Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ask Slashdot: Are There Any Search Engines Left That Don't Try To Think For Me?

Posted by timothy on from the that's-what-the-quotes-are-for dept.

An anonymous reader writes: As a programmer especially, I'm becoming increasingly unhappy with Google searches. They try very hard to present me with what they think I'm searching for instead of what I'm actually searching for. This issue mostly shows up when searching error messages, obscure type and function names and stuff like that. What I think though, is that I only notice the issue when searching for stuff I know a lot about, namely programming, but my queries get distorted when I'm searching for just about anything, I just don't know enough about the subject to notice. Are there any alternative search engines left that don't think they know better than me what I'm looking for and just search for my phrase, like in the 2000s? Searching for exact strings is an option with Google, but what search engines are the most hands-off to start with?

15 of 424 comments (clear)

  1. quotation marks by grimmjeeper · · Score: 4, Informative

    Try enclosing your error output in quotation marks. That tells Google that you're looking for that phrase, not just that combination of words.

    1. Re:quotation marks by a+whoabot · · Score: 4, Informative

      The advanced search fails similarly to using quotation marks:

      https://www.google.ca/?gfe_rd=...

      https://www.google.com/search?...

      The last is done with the advanced search. Every result on the first 10 pages does not even contain the string for which I searched.

    2. Re:quotation marks by JMJimmy · · Score: 4, Informative

      Try enclosing your error output in quotation marks. That tells Google that you're looking for that phrase, not just that combination of words.

      HAHAHAHA

      Google regularly ignores the quotation marks, drops words inside them, fails to include them together... they've even started ignoring the - when you want to exclude something... I'll do something like -shop and it'll bring up domains with shop in it, in the title, and in the description

  2. Re:Amen brother! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Going to be unpopular, but I've noticed I get better results when I'm logged in. When I search for programming terms that are not obviously unique to programming (example: "Spring" from Spring Framework) I get relevant results as Google knows I'm usually searching for programming related material, if I need to a "clean" search I can go to incognito for a second to get that.

  3. Re:Verbatim vs. Reading Level by Dwedit · · Score: 4, Informative

    Or just add "Google Verbatim" to your search engine list:
    http://mycroftproject.com/sear...

  4. Startpage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    startpage.com works reasonably well and doesn't try to outsmart you too much; I find it works well for error messages. They also don't track you, so that's nice.

  5. Re:Did you mean... by thechemic · · Score: 5, Informative

    Did you mean... "are there any humans left that know how to RTFM?" Google provides instructions on advanced use cases such as these.

    Advanced Search Form:
    http://www.google.com/advanced_search

    Advanced operators to filter and fine tune results:
    https://sites.google.com/site/gwebsearcheducation/advanced-operators

    --
    Let's make like a bird... and get the flock outta here.
  6. Re:Amen brother! by squiggleslash · · Score: 5, Informative

    Check this box if you can spell and really mean what you type.

    There is, but unfortunately you can't set it up as a default, and you have to select it after you've done your search.

    Go to Search Tools, you'll see a drop down currently marked "All Results", change it to "Verbatim", and you'll get a classic Google search (for the most part.)

    I'm finding about 90% of my Google searches end up with my selecting that option. Google, seriously, when are you going to fix this?

    --
    You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  7. Re:Amen brother! by QuietLagoon · · Score: 5, Informative

    Check this box if you can spell and really mean what you type.

    There is, but unfortunately you can't set it up as a default, and you have to select it after you've done your search.

    Go to Search Tools, you'll see a drop down currently marked "All Results", change it to "Verbatim", and you'll get a classic Google search (for the most part.)

    I'm finding about 90% of my Google searches end up with my selecting that option. Google, seriously, when are you going to fix this?

    If you put &tbs=li:1 at the end of your search URL, you'll get verbatim results.

  8. http://symbolhound.com/ by the_pouar · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://symbolhound.com/

  9. Re:Amen brother! by __aabppq7737 · · Score: 4, Informative
    and if you're on a network that attempts to downgrade https:/// to http:/// google searches, append

    &gws_rd=ssl

    to the end of your URI.

  10. Oh my god by dlenmn · · Score: 4, Informative

    Wow, you're right. They've co opted the + to search Google+ pages. WTF? From the page you linked to: "[+ symbol usage:] Search for Google+ pages or blood types Examples: +Chrome or AB+"

  11. Re:Amen brother! by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'm not. they USED to let you store a list of domains to NEVER EVER allow in the results. They removed that because the scumbag aggregator sites bitched.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  12. Re:Try GoodGopher by ZipK · · Score: 4, Informative

    You are attacking a person's search engine based on something that has nothing to do with their search engine.

    From the site's front page:

    Submit your site to the world's first search engine that filters out corporate propaganda and government disinfo!

    With your help, we are building the internet's largest search engine for those searching for information and news on liberty, natural healing, central banks, food freedom, advanced science and a multitude of other topics no longer allowed in NSA-controlled search engines.

  13. Re:Amen brother! by rahvin112 · · Score: 4, Informative

    I bet google spends millions every single year just combating the SEO and other crap that goes on with Search. They can't direct term search or the results would immediately be polluted beyond use by SEO. Google has had to adapt to these changes.