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How do we stop Trope Finder from being mistaken for search?

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Andariel Never Found from Disappeared never to be seen again (Long Runner) Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Never Found
#1: Jul 22nd 2023 at 12:42:39 PM

(Original post here)

Almost every week I see a query on Trope Finder from someone who mistakes TF for search.

Examples from the last 2 months alone: July 17, July 9, June 20, June 14, June 9, June 6

So, should Trope Finder be renamed? What can we do to make it more clear that TF isn't search?

Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#2: Jul 22nd 2023 at 12:58:58 PM

I dont think we can't regardless of name change or big banner

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
themayorofsimpleton Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him from the Island of Koridai (Captain) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
Short-Term Projects Herald | he/him
#3: Jul 22nd 2023 at 1:20:05 PM

If it means anything, here's the thread that gave Trope Finder its current name (which was previously Lost And Found).

Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall
bwburke94 I am mad scientist! It's so cool! from 1.048596% (Y2: Electric Boogaloo) Relationship Status: She does the things you do, but she is an IBM
I am mad scientist! It's so cool!
#4: Jul 22nd 2023 at 1:58:31 PM

Maybe we can have a big green banner.

2025: the year it all ends?
AudioSpeaks2 Since: Apr, 2022
#5: Jul 22nd 2023 at 6:25:01 PM

Banner: "This ain't no search bar"

Idk, I'm just throwing ideas around.

Tabs Since: Jan, 2001
#6: Jul 22nd 2023 at 6:35:32 PM

Maybe a line underneath the main description saying "This is not a search bar. This is a place for asking other tropers to identify a trope".

MorganWick (Elder Troper)
#7: Jul 23rd 2023 at 2:46:57 AM

Would it help if the actual search bar was a brighter color, so it was easier to find?

Hello83433 (Lucky 7) Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
#8: Jul 23rd 2023 at 3:09:19 AM

It was renamed once already, but Tabs' post gave me the idea of renaming it again to something like "Trope Identifier".

CSP Cleanup Thread | All that I ask for ... is diamonds and dance floors
Andariel Never Found from Disappeared never to be seen again (Long Runner) Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Never Found
#9: Jul 23rd 2023 at 3:29:06 AM

[tup] I like the "Trope Identifier" idea (since I doubt anything involving words "find" or "search" in the name would fix the problem)

Edited by Andariel on Jul 23rd 2023 at 1:31:07 PM

AudioSpeaks2 Since: Apr, 2022
#10: Jul 23rd 2023 at 3:32:39 AM

"Trope identifier" is good.

Or "Identify this trope"

Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#11: Jul 23rd 2023 at 5:04:38 AM

I am against any more efforts to rename it!At this point rename won't solve anything,the name is perfectly clear

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
MacronNotes (she/her) (Captain) Relationship Status: Less than three
(she/her)
#12: Jul 23rd 2023 at 5:06:57 AM

I don't think the name is the issue. It's just people not paying attention. I don't think we need to go through a second rename. If a green banner is really necessary, we can do that.

Macron's notes
Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#13: Jul 23rd 2023 at 5:12:05 AM

If we want to really make people pay attention to the banner it should be Red

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the "Retromancer"
#14: Jul 23rd 2023 at 5:45:18 AM

Reposting my precious post: renaming just the "Find a Trope" button and adding a note right above it.

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
Mrph1 he/him from Mercia (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: This is not my beautiful wife!
he/him
#15: Jul 23rd 2023 at 6:57:14 AM

Can we just take it to wishlist and see if kory can make the "describe a trope" body text mandatory?

The issue seems to be people thinking the title field is a search, but if we force them to fill in both fields, that should be less of an issue, as it'll make the real nature of TF clearer?

Edited by Mrph1 on Jul 23rd 2023 at 2:57:50 PM

Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the "Retromancer"
#16: Jul 23rd 2023 at 7:00:21 AM

I think queries in general without the post text shouldn't be allowed, and a simple fix is just adding "required" key to text field.

Edited by Amonimus on Jul 23rd 2023 at 5:00:31 PM

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
eroock Since: Sep, 2012
#17: Jul 24th 2023 at 2:58:35 AM

In case we also redo the Trope Finder page description, please include a line reminding people to post examples for their tropes. New users don't realize how much context matters to pinpoint the specific trope they are looking for.

Andariel Never Found from Disappeared never to be seen again (Long Runner) Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Never Found
#18: Jul 24th 2023 at 9:30:54 AM

Making the text decription required is a good idea, as is renaming just the "Find a Trope" button into something less misleading

(Also, another mistaken search query has been added just now. Exactly one week after the previous one, like freaking clockwork. EDIT: aaaaaand another one, just two days later)

Edited by Andariel on Jul 25th 2023 at 10:59:34 PM

MacronNotes (she/her) (Captain) Relationship Status: Less than three
(she/her)
#19: Jul 24th 2023 at 9:36:05 AM

I think Amonimus idea of adding a requirement key to TF (and by extension other query forums) is all we have to do. People who do these things never bother to use the text box.

Macron's notes
Amonimus the "Retromancer" from <<|Wiki Talk|>> (Sergeant) Relationship Status: In another castle
the "Retromancer"
#20: Jul 24th 2023 at 9:41:54 AM

For demonstration, this is what happens when I insert "required" to the box.

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tropefinder.png

TroperWall / WikiMagic Cleanup
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