check for similar threads before posting a new one mod?

[RedGTiVR6]

How would you all feel about a mod like this?

You love the 'similar threads' function and you are sick of duplicate threads just because your users don't use the search function?

Why not just combine them?

This Add-on will grab the thread title the user typed in and it will load a small box (using Ajax magic) with 5 similar threads just like the 'similar threads' function that you can normally find under an already posted thread.

The box also tells the user to search through the similar threads first BEFORE starting a new one.

I can turn it off for certian forums.

here's a quick screen shot:



Your thoughts?

[2k1Toaster]

Personally I find the "similar threads" useless. It never shows anything related to what I was looking at. If this is based off of the same function, then I vote no...

[RedGTiVR6]

this would be more for newbies, not vets like yourself.

it would be based off of the titles.

For instance: How to power a CarPC...instead of posting a new thread on the same thing over and over again.

I guess it would mostly be used in the newbie forum and not all over the site since I can turn off other forums...I'll just turn all off except for the newbie forum?

[JasonMK]

Personally I find the "similar threads" useless. It never shows anything related to what I was looking at. If this is based off of the same function, then I vote no...

I have at time actually found the "similar threads" helpful. Sometime they'll be half a dozen all too closely related threads going on. I guess that would be an indirect yes vote

[ODYSSEY]

As long as it generates useful similar threads. I don't know what the forum uses now, but usually it is worthless.

 
Bloomin' alternator whine 
OEM GPS mod. Writeup + Pics 2006
FAQ Tutorial: Wire/Pin Mod for Mobile Athlon 
F/S PSone Screen $20 Check it out VGA mod 
Posting pictures on Threads??

[2k1Toaster]

Yes maybe more relevant for newbie only, but there needs to be a better way than the same function as similar threads now.

Perhaps parsing the whole message and getting a percentage of similar keywords.

For instance, this thread has "similar" threads of:

Bloomin' alternator whine
OEM GPS mod. Writeup + Pics
FAQ Tutorial: Wire/Pin Mod for Mobile Athlon
F/S PSone Screen $20 Check it out VGA mod

Now I havent found anything in this thread to suggest alternator whine, modding a GPS puck, how to mod an Athlon cpu, and cant even imagine why the classified archives is showing a PSone screen for sale!

Like I said, the idea is sound, but if it is the same function, then it wont be too useful.

EDIT: Ody beat me to it.

[kevinlekiller]

Personally I find the "similar threads" useless.

It should be called similar thread titles ( since it looks like that is what its doing and why it is so useless )

[kevinlekiller]

:



Your thoughts?

Can't see the thread without being logged in to their forum

[RedGTiVR6]

ah well, no biggie anyways.