# Why do I have to wait 5 minutes after searching if it was a "database error"? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 14, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-wait-5-minutes-after-searching-if-it-was-a-database-error/477143 "2008-12-14T19:32:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_the\_deuce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/71e660/32.png) [@What\_the\_deuce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the_deuce)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-wait-5-minutes-after-searching-if-it-was-a-database-error/477143/1 "2008-12-14T19:32:53Z")
I tried to do a search for “resident evil” (titles only, all forums) and I got a screen saying “database error”. Fine, these things happen. So, I tried to do another search, but it said I have to wait 5 minutes. I understand waiting 5 minutes after I successfully do a search, but I’m being penalized for an error on the server side. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the\_deuce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/71e660/32.png) [@What\_the\_deuce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the_deuce)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-wait-5-minutes-after-searching-if-it-was-a-database-error/477143/2 "2008-12-14T19:35:30Z")
By the way, the “resident evil” search worked on my second attempt. What the deuce? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-wait-5-minutes-after-searching-if-it-was-a-database-error/477143/3 "2008-12-14T19:42:26Z")
> [@What\_the\_deuce](#): > > By the way, the “resident evil” search worked on my second attempt. > What the deuce? I have no idea. I know it hates some combinations, though. I’ve been trying for weeks now to search for threads on the movie “Open Water” and I’ve never been able to. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-wait-5-minutes-after-searching-if-it-was-a-database-error/477143/4 "2008-12-16T05:53:05Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > I have no idea. I know it hates some combinations, though. I’ve been trying for weeks now to search for threads on the movie “Open Water” and I’ve never been able to. That is odd. Just tried it myself and got a Fatal Error. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-wait-5-minutes-after-searching-if-it-was-a-database-error/477143/5 "2008-12-16T06:47:01Z")
You can’t search for Children of Men either. Putting it in quotes returns nothing and if you don’t put it in quotes “of” and “men” get filtered out for being too short. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-wait-5-minutes-after-searching-if-it-was-a-database-error/477143/6 "2008-12-16T07:02:35Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > You can’t search for Children of Men either. Putting it in quotes returns nothing and if you don’t put it in quotes “of” and “men” get filtered out for being too short. Change thread display parameters. It’s a nice trick that actually works a lot quicker and less frustrating than using this frickin’ search engine. [Children of Men: Easily the Best Movie of the Year (SPOILERS possible)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=402120) [Children of Men: The Thread ( spoilers )](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=405978) If you remember thread title, thread starter, and estimate how long ago it would have been started you can ping it in a couple clicks usually. Sorry, no help for Open Water, other than “You’re not really missing much.” ETA Open Water spoiler: Most of the Open Water discussions can be found in the threads about “WTF” and stupid movie moments. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-wait-5-minutes-after-searching-if-it-was-a-database-error/477143/7 "2008-12-16T09:02:05Z")
The five minute wait time is to prevent pattern baldness caused by pulling one’s hair out from frustration over search failures. ---
**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 16, 2008, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-wait-5-minutes-after-searching-if-it-was-a-database-error/477143/8 "2008-12-16T13:05:27Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > That is odd. Just tried it myself and got a Fatal Error. So you’re posting from the grave? That’s quite a feat. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-wait-5-minutes-after-searching-if-it-was-a-database-error/477143/9 "2008-12-18T03:58:01Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > So you’re posting from the grave? That’s quite a feat. Back in the day, they had to _earn_ that Charter Member status. Kids these days just pay for them. Bah, humbug. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-wait-5-minutes-after-searching-if-it-was-a-database-error/477143/10 "2008-12-18T04:21:28Z")
> [@bbs2k](#): > > Sorry, no help for Open Water, other than “You’re not really missing much.” > ETA Open Water spoiler: Most of the Open Water discussions can be found in the threads about “WTF” and stupid movie moments. 😃 Yeah, I started my own thread about it a while ago. Now it’s just the principal. I don’t even care about the movie, I just want the right to search on it, damnit!