# searching using my name finds threads without my name in. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 10, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749 "2003-10-10T23:13:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/1 "2003-10-10T23:13:26Z")
If I do a search for Username:Lobsang show results as threads, the results turn up threads that I have neither posted in nor have been mentioned in. Why is that? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/2 "2003-10-10T23:18:23Z")
Could you recreate the search and give us the link, **Lobsang**? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/3 "2003-10-10T23:45:33Z")
[Link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?s=&action=showresults&searchid=932543&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending) The ‘acroname game’ thread (or at least the linked page) does not contain my name. And I suspect neither does ‘the consecutive number game’ but I haven’t checked as the boards are a bit choppy tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/4 "2003-10-11T00:07:07Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Lobsang \* > [BThe ‘acroname game’ thread (or at least the linked page) does not contain my name._\* [Yes, it does.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/report.php?s=&postid=3841186) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/5 "2003-10-11T00:10:46Z")
Oops. Messed up link, but the postid ait contains is right. Second page of that thread. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/6 "2003-10-11T00:23:46Z")
::growl:: You DO realize that vanity searches kill hamsters by the score, don’t you? Don’t you? I believe that our tech has said that searches put THE most strain on the server. So don’t do vanity searches unless you’ve got a damn good reason. Lynn For the Straight Dope ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/7 "2003-10-11T00:24:39Z")
Oops. Messed up link, but the postid ait contains is right. Second page of that thread. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/8 "2003-10-11T17:07:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Report this Post to a Moderator > Logged in user: Lobsang [logout] > Reason: > > This is to be used to report spam, duplicate posts/threads, violations of the forum rules and any other such things requiring a moderator’s attention. from **Q.E.D.**'s link. Have I been whooshed? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/9 "2003-10-11T17:09:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lynn Bodoni \* > \*\*::growl:: > > You DO realize that vanity searches kill hamsters by the score, don’t you? Don’t you? I believe that our tech has said that searches put THE most strain on the server. So don’t do vanity searches unless you’ve got a damn good reason. > > Lynn > For the Straight Dope \*\* k ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/10 "2003-10-11T17:12:44Z")
Whooshed? No, I don’t think so. **Q.E.D.** said he’s mucked up the link, **Lobsang**. In that acroname thread, you posted at least twice. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/11 "2003-10-11T17:13:40Z")
**Q.E.D.** I did a search for my name, show results as threads, from ‘whenever’. Then I click on the linked ‘acroname game thread’ and then I type ctrl-f and type ‘lobsang’ It finds the usuall ‘Lobsang [logout]’ at the end of the page, and nothing else. The same is true for the ‘consecutive number’ page linked to. I might possibly be in those threads on different pages, but not on the specific page found. **Lynn** what’s the score on disabling the search ability alltogether if it is such a burden, and re-enabling it for one hour a day? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/12 "2003-10-11T17:18:13Z")
So, you only checked the first page of a multi-page thread you did appear in? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/13 "2003-10-11T17:25:52Z")
I always thought the search feature was supposed to link to the specific page rather than the first page. It does for other search setups. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/14 "2003-10-11T17:31:17Z")
Not if you ask for the results as threads, rather than posts, **Lobsang**. If it had the option of “find page”, you’d be home and hosed. As it is, yes – you need to use your find function for every page on a multi-page thread. The search _is_ finding you – you’re just not looking far enough. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/searching-using-my-name-finds-threads-without-my-name-in/206749/15 "2003-10-11T17:42:22Z")
I guess I didn’t take ‘find results as threads’ literally enough. Thanks for the help \*\* Ice Wolf\*\* and **Q.E.D.** , and **Lynn** I’ll try to refrain from vanity searches FNO.