're called bullet journals and there was a thread in Feb 2016 that hadn't been picked up in the word search. I was surprised by this, perhaps this is what people are describing when they say it's not very functional?

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