# I'm Sorry, But The SDMB Search Engine Sucketh **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 30, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-but-the-sdmb-search-engine-sucketh/607781 "2011-12-30T00:50:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-but-the-sdmb-search-engine-sucketh/607781/1 "2011-12-30T00:50:36Z")
I was trying to find the thread “What are you reading”, and I tried every way I knew to get it to come up, but no go. What am I doing wrong? I tried just “reading”, plus the whole phrase… Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-but-the-sdmb-search-engine-sucketh/607781/2 "2011-12-30T00:57:31Z")
The SDMB search is very limited in functionality. Try Google: [“What are you reading” site:straightdope.com](http://www.google.com.au/search?q=%22What+are+you+reading%22+site%3Astraightdope.com) ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-but-the-sdmb-search-engine-sucketh/607781/3 "2011-12-30T01:06:56Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Try Google: Yes, a lot easier. However, it’s also why we get so many zombie threads popping up. Someone does a general Google search, comes across a thread about Beanie Babies or something that’s a decade old, and then thinks it’s the hot topic of day–so of course they have to post, to let us in on the truth regarding Beanie Babies. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-but-the-sdmb-search-engine-sucketh/607781/4 "2011-12-30T01:09:07Z")
I have [this](https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&safe=off&site=&source=hp&q=site:boards.straightdope.com&pbx=1&oq=site:boards.straightdope.com&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1086l6039l0l6444l28l23l0l0l0l0l214l2758l9.13.1l23l0&fp=1&biw=1366&bih=556&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&cad=b) set as a bookmark in my toolbar so I can click on it and just add my search terms. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-but-the-sdmb-search-engine-sucketh/607781/5 "2011-12-30T01:20:28Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I have [this](https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&safe=off&site=&source=hp&q=site:boards.straightdope.com&pbx=1&oq=site:boards.straightdope.com&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1086l6039l0l6444l28l23l0l0l0l0l214l2758l9.13.1l23l0&fp=1&biw=1366&bih=556&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&cad=b) set as a bookmark in my toolbar so I can click on it and just add my search terms. As do I… now! 😉 Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-but-the-sdmb-search-engine-sucketh/607781/6 "2011-12-30T01:40:57Z")
For this particular search, I believe the thread is usually titled “Whatcha Reading,” not “What are you reading.” ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-but-the-sdmb-search-engine-sucketh/607781/7 "2011-12-30T01:42:31Z")
**Twicks** , could you move it, please? Thanks! Quasi ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-but-the-sdmb-search-engine-sucketh/607781/8 "2011-12-30T02:54:19Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I have [this](https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&safe=off&site=&source=hp&q=site:boards.straightdope.com&pbx=1&oq=site:boards.straightdope.com&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1086l6039l0l6444l28l23l0l0l0l0l214l2758l9.13.1l23l0&fp=1&biw=1366&bih=556&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&cad=b) set as a bookmark in my toolbar so I can click on it and just add my search terms. converted to include a popup for search terms: ```auto javascript:void(location.href='https://www.google.com/?q=site:boards.straightdope.com#q=site:boards.straightdope.com '+prompt("Enter your search terms:")) ``` ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-but-the-sdmb-search-engine-sucketh/607781/9 "2011-12-30T03:02:05Z")
Just a FYI, but I found out that if someone is on your ignore list, you won’t be able to find any of their posts here (well if you are logged in that is of course). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-but-the-sdmb-search-engine-sucketh/607781/10 "2011-12-30T03:16:10Z")
Do you mean the monthly threads that **Khadaji** starts? The actual thread names start with **Watcha Readin’**. Try that. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-but-the-sdmb-search-engine-sucketh/607781/11 "2011-12-30T04:32:37Z")
You can use the advanced search form to limit your terms to thread titles only. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-but-the-sdmb-search-engine-sucketh/607781/12 "2011-12-31T00:04:41Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Do you mean the monthly threads that **Khadaji** starts? The actual thread names start with **Watcha Readin’**. Try that. And of course, that should have been **Whatcha Readin’** , with an H after the W. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sorry-but-the-sdmb-search-engine-sucketh/607781/13 "2011-12-31T00:06:46Z")
No probs, **Sam**! I found it just fine! 🙂 Q