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I do not know when they did this, but at some point, google changed how string searches work. This happened years ago and it still frustrates me.
What I mean by a string is a specific set of data, i.e. an exact phrase. It used to be that if I put in the phrase “purple watches in july” it would return that before anything else. It would not return “purple watches during july” or “purple watches dishwashers in july” before my string. It might give me related things, but only after my string.
Sometimes, actually, all the damn time, I don’t want searches similar to what I am looking for, I want that EXACT string, because that string is tied to some useful piece of information and only that string. Google seems to ignore quotes and while you may find your exact string hidden somewhere, you’ll get MANY other results first, indexed by popularity, relevcance etc. Damn you google, I want MY STRING and ONLY my string. Stop giving me other things you think are more useful first, I only want my precise string.
There was a time when google worked this way, I do not know when it changed, it has been a few years, I still find it frustrating.
Further…. there was a time when the AND parameter worked. No more. It used to be that if you put an AND in a search, it would return the first searches which had both terms. If I want Apples AND oranges AND grapefruits, I am only interested in things which have all 3 words. I do not want searches with just apples AND oranges to ever come before all 3. I do not want a webpage devoted to apples which has a REALLY high index because it is well linked too.
I am complaining that google has become too friendly for masses. If you knew how to use it’s more "obscure" features, i.e. string searching and other parameters properly you could swoop on specific pieces of information, regardless of how obscure they may be, with great ease.
*shakes his E fist at the internet and google*
Damn kids, get off my lawn! My rant is done.
What I mean by a string is a specific set of data, i.e. an exact phrase. It used to be that if I put in the phrase “purple watches in july” it would return that before anything else. It would not return “purple watches during july” or “purple watches dishwashers in july” before my string. It might give me related things, but only after my string.
Sometimes, actually, all the damn time, I don’t want searches similar to what I am looking for, I want that EXACT string, because that string is tied to some useful piece of information and only that string. Google seems to ignore quotes and while you may find your exact string hidden somewhere, you’ll get MANY other results first, indexed by popularity, relevcance etc. Damn you google, I want MY STRING and ONLY my string. Stop giving me other things you think are more useful first, I only want my precise string.
There was a time when google worked this way, I do not know when it changed, it has been a few years, I still find it frustrating.
Further…. there was a time when the AND parameter worked. No more. It used to be that if you put an AND in a search, it would return the first searches which had both terms. If I want Apples AND oranges AND grapefruits, I am only interested in things which have all 3 words. I do not want searches with just apples AND oranges to ever come before all 3. I do not want a webpage devoted to apples which has a REALLY high index because it is well linked too.
I am complaining that google has become too friendly for masses. If you knew how to use it’s more "obscure" features, i.e. string searching and other parameters properly you could swoop on specific pieces of information, regardless of how obscure they may be, with great ease.
*shakes his E fist at the internet and google*
Damn kids, get off my lawn! My rant is done.
df $1000..$3000
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