How to use the search function

[IsobelWren]

*click the images to make them larger*

The new search function can be kind of confusing, especially if you're -as I was- well versed in using the old search function.

The full search function can be found to the upper right of the site, "advanced search" from any page. Using the little search box above it won't be very helpful at all.


There are two tabs to choose from:
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The one that it default opens to is the one on the right. Use that one if you want to search any kind of content from blog posts to group posts to the forum to profile messages.

If you know what kind of content you're going to search for, and you usually do, pick the left tab.

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As you can see, there's a drop down menu here, "search type" you can only pick one type, which is why the right hand tab is there, so you can search multiple types. Since you'll most likely be searching for posts in the forum I'm walking you through the left side as limited by "posts". If you're looking for something else like blog comments (does anybody actually keep a SW blog?) the single content search options will change to be relevant for that type of content.

In both tabs the next bit is the same, with one exception

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The above is from the left tab. You can search the body of a post or just the title of a post. The latter is useful if you're searching for a thread with a particular name. I suggest entering in only part of the name, I can't tell you how often I mis-remember the whole name of a thread but remember part correctly. It will only find things with the terms you wrote. So if you write "stupid annoying bullshit I've heard on cam" and the title is actually "stupid bullshit I've heard" it won't find the thread. If you write "stupid bullshit" it'll come up with the right thread (and some others)

The difference in this section in right tab versus left tab is that in the left tab you can search for either latest posts by a user or threads started by a user. Either one of these will only work if you type the user's name correctly. MzStar will work, MissStar won't. If you type slowly the forum will look for usernames like the one you're typing and will suggest names to you. Click on the one that you want.

The "tag" part is pretty much useless. Nobody ever tags their posts.

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Since this forum is goddamn gigantic, this bit is important. You want to make sure to limit your output to the most relevant forums. If you don't, your search results could be in the hundreds of pages and that's just useless. You can pick more than one section by clicking on the section you want and then holding down the ctrl key and selecting another forum until you're done.

"also search in child forums" is pretty tough to use since the drop down menu here doesn't make it easy to figure out what a "child forum" is. If you go to the basic forum page (stripperweb.com/forum) every pink box is a new second level forum. The "child forums" are all the things contained in each box. So if you wanted to search "Industry Insight" and "Customer Conversation" you'd pick "Open Industry Discussions" from the list above and click "search in child forums". Saves you one more click and it's already checked so don't even worry about it.

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I can tell you that in all the years I've been here I've never used the "find threads with at least ___ replies" so I left it out. It's useful if you want to find only big or little threads but why limit your information that way? Sometimes really good stuff is posted in really short threads.

I use the "any date and newer" ALL THE TIME. Usually if you've got a particular thread in mind you know roughly when it was posted and you can limit the digging you'll have to do by limiting your search this way. A suggestion, widen it larger than you think. Time flies and a thread you swear was posted a week ago can easily have been posted two weeks ago. Limiting all posts by "since my last visit" is a good way to see, quickly, what's been posted in your favorite forum since you've been here. Using the "New Posts" on the toolbar under the "What's New" or "Forum" tabs can return an intimidating amount of results. Plus we camgirls are prolific posters in the Camming Connection child forum and can clutter up the "What's New" with our many new threads.

Using "Show results as" is also particularly helpful. If you're looking for any advice at all on your new stripper girlfriend, "threads" is good, because it'll show only thread titles. If you're looking for a particular something that somebody said, "posts" is good because it'll show every single post with the words you searched for in it. Showing by posts when you mean threads can be really overwhelming.

You can save these settings in the lower right hand corner on both pages. This is really useful if you know you're going to be looking for this kind of thing a lot. Now every time you come to this page it'll already have this stuff all filled in. If you're using this to stalk another member, A)Shame on you and I hope someone reports you so I can ban you and B)Just go to their profile page and pick "view latest posts by".

Once you've hit search (don't hit reset, you'll punch yourself in the face) your results will display. Lots of results? Not sure if they're all what you're looking for? Hover over the title of the thread (if you've picked display as threads) and the first few sentences of the thread will pop up.

If your search doesn't return any results it'll give you suggestions of what you might have done wrong. A common problem is searching for a short or too-common word. Try to think of another, longer or less common way to say it. Another common problem is getting too specific in your search. Try to take out words, open up the date range or -if you're not sure that it was posted by that particular poster- remove the poster's name. If that still doesn't work, search more child forums. Frequently the advice strippers would give on something is still useful if posted by cam girls or escorts.

If you're still not finding what you're looking for use a different search term. Synonyms are not just for term papers! Can't find it on, "hiding identity"? Try, "hide identity" "lying about identity" "lying to family [or friends or boss]" "being anonymous" "persona" or anything else you can think of. Heck, do that anyway, even if you found what you were looking for the first time around.

Now you know, and knowing is half the battle!