The Filter/Tag System

So, I've been using AFF for a few years, and it has always bugged me how I had to go through a multitude of ty fanfics to find good ones. If anyone here uses FFNet, you know how the system is set up. They have a dropdown list of filters, such as "sort by", "character (a)/(b)", "complete/on-going", etc. It makes it much easier to find stories you want to read.

Why don't we have the option to combine tags while searching for stories on AFF? I know using a dropdown menu wouldn't work, since there's a lot of stories that would become uncategorised if tags were removed. Why not just let us search for multiple tags at the same time?

EDIT: Nvm, I was just a blind bat. Thank you to MissMinew for helping me see the light. :D
AwesomeGalaxyPanda 7 years ago
I know what you mean. The sorting option is really messy here, I mean you can add 4 tags but even then - you end up with too broad of a spectrum that you can't filter or sort and most of the time it tells you that there are no fanfictions for tags you've used even if they're all pretty generic. Or the fact that you can't sort by both completed AND by views when you want to. I mean I like seeing new, recently completed stuff because you find some hidden gems at times but when I search for the popular stuff so many of them are uncompleted so it can be really hard. There are so many things I love about this website and I'm so glad it exists, but the sorting function does need a lot of focus - that and allowing authors to use more tags in their stories so they're not forced to all use the same typical tags and it tells you more about the story without you having to click it yet ^^
[deleted]
rainbowmarcher 7 years ago
@NutellaBreath Yeah, exactly. There's a difference between saying that the fic is ty vs the writer is ty. I did the former. And I've noticed that the smaller fandoms, like BAP, have some of the most well-written fics.
TofuFaith
7 years ago
I also hate ty fics. Let's be honest, some things on here are just... (not saying that I'm expecting Shakespeare or that I'm a great writer). But I never insult the writers or anything. I just move onto the next ones. Unfortunately, I don't find great ones very easily, but I try my best. I'm diligent like that. There are amazing writers on here.
TofuFaith
7 years ago
Huh, I didn't know you could search multiple tags. Now I'll have to figure it out, lol.
rainbowmarcher 7 years ago
@hamsicle I replied to a fairly recent discussion about this topic yesterday. If writers are unwilling to improve or use beta readers to proofread their work, then I reserve the right to criticize them. I'm not a native speaker either, English is my third language. Yet I still manage to "somehow" take the time to proofread, edit, and make sure that my chapters are perfect, at least grammatically.

I realize that most people write fics for fun here, but that shouldn't lessen the standard. It's like saying you play the guitar for fun but not even bothering to learn the notes. I don't mean to come off as rude, but that's how I see it as.
hamsicle
7 years ago
@rainbowmarcher Even if that were the case, you should refrain from criticizing other works. If you haven't noticed, not everyone on this site is a native speaker and some of them are like 14, so you can't really expect Shakespeare level.
rainbowmarcher 7 years ago
@Jeniiin It works fine for me, too. Are you sure you're separating the tags?
rainbowmarcher 7 years ago
@hamsicle ???

I never knew that grammatically screwed up stories with little to no plot were masterpieces. Thanks.
hamsicle
7 years ago
Wow, if you want help from someone, maybe you shouldn't insult them? Why "ty fanfics"?
MissMinew
7 years ago
@Jeniiin I don't know, it works for me. Just use comma to separate your tags.
Jeniiin
7 years ago
@MissMinew it never works for me lmao maybe im using it wrong?
MissMinew
7 years ago
@rainbowmarcher It sort of is when it says "limit 4" which indicates that you can write up to 4. ^^ But I'm glad it helped.
rainbowmarcher 7 years ago
@MissMinew Okay, wow, I did NOT know about this. I love you. <3 Thanks a bunch! Although, it probably should've been included in the tag bar itself.
MissMinew
7 years ago
You can, though? Just write more tags into the tag search and it'll give you stories with those two tags. It rules out all the stories that aren't tagged with both tags. I know it's limited to 4 tags but you can limit to both 4 tags you want and 4 tags you don't want. That can get pretty specific.
I know it would be easier if we could go "completed/on-going" etc but you can combine tags and search multiple tags at the same time.