# How do I effectively search this board for a topic I posted? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 3, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520 "2025-01-03T14:26:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/1 "2025-01-03T14:26:29Z")
I’m sure people have complained before about the poor search function. I’m looking for a post I’m pretty sure I created involving a solar panel build I had for my truck. The post was in the last 5 years. I can’t seem to get good results when I use the search and advanced search function. Any advice on an effective way to actually search for something here and legitimately find it? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/2 "2025-01-03T14:30:05Z")
This? > [@How long will a 12v lead battery run a laptop?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-a-12v-lead-battery-run-a-laptop/920441): > > I’m considering a solar system to work on the road with my laptop. THe laptop is rated at 65 watts. I know 12v lead acid batteries come in many flavors, but lets just pick a more or less standard 44Ah, 720Amp battery. How long could I expect such a battery to run my laptop? Assume I have all the correct and necessary inverter, charge controller, solar panel to charge the battery completely, etc. I essentially would like to run my work computer off of the grid for as long as I can without re… ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/3 "2025-01-03T14:34:12Z")
No this one > [@Products to wrap electrical wires for protection and hiding](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-to-wrap-electrical-wires-for-protection-and-hiding/942706/12): > > My vote for Self-amalgamating tape. Probably got enough stretch in it to also cover the terminal joints so you’ll have one long weatherproof cover for the whole cable length. My question is…how can I effectively find this thread using the search function. I had to go through all my posts to finally, just now find it. I had to go to the 3 lines on the top right and scroll through ‘my posts’. looking for it. Ironically, your post at least gave me a timeline to better start in my search Using the magnifying glass and doing advanced search was ineffective and frustrating ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/4 "2025-01-03T14:49:10Z")
One way is if you can remember a specific word or phrase that was used that’s likely to be unique like “Self-amalgamating”. And then bookmark that thread or post if you think you might want to return to it later. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/5 "2025-01-03T14:53:30Z")
If you click on your own avatar, then click it again, you can click on “Topics” to get to a list of all the threads you started. You have a lot, but that’s going to be the easier way I think. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/6 "2025-01-03T15:12:22Z")
If you search for “solar panel” in posts by @Sigene. it’s the 6th thread (of 6). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/7 "2025-01-03T15:14:35Z")
So click the Search button 🔍 In this search box, click the _sliders_ button on the far right. Click ▶ Advanced filters Include some search words, from your example I’m using _solar_ _Truck_. In **Posted By** , enter the name of the poster Include a **date range** if possible to narrow it down. I selected **Posted** _after_ & _01/01/2020_ Below _I read_ is a pull down box that says _any_, pull down and select _I created_ or _are the very first post_ * * * * * * All this should narrow it down a lot. This gets no results as Truck apparently wasn’t in the thread, but I removed _Truck_ and got only 4 hits including this thread of course. [What I used in the end](https://boards.straightdope.com/search?q=solar%20%20%40Sigene%20after%3A2020-01-01%20in%3Afirst): solar @Sigene after:2020-01-01 in:first ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/8 "2025-01-03T15:15:57Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > click the _sliders_ button on the far left. It’s far right for me. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/9 "2025-01-03T15:18:00Z")
Fixed, thank you. Geez, I even had my coffee already. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/10 "2025-01-03T15:22:28Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > > [@What\_Exit](#): > > > > click the _sliders_ button on the far left. > > It’s far right for me. More examples of the political bias on this board! 😜 ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/11 "2025-01-03T21:45:25Z")
I’ve always had good success with just typing “@me” and a few keywords in the general search box (not using advanced search) to find threads I started or participated in. Not once had to use the advanced search since the move to Discourse, I think. ETA: I forgot to explain, @me is a shorthand in searches for @yourusername, so for @Sigene in your case. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/12 "2025-01-03T22:06:26Z")
Wow! I had no idea @me did that. THANK YOU!!1! ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/13 "2025-01-03T22:37:01Z")
No biggie. Of course that works with any other user too, if you put an ‘@’ before their username in the search box. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/14 "2025-01-03T23:34:45Z")
I hope Discourse doesn’t allow someone to create a profile called “me”. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/15 "2025-01-03T23:38:45Z")
Again, you don’t actually type “[at]me” in the search box. You type “[at][yourusername]”. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2025, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/16 "2025-01-03T23:40:30Z")
No, you got that wrong. You actually type “@me” as a shorthand, and that scans to your username. I hope I’m clearer now. The @me is coded in Discourse to resolve to the username of the actual user. ETA: try it with the search term “@me How do I effectively search”, and you’ll get this thread as first result. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/17 "2025-01-04T00:15:04Z")
Well damn, I tried doing that at first, and it pulled up users with “me” at the beginning of their name. But I was absolutely wrong - when you do the actual search it works. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/18 "2025-01-04T02:12:00Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > If you search for “solar panel” in posts by @Sigene. it’s the 6th thread (of 6). That’s how I got it as well, except it was 3rd of 6. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2025, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/19 "2025-01-04T10:48:58Z")
I too found the question rather baffling. The main difficulty in searching is accurately remembering keyword(s) you actually used in the target thread but not too many more threads. It’s too easy to think you wrote e.g. “truck” when you did not. No search engine can read your mind. Yet. Which suggests that if you’re getting frustrated that “it’s not finding it”, odds are you’ve mis-remembered a keyword. Try something else. I’ve noticed that the longer I’ve been a poster / member, the fuzzier my memory of _when_ I wrote something, while I’m still pretty sharp on _what_ keywords I used. So as a strategy I’ll start by narrowing by keyword, and only then by date. Do a search with no date restrictions at all, sort by thread start date then eyeball the results to see how much time interval covers about 40 hits. Then use that interval to page back in time methodically, like last 1 (or 5) year interval, previous 1 (or 5) year interval, etc. As long as the result set from any time-interval search is smaller than “50+” I know I got them all. The more unique my keyword the larger slice of time I can use and still get less than “50+” results. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2025, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-effectively-search-this-board-for-a-topic-i-posted/1012520/20 "2025-01-05T05:10:26Z")
Handy trick!