Help us out, please search before posting an article.

3-19-03 | Admin Moderator

[Admin Moderator]

There have been too many duplicate threads lately. A search is easy to do, but is not 100% foolproof, nonetheless, it is very effective. The Free Republic search feature only looks at words in the title (words from within the article will not work). That is why it is imperative to use the original title. To avoid having duplicate posts, prior to posting an article, search a keyword from the title only. The main search page can be found here:

SEARCH

The best method to search is to pick a key word or two from the title. If the article you are posting is, "'Blixie Chicks' Blame Conservative Web Site", start with 'Chicks' for the key word. If it is a hot topic, you might want to use two keywords, in this case, try Chicks and Blixie. For an effective search, select 'match all words' and select 'order by post time'.

Search using 'chicks' only.

Search using 'blixie chicks'.

Three words or more can also be used. Be aware, three letter words will NOT search. You must use four or more letters per word. So searching for FBI, CIA, ABC, FOX will result in no matches.

Search using FBI

Please see this message from Jim, posted last night (3-18-03).

Announcement Regarding the Breaking News Posting Category

And another helpful thread was posted earlier today

Welcome, and Thanks! [New Posters In Particular, Please Read]

Thanks everyone, these announcements are in prepartion for the anticipated increase in volume once we start war.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Can FR initiate a filter that would spot when someone is about to post something with a link to the same URL of the article that someone else may have posted, and then they would get an 'error' message that this article has already been posted? Might be an idea. Might be problems with that approach, though.

[wimpycat]

Part of the trouble is, I have found, that often two different newspapers will run the exact same article under different titles.

[freedomlover]

I'm trying to find a link to yesterday's Ari Fletcher Press Conference, where I understand Helen Thomas got slapped around a little. My searching has failed. Can anyone help me?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

bttt

[TheBigB]

This has been posted before. ;)

J/K...by the way, I got a GREAT email from a friend last night about a letter Ted Nugent wrote called "I Am A BAD American"...can't wait for y'all to see it; it'll be posted in a minute...

[freedomlover]

bttt

Let me add to my previous post - I'm trying to find a link a FR thread relating to yesterday's Ari Fletcher Press Conference, where I understand Helen Thomas got slapped around a little. My searching has failed. Can anyone help me?

[7 x 77]

What about if something was posted at 1:30 in the morning, and that afternoon you'd like people to see it. Is it okay to repost?

[ewing]

I think this or the breaking news announcement from last night needs to go up on the top of the section before tonight, because people havent seen the message from last night.

[TomServo]

Do a search for the article. If you find it, bump it.

[EggsAckley]

I ALWAYS do a search, but lately the same article posted earlier does NOT show up on the search, twice when both had the same title. Don't know why.

[FairWitness]

In the past it was possible to search not only on words in the article title, but also on the author's name. Many articles of interest are published in more than one newspaper or other media. Unfortunately, titles to articles may differ from forum to forum. However, the author's name is a constant. When that was still a possibility on Free Republic, I found it to be the most reliable way to be sure an article was not previously posted. Why isn't it possible to restore that capability?

[Admin Moderator]

Yes, that is a problem, expecially AP. We do the best we can, and we appreciate everyone's help with the heads up. Thanks.

[Admin Moderator]

Let's see what John has to say.

[EggsAckley]

Maybe if you spelled Ari's name right you might have better success. FLEISCHER.

[OperationFreedom]

thanks

[Admin Moderator]

I heard right here on FR, it was the tourist guy who wrote it.

[Admin Moderator]

We generally let duplicates go if they are 5-6 hours apart or more, but it is considered old news by then, and will be removed from breaking news.

[FourPeas]

bttt

[Constitution Day]

BUMP.

As an aside, these incessant Elizabeth Smart/Laci Peterson/other true crime threads are going to drive me to drink.
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