# Search time **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 5, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-time/608475 "2012-01-05T06:21:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Niply\_Elder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@The\_Niply\_Elder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Niply_Elder)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-time/608475/1 "2012-01-05T06:21:19Z")
The current setting of 120 seconds wait between searches is ridiculously long. What if I make a spelling mistake, or want more/less keyword? 2 minutes? Preposterous. Mods please change this to a more reasonable 15 seconds. I understand the need to limit bots and such, but comon, this makes search almost useless. I probably should have searched for a topic like this already, but when I did it found nothing related to “120 seconds”. I really can’t be arsed to wait that long to modify my search. See? I made this post in less time. I should get some Meta brownie points. ---
**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 5, 2012, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-time/608475/2 "2012-01-05T06:40:48Z")
It used to be five minutes. The problem is the servers can’t keep up with more frequent searches. Brings the whole thing to a grinding halt. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-time/608475/3 "2012-01-05T06:41:20Z")
The board is indexed so forget the board search engine as it’s crap anyway. Just use google. site:boards.straightdope.com “keyword” and you’re off. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-time/608475/4 "2012-01-05T07:33:30Z")
I’m not an IT expert by any means, but I doubt frequent searches would bring the boards to a halt. I don’t know what the Dope’s stats are, but another vB board I belong to typically has 1000 to 1500 members online at one time and has no limit between searches. That board runs smooth as glass. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-time/608475/5 "2012-01-05T08:59:07Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > The board is indexed so forget the board search engine as it’s crap anyway. Just use google. site:boards.straightdope.com “keyword” and you’re off. Doesn’t work for finding threads by a particular user though. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-time/608475/6 "2012-01-05T13:12:38Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I’m not an IT expert by any means, but I doubt frequent searches would bring the boards to a halt. I don’t know what the Dope’s stats are, but another vB board I belong to typically has 1000 to 1500 members online at one time and has no limit between searches. That board runs smooth as glass. In addition to the traffic, you have to consider what the server equipment is like as well. I’ll bet that other board is using better equipment. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-time/608475/7 "2012-01-05T17:03:33Z")
> [@srzss05](#): > > In addition to the traffic, you have to consider what the server equipment is like as well. I’ll bet that other board is using better equipment. True. I think instead of hamsters, they’re using guinea pigs in a rowboat to generate power. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-time/608475/8 "2012-01-05T17:26:47Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Doesn’t work for finding threads by a particular user though. While that might be true [there are plenty of ways to narrow down a google search of the boards.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=518829) ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-time/608475/9 "2012-01-05T17:33:42Z")
The way I understand it, the 2 minute limitation was imposed some years ago when _it was thought_ that too-frequent searches were either the cause or a contributing factor to seemingly unrelated board errors. To test that theory and play it safe, the limitation was imposed. Since the board problems have gone away, we might first jump to conclusions that the limitation fixed it, but this would be _post hoc_ reasoning. Is there any good evidence that there is a connection, and if not, why not lift the limitation?