Discussion:
Musings and a Question
(too old to reply)
Dan Marotta
2024-02-23 17:25:34 UTC
Permalink
Does anyone other than me recall the days when one could execute a
Boolean search on the internet?  Seems that, nowadays, the search
engines retrieve what they think you want, not what you asked for, e.g.,
do a simple search for, say 10 mm bolt, and see how much crap is
returned.  Then you have to search through the crap to find what you
used to be able to get simply by using a + or - sign in your search
term.  Those things seem to be ignored these days.
--
Dan 5J
Sarah Anderson
2024-02-23 19:55:25 UTC
Permalink
It must be winter.

I searched for "boolean search google" and got https://ahrefs.com/blog/google-advanced-search-operators/

I normally use the stupidly named "duckduckgo" search engine.
https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/results/syntax/
Does anyone other than me recall the days when one could execute a Boolean search on the internet?  Seems that, nowadays, the search
engines retrieve what they think you want, not what you asked for, e.g., do a simple search for, say 10 mm bolt, and see how much
crap is returned.  Then you have to search through the crap to find what you used to be able to get simply by using a + or - sign in
your search term.  Those things seem to be ignored these days.
Eric G
2024-02-24 14:09:16 UTC
Permalink
Those are helpful, and I also use duckduck, but revert to Google when dd doesn't find what
I'm after.

My biggest search is searching Amazon, where I find it very hard to narrow it's search. I
don't know what it's rules are, but it sure doesn't follow Google rules. Sometimes, it's
easier to narrow results if I search Amazon using Google. My guess is Amazon doesn't want
to narrow the results you see.
Eric G
Post by Sarah Anderson
It must be winter.
I searched for "boolean search google" and got
https://ahrefs.com/blog/google-advanced-search-operators/
I normally use the stupidly named "duckduckgo" search engine.
https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/results/syntax/
Does anyone other than me recall the days when one could execute a Boolean search on the
internet?  Seems that, nowadays, the search engines retrieve what they think you want,
not what you asked for, e.g., do a simple search for, say 10 mm bolt, and see how much
crap is returned.  Then you have to search through the crap to find what you used to be
able to get simply by using a + or - sign in your search term.  Those things seem to be
ignored these days.
Eric G
2024-02-24 14:18:30 UTC
Permalink
That should be "My biggest search PEEVE is ..."
Eric G
Post by Eric G
Those are helpful, and I also use duckduck, but revert to Google when dd doesn't find what
I'm after.
My biggest search is searching Amazon, where I find it very hard to narrow it's search. I
don't know what it's rules are, but it sure doesn't follow Google rules. Sometimes, it's
easier to narrow results if I search Amazon using Google. My guess is Amazon doesn't want
to narrow the results you see.
Eric G
Post by Sarah Anderson
It must be winter.
I searched for "boolean search google" and got
https://ahrefs.com/blog/google-advanced-search-operators/
I normally use the stupidly named "duckduckgo" search engine.
https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/results/syntax/
Does anyone other than me recall the days when one could execute a Boolean search on
the internet?  Seems that, nowadays, the search engines retrieve what they think you
want, not what you asked for, e.g., do a simple search for, say 10 mm bolt, and see how
much crap is returned.  Then you have to search through the crap to find what you used
to be able to get simply by using a + or - sign in your search term.  Those things seem
to be ignored these days.
Dan Marotta
2024-02-24 16:25:26 UTC
Permalink
Yes, It's winter in the Rockies and I broke my hip last week so I don't
have much to do these days.

I searched the web for advice on Boolean terms.  What used to be + and -
are now AND and NOT.  I tried 'em out, searching for a product I knew to
exist and using NOT to eliminate a particular brand.  The first three
hits were the product that I wanted to eliminate.  Seems the web knows
better than I do what I want.

I use duckduckgo, too.

Dan 5J
Post by Sarah Anderson
It must be winter.
I searched for "boolean search google" and got
https://ahrefs.com/blog/google-advanced-search-operators/
I normally use the stupidly named "duckduckgo" search engine.
https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/results/syntax/
Post by Dan Marotta
Does anyone other than me recall the days when one could execute a
Boolean search on the internet?  Seems that, nowadays, the search
engines retrieve what they think you want, not what you asked for,
e.g., do a simple search for, say 10 mm bolt, and see how much crap
is returned.  Then you have to search through the crap to find what
you used to be able to get simply by using a + or - sign in your
search term.  Those things seem to be ignored these days.
Charlie+
2024-02-25 07:26:23 UTC
Permalink
On Fri, 23 Feb 2024 10:25:34 -0700, Dan Marotta
Post by Dan Marotta
Does anyone other than me recall the days when one could execute a
Boolean search on the internet?  Seems that, nowadays, the search
engines retrieve what they think you want, not what you asked for, e.g.,
do a simple search for, say 10 mm bolt, and see how much crap is
returned.  Then you have to search through the crap to find what you
used to be able to get simply by using a + or - sign in your search
term.  Those things seem to be ignored these days.
This is informative:
https://support.startpage.com/hc/en-us/articles/4521473758228-Advanced-Search-on-Startpage
Startpage is a meta engine so terms have to work on other search engines
as well eg Google, Bing etc. C+
Dan Marotta
2024-02-25 15:40:53 UTC
Permalink
Hi Charlie,

This looks promising!  Thanks!

Dan 5J
Post by Charlie+
On Fri, 23 Feb 2024 10:25:34 -0700, Dan Marotta
Post by Dan Marotta
Does anyone other than me recall the days when one could execute a
Boolean search on the internet?  Seems that, nowadays, the search
engines retrieve what they think you want, not what you asked for, e.g.,
do a simple search for, say 10 mm bolt, and see how much crap is
returned.  Then you have to search through the crap to find what you
used to be able to get simply by using a + or - sign in your search
term.  Those things seem to be ignored these days.
https://support.startpage.com/hc/en-us/articles/4521473758228-Advanced-Search-on-Startpage
Startpage is a meta engine so terms have to work on other search engines
as well eg Google, Bing etc. C+
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