# Why is the board so hit-and-miss? Could we restrict or de-prioritise searches? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 10, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-board-so-hit-and-miss-could-we-restrict-or-de-prioritise-searches/298701 "2005-04-10T21:48:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **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:** [April 10, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-board-so-hit-and-miss-could-we-restrict-or-de-prioritise-searches/298701/1 "2005-04-10T21:48:20Z")
I know I’ve asked this before, and so have other people. But I don’t remember ever seeing a definite answer, just lots of conjecture. (that’s my big-word quota for the day used up) I’m not asking why the boards are slow. The basic answer is adequate - that too many people are trying to access. What I am asking is why is it non-responsive one minute, and running like formula 1 engine the next? I remember something in the answers about lots of searching going on. If it’s searches that cause this problem can’t they be restricted when congestion is high? Can’t there be some switch that gives us a message like “Searching is disabled temporarily due to bandwidth congestion. Please try again later” Does the Staff even have anyone capable of customising vbulletin at this level (assuming it can be done)? ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2005, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-board-so-hit-and-miss-could-we-restrict-or-de-prioritise-searches/298701/2 "2005-04-10T23:32:41Z")
It’s not a setting in vB, sorry. We never do seem to have enough capacity to make everyone happy all the time. We could further restrict the search parameters, but that would make everybody aggravated about search again. I wish I had a better answer for you. your humble TubaDiva ---
**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:** [April 11, 2005, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-board-so-hit-and-miss-could-we-restrict-or-de-prioritise-searches/298701/3 "2005-04-11T00:06:00Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > I wish I had a better answer for you. No problem. Simply letting me know that it’s not implementable in vb is a good enough answer. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-board-so-hit-and-miss-could-we-restrict-or-de-prioritise-searches/298701/4 "2005-04-11T03:06:52Z")
Thanks for the OP, **Lobsang**. I’ve always assumed that it’s been my machine! Same symptoms. Faster than greased lightning one minute and slower than molasses in February the next. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-board-so-hit-and-miss-could-we-restrict-or-de-prioritise-searches/298701/5 "2005-04-11T05:56:56Z")
WAG: Sometimes when it does that, it seems to be not just traffic, but specificly, traffic headed to the same place. ex. if it lags as I’m submitting a post, when it finally goes, there are more posts than when I started my message, as though several posts were squeezing through the door together. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2005, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-board-so-hit-and-miss-could-we-restrict-or-de-prioritise-searches/298701/6 "2005-04-11T06:16:07Z")
yes that tunnel can only fit one or two hamsters at a time. or three. maybe four. i think the problem is that they like to cuddle and just sleep there instead of going through… are we still using ham§sters?