Author

Topic: problem trying to use search function more than once! (Read 673 times)

legendary
Activity: 858
Merit: 1000
Hello all...

I'm trying to learn as much as I can about Bitcoin from this forum. I want to search a lot. When I search for something and find nothing, I typically tweak my keywords and try again. But when I do that here, I get an error message:

Quote
The last posting from your IP was less than 360 seconds ago. Please try again later.

It seems like some filter that's intended to prevent people from spam-posting into threads is also preventing people from doing rapid repeated searches, which I think need to be allowed for us to learn best. I see a lot of encouragement to "use the search function" on these boards. I want to be able to take that advice and run with it!

My guess is that the search term is being sent as an HTTP POST request and all POST requests are subject to the filter. The easiest hack fix would be to change the search term to be sent as an HTTP GET request instead, otherwise the filter would have to be taught to distinguish between new message / reply POSTs and search query POSTs.

Anyone in a position to comment on how to get this done?

Wait a couple of minutes, then try again
administrator
Activity: 5222
Merit: 13032
That search is context-sensitive (it only searches the topic/section you're on), which Google can't easily do.
newbie
Activity: 18
Merit: 0
@theymos thanks for adding that! works much better for me.

My only other suggestion would be that, if site-integrated Google Search is now the recommended way to search the forum, that it also be used as the backend for the sitewide search function.

https://i.imgur.com/2aarZWm.jpg

Would that be possible? Either way, thanks again!
administrator
Activity: 5222
Merit: 13032
I added a Google search box to the search page. It should be a little better than even searching with "site:bitcointalk.org" because it ignores certain useless or duplicative pages.
newbie
Activity: 18
Merit: 0
I'm not into the idea of going back and forth between two sites for searching personally, but if that's how it has to be right now, so be it.

But there are users constantly asking about this, in the newbie forums especially...as such it might generate more spam than it prevents! Related post topics in newbie forums from the past week:

Quote
Forum Search Error
Quote
what's up with this site's broken search?
Quote
Search restrictions when logged in?
Quote
Search feature Useless
Quote
Search is throttled for newbies?

So, at the very least, if the error message that appears after repeated search attempts by throttled users could be more informative, perhaps that would stem the tide. Most people don't call a search query a "posting" so it's inherently confusing.

How about: "Sorry, but there is a limit on search frequency for new users. Please wait 6 minutes between searches. This is required to prevent certain kinds of hacking attacks."
legendary
Activity: 966
Merit: 1004
Keep it real
Newer members aren't allowed to search very often.

I suggest going to google and using "site:bitcointalk.org (search terms)".
newbie
Activity: 18
Merit: 0
Hello all...

I'm trying to learn as much as I can about Bitcoin from this forum. I want to search a lot. When I search for something and find nothing, I typically tweak my keywords and try again. But when I do that here, I get an error message:

Quote
The last posting from your IP was less than 360 seconds ago. Please try again later.

It seems like some filter that's intended to prevent people from spam-posting into threads is also preventing people from doing rapid repeated searches, which I think need to be allowed for us to learn best. I see a lot of encouragement to "use the search function" on these boards. I want to be able to take that advice and run with it!

My guess is that the search term is being sent as an HTTP POST request and all POST requests are subject to the filter. The easiest hack fix would be to change the search term to be sent as an HTTP GET request instead, otherwise the filter would have to be taught to distinguish between new message / reply POSTs and search query POSTs.

Anyone in a position to comment on how to get this done?
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