Is it just bad software?

Example: yesterday I noticed a thread about Google Earth, and wanted to find it again. I typed in "google" "Google" "google earth" and "Google Earth" - I also left blank the state selection. Nothing. Nada. The thread would not show up, although some on the list were quite new, there were big date gaps: two from 7/13, then nothing til 7/6. Google is mentioned every day here. I even tried pressing the Search button over and over like I have to do with my name sometimes to find the most recent threads. I eventually found it the "backdoor" way by clicking on a respondent's name I had remembered seeing.

Is it me?

It's a bad search engine. First off, threads are typically not "indexed" to be searchable for a few days. Also, the search engine is just bad, so even after indexing you can have trouble using it.

I remember seeing a response from an editor at some point that they are working on improving it, but I have no idea when the new search engine will be rolled out.

Once threads are indexed, you can go to google and do an advanced search specifying fodors.com as the domain to search and at least you'll bypass the bad search logic here. But it still won't work for the newest threads.

If you know you will need to pull a thread up in the future, post a reply. This way by clicking on your name you'll eventually get to it. One of the ways "around" a problem.

Otherwise... good luck! The search is really bad. Looks like the indexing was not done for May posts, for example, when the travel (and reports! and great advices!) volume is up.

I thought it was just me...I went to update a recent Space Shuttle thread and the only one I could find after searching many different words I KNEW were in the title I ended up topping a two year old post.

Seach has been off for over a month now ... simply unreliable to search on a subject, or name. For what they charge for this service, you'd think the editors would get off their duffs and straighten things out. LOL, don't report me ... but seriously, how is one to search on travel issues such as handbags. Jeez.