# Sort of a meta-question about the site ... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [July 23, 1999, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sort-of-a-meta-question-about-the-site/1041 "1999-07-23T21:48:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 1999, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sort-of-a-meta-question-about-the-site/1041/1 "1999-07-23T21:48:00Z")
How is the Mailbag Archive ordered? I’ve been watching the top and the bottom to see if there’s anything new, and the top ten or so and the bottom ten or so are the same as they were a month or more ago. But there’s still new mailbag archive stuff, because it keeps showing up here, and when I click on the link it takes me to a story I’ve never read before. Help! I’m _trying_ to keep up, honest. :-\> ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 1999, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sort-of-a-meta-question-about-the-site/1041/2 "1999-07-25T13:38:00Z")
As far as I can tell, it looks at the fourth letter of the second sentence of each Mailbag item, and then randomizes them. Seriously, I haven’t a clue, but I’ll try to find out in the next few days. I agree, it would be helpful to know – especially since the search engine is… well… to be charitabobble, let’s say it’s “less than fully reliable.” ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 1999, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sort-of-a-meta-question-about-the-site/1041/3 "1999-07-26T15:23:00Z")
Well, I wasn’t so far off. The topics are alphabetized by the URL. Umhmmm. Very helpful, _n’est-ce pas?_ This is a topic that will be included in discussions about how to make the archives more “user-friendly” in future.